Evaluation and intention to use the interactive robotic kitchen system AuRorA in older adults

Abstract

Background The number of older adults in need of care and living at home is increasing in Europe. At the same time, the number of professional caregivers is decreasing. This development reinforces the need for assistive technology to support care recipients in their own homes and promote their independence. One of the main challenges of independent living is the preparation of food. Interactive robots could assist older adults with difficulties performing physically demanding tasks. Within the project AuRorA (full German project title: Wiederverwendbare, interaktive Verhalten für proaktive Roboter im Smart Home), an interactive voice-controlled robot arm was developed as an assistance system in the kitchen. Objective The aim of the study was to assess how older adults evaluate the AuRorA system and to collect data on actual willingness to use the technology. Older adults were asked to evaluate the system in terms of usefulness, usability, accessibility and intention to use. Material and methods Due to the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the older adults evaluated the system via an online survey. The validated questionnaire Technology Usage Inventory (short: TUI) was used in conjunction with self-developed questionnaires to collect data on study population characteristics. Results A total of 106 participants were included in the analysis. The acceptance, usability and usefulness of the system were rated as medium, while the intention to use was rated as low. A significant strong correlation was found between the TUI subscales intention to use and usefulness. Conclusion It can be assumed that the actual need of the individual participant for such a robotic assistive system had an influence on the evaluation of the system. The perceived usefulness may have been a crucial influence on the intention to use and the overall assessment of the system.

Scoping Review of Technological Solutions for Community Dwelling Older Adults and Implications for Instrumental Activities of Daily Living

“…3.2.6. Food Related Activities: Food related activities are assessed via telemonitoring system to enhance the nutritional level of the older adults [77] and interactive robot arms for food preparation [131]. Body weight control, diet quality, blood pressure and additional nutrition scores were evaluated.…”

“…3.3.6. Food Related Activities: Food related activities were evaluated with open-ended interview by van Doornvan Atten et al [77] and Technology Usage Inventory (TUI) by Perotti and Strutz, 2023 [131]. Participants commented positively on the usage of technologies for both studies.…”