• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • About DNS
  • Subscribe to DNS
  • Advertise with DNS
  • Support DNS
  • Contact DNS

Disability News Service

the country's only news agency specialising in disability issues

  • Home
  • Independent Living
    • Arts, Culture and Sport
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Employment
    • Housing
    • Transport
  • Activism & Campaigning
  • Benefits & Poverty
  • Politics
  • Human Rights
You are here: Home / News Archive / Robots ‘will help with independent living within five years’

Robots ‘will help with independent living within five years’

By guest on 30th June 2010 Category: News Archive

Listen

A new report for the communications watchdog OFCOM has predicted that assistive technology could help disabled and older people live “longer and richer lives” at home over the next 20 years.

Within five years, disabled and older people could be using robots at home to perform basic household tasks, according to the report Assisted Living Technologies for Older and Disabled People in 2030.

The report says technology could deliver better opportunities for entertainment, education and social interaction; help improve fitness; make it easier to work from home; and improve social and health care.

Progress should be boosted by cheaper equipment and mass availability of broadband.

The report also predicts a wider use of internet-based video-calling – providing opportunities for social contact with friends and family – web-based learning, and access to other services on the internet, such as shopping and banking.

And it says more disabled and older people should be able to work or volunteer from home.

There should also be opportunities for improved telehealth services, with technology used to deliver health care, treatment, or monitoring services, while telecare services will be used to monitor people at home, using devices such as sensors that summon help after a fall.

Telehealth and telecare could mean fewer trips to hospital and make people feel more secure at home, as well as giving them more control over their condition, the report says.

But the report also warns that increased use of assisted living technology risks isolation for disabled and older people, and the loss of face-to-face contact. Other concerns include the cost, reliability and accessibility of equipment.

Alan Norton, chief executive of Assist UK, which leads the national network of disabled living centres, said: “I do feel that there is a great opportunity to use technology and make life easier for disabled people to enjoy a full life.

“In most applications that’s great, but you have to be careful about total isolation.

“The risk is that people are isolated in their environment, which may be totally independent, but social interaction needs to be there.”

But Norton said the benefits of new assistive technology would certainly outweigh the risks, while robotics would have a “massive role to play”.

He said that assistive technology needed to be built into everyday objects, such as light switches and cooker controls, and added: “I think technology will be built in and it will become a matter of fact in everybody’s life.”

But he said manufacturers needed to work more closely with disabled people on the design and development of new products.

2 June 2010

Share this post:

Share on X (Twitter)Share on FacebookShare on WhatsAppShare on RedditShare on LinkedIn
A photograph shows an audience raising their hands in a BSL sign. The words say: 'BSL Conference 2025. The future starts with us. Leeds 17-18 July. Be part of shaping the future of Deaf cultures and identities. Get 10% off with BDA10'

Related

‘Muddled’ blue badge reforms ‘are to blame for renewal delays’
6th February 2015
UN debate will be reminder of true inclusive education
6th February 2015
IDS breaks pledge on PIP waiting-times, as tens of thousands still queue for months
30th January 2015

Primary Sidebar

On the left of the image are multiple heads of different colours - white, aqua, red, light brown, and dark green - all grouped together, then the words ‘Campaign for Disability Justice. Sign up to support. #OpportunitySecurityRespect’
A photograph shows an audience raising their hands in a BSL sign. The words say: 'BSL Conference 2025. The future starts with us. Leeds 17-18 July. Be part of shaping the future of Deaf cultures and identities. Get 10% off with BDA10'

Access

Latest Stories

Government ignores warnings of new DWP deaths, and UN intervention, as MPs pass universal credit cuts bill

Urgent letter from UN to Labour government warns: We think your cuts continue Tory attack on disability rights

Race against time to secure DWP deaths evidence before parliament passes new benefit cuts bill

‘Complete shift in thinking’ needed on education of disabled children, says ALLFIE

Minister ignored concerns from disabled advisers, months before publishing cuts bill

Frustration after government only issues partial ban on new floating bus stops

Report suggests five big ideas that could transform disabled people’s mobility

My new book shows exactly why we need the disability movement, says disabled author

‘Disastrous’ cuts bill that leaves legacy of distrust and distress ‘must be dropped’

Four disabled Labour MPs stand up to government over cuts to disability benefits

Advice and Information

Readspeaker
A photograph shows an audience raising their hands in a BSL sign. The words say: 'BSL Conference 2025. The future starts with us. Leeds 17-18 July. Be part of shaping the future of Deaf cultures and identities. Get 10% off with BDA10'

Footer

The International Standard Serial Number for Disability News Service is: ISSN 2398-8924

  • Accessibility Statement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site map
  • Bluesky
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Threads
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2025 Disability News Service

Site development by A Bright Clear Web