PARO, the Therapeutic Harp Seal, Returns to JapanFest

PARO, the Therapeutic Harp Seal, Returns to JapanFest

Atlanta - JapanFest has a very special guest returning this year. PARO is a harp seal used for therapy with patients with dementia or depression. One more thing – PARO is a robot. Even its name is derived from the first two syllables of the Japanese words for “personal robot.” In clinical trials, PARO has been shown to be effective in calming and relieving agitation or stress in patients with psychological and behavioral issues. The robot has also been effective in improving socialization and interaction among patients and caregivers. It provides some of the same benefits as animal therapy, but can be used with patients that have animal allergies or in other situations where live animals are not an option. In the US, PARO has obtained Neurological Therapeutic Medical Device approval from the Food and Drug Administration.

Developed by AIST, Japan’s national institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, PARO is in its eighth generation. The robot has five kinds of sensors: tactile, light, audition, temperature, and posture sensors that allow it to react to a person holding it. PARO can even adjust its behavior to a patient’s preferences. Given its cost – each PARO runs around $6,000, PARO has most frequently found a home in senior living communities, nursing homes and hospitals in over 30 countries.

Why a harp seal and not a dog or cat? Dr. Takanori Shibata, PARO’s creator, and chief senior research scientist at AIST, discovered that cat lovers would turn up their noses at dogs, and likewise, dog lovers showed no interest in cats, or were only interested in a specific dog breed. Most people, however, harbored no preconceptions about harp seals!

In addition to his position at AIST, Shibata is currently a professor at Tokyo Institute of Technology, and a Visiting Fellow at Massachussetts Institute of Technology’s AgeLab. PARO has received numerous awards, most recently the 2015 “Patient Trophy”, as an innovation of non-pharmacological therapy for dementia, from the AP-HP (Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris), France, one of the largest hospital systems in the world.

[endif]--There will be several models available at JapanFest for visitors to get acquainted with. Shibata will also be providing a seminar on Saturday and Sunday to further discuss the benefits of PARO. JapanFest is grateful to the Japan External Trade Organization for making this possible. For more information on PARO at JapanFest, visit www.japanfest.org and check the program schedule, or download the app. For more information on PARO in general, please see http://www.parorobots.com/index.asp ![endif]--![endif]--