In this research, participatory action research method was used (11), and researchers continuously discussed and analyzed the recoded data. The transactions were focused/analyzed as to how Pepper -CPGE led the exercises, and how care workers intervened during physical exercise of the older adults.Analyzed scenes were physical exercises with Pepper-CPGE. Recorded videos were analyzed only during (1) upper limb motor functions exercise, and (2) exercises using Radio Gymnastics the First (Rajio Taiso Dai -ichi), a program that is well -known and wellpracticed by most Japanese citizens. Pepper-CPGE instructs the older adults to perform gymnastics activities while viewing the video monitor.

The purpose of this article is to examine ethico-legal issues and existing Japanese law addressing interpersonal relationships in healthcare situations involving Humanoid Caring Robots (HCRs) and older adult patients. Potential safety issues include environmental situations between older adults and HCRs; identification of potential “leakage” of personal information from stored data in the cloud server; and issues of access authority for HCRs' stored data. It is necessary to have accurate findings supporting the legislation about HCRs to provide safe and effective care for older adults, and to limit healthcare facilities to reasonable risk level.

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Although progress is being made in affective computing, issues remain in enabling the effective expression of compassionate communication by healthcare robots. Identifying, describing and reconciling these concerns are important in order to provide quality contemporary healthcare for older adults with dementia. The purpose of this case study was to explore the development issues of healthcare robots in expressing compassionate communication for older adults with dementia. An exploratory descriptive case study was conducted with the Pepper robot and older adults with dementia using high-tech digital cameras to document significant communication proceedings that occurred during the activities. Data were collected in December 2020. The application program for an intentional conversation using Pepper was jointly developed by Tanioka’s team and the Xing Company, allowing Pepper’s words and head movements to be remotely controlled. The analysis of the results revealed four development issues, namely, (1) accurate sensing behavior for “listening” to voices appropriately and accurately interacting with subjects; (2) inefficiency in “listening” and “gaze” activities; (3) fidelity of behavioral responses; and (4) deficiency in natural language processing AI development, i.e., the ability to respond actively to situations that were not pre-programmed by the developer. Conversational engagements between the Pepper robot and patients with dementia illustrated a practical usage of technologies with artificial intelligence and natural language processing. The development issues found in this study require reconciliation in order to enhance the potential for healthcare robot engagement in compassionate communication in the care of older adults with dementia.

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