Socially Assistive Robot for Low Vision
Palo Alto (17 mi)Overseen byAva K Bittner, OD, PhD
Age: 18+
Sex: Any
Travel: May be covered
Time Reimbursement: Varies
Trial Phase: Phase 1
Recruiting
Sponsor: University of California, Los Angeles
No Placebo Group
Approved in 1 jurisdiction
Trial Summary
What is the purpose of this trial?This trial uses a socially assistive robot to help people with vision loss use magnification devices for reading. The robot interacts with users to ensure they use the devices correctly and stay motivated. This approach aims to improve their ability to perform daily activities like reading.
Is the treatment Socially Assistive Robot a promising treatment for low vision?Yes, Socially Assistive Robots are promising because they can help improve social connections, enhance social behavior, and support interactions, which are important for health and well-being.234610
What safety data exists for the Socially Assistive Robot for Low Vision?The provided research does not directly address safety data for the Socially Assistive Robot for Low Vision. However, it highlights ethical considerations and potential challenges in deploying socially assistive robots, such as privacy, data protection, safety, and responsibility. These considerations are crucial for ensuring the safe use of such technologies, but specific safety data for the treatment in question is not available in the provided research.245612
What data supports the idea that Socially Assistive Robot for Low Vision is an effective treatment?The available research does not directly provide data on the effectiveness of Socially Assistive Robots for Low Vision. However, it highlights the importance of low vision aids and rehabilitation in improving the quality of life for visually impaired individuals. For example, a study on a low vision device lending library showed significant improvements in reading performance and independence, as well as increased happiness and adaptability. These findings suggest that assistive technologies can have a positive impact on the lives of those with low vision, which may imply potential benefits of Socially Assistive Robots as well.178911
Do I have to stop taking my current medications for the trial?The trial protocol does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.
Eligibility Criteria
This trial is for adults over 18 with any level of vision loss from ocular disease, who have received a magnification device from the UCLA Vision Rehabilitation Center. It's not suitable for those with life-limiting medical conditions, conflicting schedules, cognitive impairments, substance abuse issues, significant hearing loss or incompatible magnifier devices.Treatment Details
The study tests how a socially assistive robot can help people with low vision use their magnification devices more effectively and consistently when reading. The robot aims to motivate users and reinforce skills needed to proficiently use the magnifier.
2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: Immediate RobotExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
One month after study entry, participants will receive the robot at home for two months, followed by a three month observation period without the robot.
Group II: Delayed/Waitlist RobotActive Control1 Intervention
Three months after study entry, participants will receive the robot at home for three months.
Socially Assistive Robot is already approved in United States for the following indications:
🇺🇸 Approved in United States as Socially Assistive Robot for:
- Low vision rehabilitation
- Vision loss assistance
Find a clinic near you
Research locations nearbySelect from list below to view details:
UCLA Stein Eye InstituteLos Angeles, CA
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Who is running the clinical trial?
University of California, Los AngelesLead Sponsor
University of Southern CaliforniaCollaborator
References
[Spectrum of ophthalmologic and social rehabilitation at the Tübinger Low-Vision Clinic : a retrospective analysis for 1999-2005]. [2022]In addition to medical care, the visual and social rehabilitation of low-vision patients is of increasing importance. The aim of our study was to evaluate the actual spectrum of patients concerning diagnoses and appropriate low-vision aids at a low-vision clinic.
Caregiver and social assistant robot for rehabilitation and coaching for the elderly. [2016]Socially assistive robotics (SAR) has been a major field of investigation during the last decade and, as it develops, the groups the technology can be applied to and all ways in which these can be assisted are rapidly increasing.
Use of a Therapeutic, Socially Assistive Pet Robot (PARO) in Improving Mood and Stimulating Social Interaction and Communication for People With Dementia: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial. [2020]Socially assistive robotics is a growing area for geriatric research.
Designing a social and assistive robot for seniors. [2018]The development of social assistive robots is an approach with the intention of preventing and detecting falls among seniors. There is a need for a relatively low-cost mobile robot with an arm and a gripper which is small enough to navigate through private homes.
Ethical challenges in the use of social service robots for elderly people. [2018]Socially assistive robots are increasingly discussed as solutions in care and domestic use for the support of senior adults; however, this raises ethical questions which hitherto have not been considered or were not predictable. The most important questions are those of privacy and data protection, safety and responsibility as well as involvement of vulnerable persons and deception. Consequently, the ethical principles of nonmaleficence, beneficence, autonomy and fairness should be transposed to robotics. Clear answers and solutions are not yet available for every ethical challenge in robotics; however, the development of ethical guidelines for deployment of robots and research in the field of social service robots (SSR) are essential steps in order to embed ethics into dealing with socially assistive robots. This article provides some practical suggestions on this issue from a robotics project.
