Please Call Me?

Abstract

Telepresence robots have been suggested as a solution to alleviate the loneliness of the elderly. In earlier studies, user requirements regarding data quality, connectivity, navigation, and privacy issues have been listed, but feasible calling practices have not been established. We studied the usage of a telepresence robot Double in a nursing home by an elderly resident and her daughters. To enable her to contact her daughters, she could use "Please call me" buttons to send text messages to the daughters' mobile phones. This paper addresses the calling practices with telepresence robots that enable fluent communication but preserves the privacy of the residents, the care staff and visitors. Examples of practical suggestions found in the study were the establishment of mutually agreed calling rules and a "30-minute privacy" button.