Would you let robots care for your grandparents?

Would you want a robot to look after you in your later years? What if it treated you like a child? That’s exactly what’s happening to some older people subject to an influx of high-tech solutions to a struggling aged care system in Australia. Our population is ageing and staff are burning out, so tech companies are trying to enter the space with their own 'fixes.’ But what if these technologies are just solutions looking for a problem? Associate Professor Barbara Barbosa Neves is a sociologist of technology who says this is all too common. When older people are excluded from tech design, the technology simply doesn’t work for them. It might be difficult to use, but it can also have adverse effects, like furthering stereotypes and deepening loneliness. She explains how inclusive design – as well looking at the bigger picture – can make a real difference. +++ The Solutionists is a podcast from the University of Sydney, produced by Deadset Studios. Keep up to date with The Solutionists by following @sydney_uni on Facebook and Instagram, and @sydney.edu.au on Bluesky. This episode was produced by Liam Riordan with sound design by Jeremy Wilmot. Supervising producer is Sarah Dabro. Executive editors are Kellie Riordan, Sladjana Rstic, and Mark Scott. Strategist is Ann Chesterman. This podcast was recorded on the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation. For thousands of years, across innumerable generations, knowledge has been taught, shared and exchanged here. We pay respect to elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.