Simulation to assess user needs for the development of a bedside robot

Abstract

The purpose of the simulation performed in this study was to assess the requirements for a point-of-care (POC) bedside robot for patient education and emotional care; the simulation also facilitates defining the essential elements and functions of a robot before robot system development. The major functionalities evaluated in the simulation were: 1) bidirectional video system; 2) support system of doctor counseling; 3) voice recognition, and 4) ability to recognize non-verbal expressions. The evaluators reported the high feasibility and satisfactory performance of the POC bedside robot. While there are challenges, incorporating this technology into healthcare services will enhance the quality of inpatient hospital experiences and help healthcare providers in supporting patients.