Hopes and fears regarding care robots: Content analysis of newspapers in East Asia and Western Europe, 2001–2020
BackgroundAs a type of welfare technology, care robotics is now widely seen as a potential aide to rehabilitation, increasing independence and enhancing the wellbeing of people with disabilities and older adults. Research into and development of care robots have both been vigorously promoted in Nort...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fresc.2022.1019089/full |
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| author | N. Kodate N. Kodate N. Kodate N. Kodate N. Kodate Y. Maeda B. Hauray B. Hauray M. Tsujimura W. C. H. Chan H. Mannan H. Mannan W. Yu S. Dalgalarrondo S. Dalgalarrondo M. C. Cheung A. Yumoto S. Suwa S. Donnelly N. Sakata D. O’Shea D. O’Shea K. Obayashi K. Obayashi K. Obayashi S. Masuyama S. Masuyama |
| author_facet | N. Kodate N. Kodate N. Kodate N. Kodate N. Kodate Y. Maeda B. Hauray B. Hauray M. Tsujimura W. C. H. Chan H. Mannan H. Mannan W. Yu S. Dalgalarrondo S. Dalgalarrondo M. C. Cheung A. Yumoto S. Suwa S. Donnelly N. Sakata D. O’Shea D. O’Shea K. Obayashi K. Obayashi K. Obayashi S. Masuyama S. Masuyama |
| author_sort | N. Kodate |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundAs a type of welfare technology, care robotics is now widely seen as a potential aide to rehabilitation, increasing independence and enhancing the wellbeing of people with disabilities and older adults. Research into and development of care robots have both been vigorously promoted in North America, Europe and Asia, and the competition for technological advancement in robotics is becoming fierce. AI ethics and policy guidelines are being established. However, there are still differences in attitudes and perceptions, as well as national policies regarding this type of welfare technology. Moreover, despite the anticipated usefulness, it is believed that progress has been slow in the diffusion of care robots.PurposeIn order to explore how public discourses support technological innovation, such as care robots, while preparing society for potential risks and impact, we sought to ascertain whether public discourse on care robots varies from region to region. For example, what are the hopes and promises associated with care robots and what are the concerns?MethodsTo address these questions, this article explored how care robots have been portrayed in five major broadsheet newspapers in five jurisdictions in Asia and Europe (France, Great Britain, Hong Kong SAR, Ireland and Japan). We obtained 545 articles for the period between January 2001 and September 2020, more than half of which originated in Japan. A thematic analysis was conducted of these articles written in four languages (Chinese, English, French and Japanese).ResultsPositive and negative narratives were teased out, alongside other key prominent themes identified, such as Japan as the land of robots, the pandemic, and the impact of robots on the economy. As the number of robot-related articles grew from the year 2012 onwards, narratives became more nuanced in European newspapers, but not in Asian ones. Furthermore, recent articles began to address the social and relational impact of care robots, while providing concrete examples of improvements in the quality of life for users. Further careful examination will be necessary in the future in order to establish the impact of robotics use in rehabilitation for people with disabilities, older adults, their carers and society at large. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T06:09:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4f2346a9e7a4468cbfc9a8989617a339 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-6861 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T06:09:34Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-4f2346a9e7a4468cbfc9a8989617a3392022-12-22T04:41:19ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences2673-68612022-12-01310.3389/fresc.2022.10190891019089Hopes and fears regarding care robots: Content analysis of newspapers in East Asia and Western Europe, 2001–2020N. Kodate0N. Kodate1N. Kodate2N. Kodate3N. Kodate4Y. Maeda5B. Hauray6B. Hauray7M. Tsujimura8W. C. H. Chan9H. Mannan10H. Mannan11W. Yu12S. Dalgalarrondo13S. Dalgalarrondo14M. C. Cheung15A. Yumoto16S. Suwa17S. Donnelly18N. Sakata19D. O’Shea20D. O’Shea21K. Obayashi22K. Obayashi23K. Obayashi24S. Masuyama25S. Masuyama26School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice, University College Dublin, Dublin, IrelandPublic Policy Research Center, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, JapanLa Fondation France-Japon, School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences (EHESS), Paris, FranceInstitute for Future Initiatives, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, JapanUniversal Accessibility and Ageing Research Centre, Nishitokyo, JapanFaculty of Business, Technological University DublinDublin, IrelandInstitut de recherche interdisciplinaire sur les enjeux sociaux, School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences (EHESS), Paris, FranceFrench National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), Paris, FranceSchool of Nursing, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan0Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China1School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland2Flame