A study by researchers at Chiba University has found that many people in Japan are receptive to using home-care robots, provided that privacy, safety, and trust are safeguarded. The research explored attitudes among older adults, family members, caregivers, and robot developers to understand the conditions under which such technologies might be accepted in daily life.
Led by Professor Sayuri Suwa from Chiba University’s Graduate School of Nursing, in collaboration with researchers from Tokyo Healthcare University, University College Dublin, and Shiga University of Medical Science, the study surveyed 4,890 participants about their willingness to use home-care robots and their comfort with sharing personal data such as vital signs, voice recordings, and location information.
Acceptance levels were found to differ across demographic groups. Respondents under 65 years old were generally more open to using home-care robots, and women showed slightly higher acceptance than men. Participants with a stronger interest in technology or prior exposure to robots also expressed greater willingness to use them.
Developers emphasized safety and privacy as primary concerns, while both users and developers agreed that protecting personal data and maintaining transparency were critical to building trust. Around 80% of potential users said they would share health-related data with healthcare professionals for research purposes, but only about half were comfortable sharing the same data with robotics companies.
The researchers noted that collaboration among users, developers, and policymakers, supported by clear ethical guidelines, is essential for the wider adoption of home-care robots. They suggest that such technologies could help older adults live more independently while reducing the workload on professional and family caregivers amid Japan’s growing shortage of care workers.
The study concludes that home-care robots can be successfully integrated into society when users’ concerns about privacy, safety, and ethical use are addressed through transparent and inclusive development practices.
