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DR. JULIE ROBILLARD
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Designing Innovative Social Robots through end-User ParTicipation (DISRUPT)

The DISRUPT project aims to co-create a blueprint for the development of social robots for older adults.
Why is this research important?

Social robots have huge potential to support older adults. They are interactive, can be used to help with activities of daily living, and may reduce stress and loneliness. However, despite their benefits, few older adults use them.
 
This project explores barriers and facilitators for social robot use and collaborates with experts and persons with lived experience to co-design a new method for developing social robots.
 
DISRUPT showcases the benefit of working with older adults as partners in research.


What did we do?

We established an older adult advisory group, ‘The League’. League members provide valuable insights and expertise that ensure our research remains meaningful and reflective of older adults’ needs, values, and preferences.
 
We conducted surveys, co-creation workshops, and focus groups to explore key issues around the use of social robotic technologies from the perspectives of older adults, people living with dementia, and their care partners.


What did we find?

Our research reveals that older adults:
  • Desire to use social robots for interaction, connecting with others, and companionship.
  • Want social robots to be expressive and produce emotionally appropriate responses.
  • Feel that they may be stigmatised for using a social robot in public.
  • Evaluate assistive technologies by their ability to promote independence, affordability, ease of use, and ethical considerations.
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Publications & Media

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Publication | Older adult perspectives on emotion and stigma in social robots
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Publication | User perspectives on emotionally aligned social robots for older adults and persons living with dementia
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Publication | “Functioning better is doing better”: older adults’ priorities for the evaluation of assistive technology
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Blogpost | Stigma around technology use by older adults

Team Members

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Dr. Julie Robillard
​Principal Investigator
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Dr. Jill Dosso
​​Postdoctoral Fellow
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Mallorie Tam
Research Program Manager
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Katarzyna Kabacińska
​PhD Candidate
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Jaya Kailley
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​Research Assistant
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Susanna Martin
Research Assistant

​Co-Investigators: 
Dr. Jesse Hoey (Co-investigator – University of Waterloo)
Dr. François Michaud (Co-investigator – University of Sherbrooke)
Dr. Tony Prescott (Partner - Consequential Robotics)
Dr. Chris Nugent (Partner - Smart Environments Research Group, University of Ulster)
 
The League (Lived Experience Expert Group)
  • Ian Goldman
  • Wilfred Lach
  • Eugenie Wong
  • Marion George
  • Jim Mann

Funders

We are proud to have received funding for this project from the following organization:
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Jock & Irene Graham Brain Research Endowment

CONTACT

Address: B402-4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada  |  Phone: (604) 875-3923  |  Email: [email protected]
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​© 2024 THE NEUROSCIENCE, ENGAGEMENT, AND SMART TECH LAB

  • HOME
  • RESEARCH
    • SIDEKICK
    • RECESS
    • COMFORT
    • DREAM
    • DISRUPT
    • Co-creating an ethical framework for social media use in prevention trials
    • IMPACT
    • First Link® Evaluation Project
  • PEOPLE
  • PUBLICATIONS
  • GET INVOLVED