University, Pune, India3Center for Frontier Medical Engineering, Chiba University, Chiba, JapanInstitut de recherche interdisciplinaire sur les enjeux sociaux, School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences (EHESS), Paris, France4French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), Paris, France0Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China5Graduate School of Nursing, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan5Graduate School of Nursing, Chiba University, Chiba, JapanSchool of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland6Center for Information and Communication Technology, Dokkyo Medical University, Mibu, Japan7St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland8Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, Dublin, IrelandUniversal Accessibility and Ageing Research Centre, Nishitokyo, Japan9Faculty of Healthcare Management, Nihon Fukushi University, Mihama, Japan0Social Welfare Corporation Tokyo Seishin-kai, Nishitokyo, JapanUniversal Accessibility and Ageing Research Centre, Nishitokyo, Japan1Traveler’s Medical Center, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, JapanBackgroundAs a type of welfare technology, care robotics is now widely seen as a potential aide to rehabilitation, increasing independence and enhancing the wellbeing of people with disabilities and older adults. Research into and development of care robots have both been vigorously promoted in North America, Europe and Asia, and the competition for technological advancement in robotics is becoming fierce. AI ethics and policy guidelines are being established. However, there are still differences in attitudes and perceptions, as well as national policies regarding this type of welfare technology. Moreover, despite the anticipated usefulness, it is believed that progress has been slow in the diffusion of care robots.PurposeIn order to explore how public discourses support technological innovation, such as care robots, while preparing society for potential risks and impact, we sought to ascertain whether public discourse on care robots varies from region to region. For example, what are the hopes and promises associated with care robots and what are the concerns?MethodsTo address these questions, this article explored how care robots have been portrayed in five major broadsheet newspapers in five jurisdictions in Asia and Europe (France, Great Britain, Hong Kong SAR, Ireland and Japan). We obtained 545 articles for the period between January 2001 and September 2020, more than half of which originated in Japan. A thematic analysis was conducted of these articles written in four languages (Chinese, English, French and Japanese).ResultsPositive and negative narratives were teased out, alongside other key prominent themes identified, such as Japan as the land of robots, the pandemic, and the impact of robots on the economy. As the number of robot-related articles grew from the year 2012 onwards, narratives became more nuanced in European newspapers, but not in Asian ones. Furthermore, recent articles began to address the social and relational impact of care robots, while providing concrete examples of improvements in the quality of life for users. Further careful examination will be necessary in the future in order to establish the impact of robotics use in rehabilitation for people with disabilities, older adults, their carers and society at large.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fresc.2022.1019089/fullrobotwelfare technologyDisabilitysocial carepublic perceptionSocial constructivism |
| spellingShingle | N. Kodate N. Kodate N. Kodate N. Kodate N. Kodate Y. Maeda B. Hauray B. Hauray M. Tsujimura W. C. H. Chan H. Mannan H. Mannan W. Yu S. Dalgalarrondo S. Dalgalarrondo M. C. Cheung A. Yumoto S. Suwa S. Donnelly N. Sakata D. O’Shea D. O’Shea K. Obayashi K. Obayashi K. Obayashi S. Masuyama S. Masuyama Hopes and fears regarding care robots: Content analysis of newspapers in East Asia and Western Europe, 2001–2020 Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences robot welfare technology Disability social care public perception Social constructivism |
| title | Hopes and fears regarding care robots: Content analysis of newspapers in East Asia and Western Europe, 2001–2020 |
| title_full | Hopes and fears regarding care robots: Content analysis of newspapers in East Asia and Western Europe, 2001–2020 |
| title_fullStr | Hopes and fears regarding care robots: Content analysis of newspapers in East Asia and Western Europe, 2001–2020 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hopes and fears regarding care robots: Content analysis of newspapers in East Asia and Western Europe, 2001–2020 |
| title_short | Hopes and fears regarding care robots: Content analysis of newspapers in East Asia and Western Europe, 2001–2020 |
| title_sort | hopes and fears regarding care robots content analysis of newspapers in east asia and western europe 2001 2020 |
| topic | robot welfare technology Disability social care public perception Social constructivism |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fresc.2022.1019089/full |
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