Episodic memory visualization in robot companions providing a memory prosthesis for elderly users

The goal of home care robots is to help elderly people to age in their own homes. Ageing people who are otherwise quite healthy may suffer from memory loss and consequently decrease their independence because the memory loss might endanger their health and safety. For example they may not remember if they have taken their medicine or what task they were currently engaged in. Equipping a robotic companion with a visualization tool for episodic memory is an excellent opportunity to have a robot provide memory prosthesis. In the EU project ACCOMPANY we study how memory visualization can support the user in remembering past events from the human-robot interaction history. Potentially, this ability to explore interaction histories could enable elderly persons as well as third parties (e.g. technicians, carers, family and friends) to monitor, maintain and improve the robot's abilities, services and ultimately its usefulness as a care robot.