Potential of telepresence robots to enhance social connectedness in older adults with dementia: an integrative review of feasibility. [2018]Socially assistive robots are increasingly used as a therapeutic tool for people with dementia, as a means to improve quality of life through social connection. This paper presents a mixed-method integrative review of telepresence robots used to improve social connection of people with dementia by enabling real-time communication with their carers.
A Vision Enhancement System to Improve Face Recognition with Central Vision Loss. [2019]The overall goal of this work is to validate a low vision aid system that uses gaze as a pointing tool and provides smart magnification. We conclude that smart visual enhancement techniques as well as gaze contingency should improve the efficiency of assistive technology for the visually impaired.
Low vision rehabilitation for better quality of life in visually impaired adults. [2023]Low vision rehabilitation aims to optimise the use of residual vision after severe vision loss, but also aims to teach skills in order to improve visual functioning in daily life. Other aims include helping people to adapt to permanent vision loss and improving psychosocial functioning. These skills promote independence and active participation in society. Low vision rehabilitation should ultimately improve quality of life (QOL) for people who have visual impairment.
Occupational Therapy Interventions Supporting Leisure and Social Participation for Older Adults With Low Vision: A Systematic Review. [2022]Evidence supports interventions for social participation for older adults with low vision.
Assistive Robots for the Social Management of Health: A Framework for Robot Design and Human-Robot Interaction Research. [2022]There is a close connection between health and the quality of one's social life. Strong social bonds are essential for health and wellbeing, but often health conditions can detrimentally affect a person's ability to interact with others. This can become a vicious cycle resulting in further decline in health. For this reason, the social management of health is an important aspect of healthcare. We propose that socially assistive robots (SARs) could help people with health conditions maintain positive social lives by supporting them in social interactions. This paper makes three contributions, as detailed below. We develop a framework of social mediation functions that robots could perform, motivated by the special social needs that people with health conditions have. In this framework we identify five types of functions that SARs could perform: (a) changing how the person is perceived, (b) enhancing the social behavior of the person, (c) modifying the social behavior of others, (d) providing structure for interactions, and (e) changing how the person feels. We thematically organize and review the existing literature on robots supporting human-human interactions, in both clinical and non-clinical settings, and explain how the findings and design ideas from these studies can be applied to the functions identified in the framework. Finally, we point out and discuss challenges in designing SARs for supporting social interactions, and highlight opportunities for future robot design and HRI research on the mediator role of robots.
An Evaluation of a Clinic-Based Low Vision Device Lending Library. [2023]As the efficacy of low vision service provision is facilitated by clients' access to and proper use of low vision devices, the objective of this study was to evaluate an outpatient clinic-based low vision device lending library program and the functional and psychosocial impact that device use had upon clients. Twenty individuals borrowed portable video magnifiers during the study period. Line items from the Revised-Self-Report Assessment of Functional Visual Performance and the Reading Behavior Inventory were analyzed before and after device loan at two months. The Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scale-10 and a semi-structured interview were also completed at two months. Reported improvements in reading performance and satisfaction levels on the Reading Behavior Inventory were significant (p<.001). The Revised-Self-Report Assessment of Functional Visual Performance indicated improved independence in reading medications, bills and labels. Higher scores in happiness, independence, sense of control and adaptability on the Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scale-10 indicated device retention at two months. Qualitative themes included improved independence, time needed to acclimate to the device, personal appraisal impacting motivation and challenges specific to low vision. This article provides occupational therapists a model to facilitate access, person-device fit and successful use of low vision devices to promote therapy outcomes.
Ethical Considerations from Child-Robot Interactions in Under-Resourced Communities. [2023]Recent advancements in socially assistive robotics (SAR) have shown a significant potential of using social robotics to achieve increasing cognitive and affective outcomes in education. However, the deployments of SAR technologies also bring ethical challenges in tandem, to the fore, especially in under-resourced contexts. While previous research has highlighted various ethical challenges that arise in SAR deployment in real-world settings, most of the research has been centered in resource-rich contexts, mainly in developed countries in the 'Global North,' and the work specifically in the educational setting is limited. This research aims to evaluate and reflect upon the potential ethical and pedagogical challenges of deploying a social robot in an under-resourced context. We base our findings on a 5-week in-the-wild user study conducted with 12 kindergarten students at an under-resourced community school in New Delhi, India. We used interaction analysis with the context of learning, education, and ethics to analyze the user study through video recordings. Our findings highlighted four primary ethical considerations that should be taken into account while deploying social robotics technologies in educational settings; (1) language and accent as barriers in pedagogy, (2) effect of malfunctioning, (un)intended harms, (3) trust and deception, and (4) ecological viability of innovation. Overall, our paper argues for assessing the ethical and pedagogical constraints and bridging the gap between non-existent literature from such a context to evaluate better the potential use of such technologies in under-resourced contexts.