Most people these days just need a little human-to-human interaction, but in our increasingly growing digital world, a robot seems to be the next best option.
That’s why New York state officials will soon be distributing robots to hundreds of its elderly residents to help combat the loneliness in their lives.
Not only that, these robots, known as ”ElliQ,” will be designed “to remind them to take their medication, help contact loved ones, book an Uber ride, and even engage in small talk and crack jokes.”
Greg Olsen, the director of the New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA), told The Verge, “Many features attracted us to ElliQ — that it is a proactive tool, remembers the interactions with the individual, focuses on health and wellness, stress reduction, sleep, hydration, etc. It focuses on what matters to individuals: memories, life validation, interactions with friends and families and promotes overall good health and well being.”
ElliQ is available for purchase for a subscription charge that ranges between $30 and $40 per month, along with a $250 “enrollment fee.”
Intuition Robotics touts ElliQ as a “friendly presence in your daily life” which is capable of “engaging you in conversation, motivating you to adopt healthier habits, [and] surprising you with jokes and suggestions.”
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