The CARESSES EU-Japan project: making assistive robots culturally competent

TL;DR

The CARESSES project develops culturally competent assistive robots capable of adapting their behavior and interactions based on individual cultural identities to improve healthcare support.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach for designing assistive robots that are culturally aware and adaptable, bridging healthcare and robotics with cultural competence.

Findings

Robots can effectively adapt behaviors to individual cultural contexts.

Initial prototypes demonstrate culturally sensitive interactions.

The project sets a foundation for culturally competent robotic healthcare.

Abstract

The nursing literature shows that cultural competence is an important requirement for effective healthcare. We claim that personal assistive robots should likewise be culturally competent, that is, they should be aware of general cultural characteristics and of the different forms they take in different individuals, and take these into account while perceiving, reasoning, and acting. The CARESSES project is an Europe-Japan collaborative effort that aims at designing, developing and evaluating culturally competent assistive robots. These robots will be able to adapt the way they behave, speak and interact to the cultural identity of the person they assist. This paper describes the approach taken in the CARESSES project, its initial steps, and its future plans.