During her first week in Japan, Sabina Misoch visited Robo Universe Exhibition, which is part of the CEATEC Fair in Tokyo. Her goal: to find out about new robot systems and connect with potential industrial partners for the Living Lab project in Switzerland. The gerontologist had to overcome unexpectedly high language barriers and came across some rather strange (new) robots – such as a cat without a head.
Lea Müller
Finding your way around Japan’s largest robotics fair and its eight large exhibition halls isn’t easy – especially as a European, since English doesn’t get you very far here. «The fact that hardly anyone understands and speaks English at this exhibition came as a further surprise to me», says Sabina Misoch during the interview via Skype. Thus, it wasn’t always easy to strike up a conversation with potential industry partners. If needed, they simply communicated with their hands and feet, says the head of the Interdisciplinary Competence Centre for Ageing at the FHS St.Gallen.
Despite the language barriers, she learned about some interesting robot systems at Robo Universe – including those that are already being used in Europe, but also about new prototypes that are not yet on the market. Both are interesting to the gerontologist, as she is searching for different technical assistance systems that can be tested at home by elderly people in Switzerland in Living Labs between 2018 and 2020.
«In Japan, many current innovations in the field of robotics are aimed at promoting female employment», says Sabina Misoch, citing robots with integrated cameras as an example solution that a mother could use to watch her children doing their homework while she is in the office, for instance. Misoch believes these systems could become widespread in geriatric care in Switzerland, such as by people caring for relatives with dementia. The gerontologist is particularly interested in robot systems that perform communication functions, so they can talk to people or remind them to take their medication, for example. Some robot developments are intended to take over these social functions, and the question arises as to whether these systems could also be successful in Switzerland.
But the number of robots that Sabina Misoch believes harbour potential for the Swiss market is rather low in relation to the sheer number of solutions available. «The cat without a head is a good example», she laughs. It is a round fur cushion with what looks like a cat’s tail. If you stroke the cushion, the tail moves – this this is intended to have a calming, healing effect. «The Japanese people I saw at the fair were impressed by this robot», says Sabina Misoch, shaking her head. «I don’t think it would work for us here. I can only explain this enthusiasm by the big cultural differences.»
But the cat without a head isn’t even «kawaii», says Sabina Misoch. The Japanese expression for «lovable» and «sweet» is used to describe the aesthetic concept of cuteness, which extends to all areas of Japanese society. «Everything has to be kawaii», says Sabina Misoch with a smile. That’s why the robots are all designed to look cute – with big round eyes and other cute features.
Pictures: Sabina Misoch
