About the Event
“PARO” aims to be a “subsitute for pets” in general households and a “substitute for animal therapy” in the medical and welfare fields. PARO is a “welfare device” in Japan, and a “biofeedback medical device” in the United States and Europe, where medical welfare systems are different. In this presentation, Prof. Shibata will describe the evidence, and explain how PARO is being incorporated into medical and welfare systems around the world.
About the Speaker
Prof. Takanori Shibata received B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. in Electronic and Mechanical Engineering from Nagoya University in 89, 91 and 92, respectively. He was a research scientist at AIST, MITI from 93 to 98. Concurrently, he was a visiting research scientist at the Artificial Intelligence Lab., MIT from 95 to 98. At the AIST, Dr. Shibata was a senior research scientist from 98 to 13. Concurrently, he was the Deputy Director for Information and Communication Technology Policy, Cabinet Office of Japan in 2009 and 2010. Since 2013, he has been the current position, and concurrently, a Professor at School of Computing, Tokyo Institute of Technology, and a visiting fellow, AgeLab, MIT. His research interests include human-robot interaction, robot therapy, mental health for astronauts in long-term mission (e.g. to Mars), and humanitarian de-mining. He received many awards including the Japanese Prime Minister’s Award in 2003, and The Outstanding Young Person of the world by Junior Chamber International in 2004. In 2015, PARO was awarded the “Patient Trophy” as innovation of non-pharmacological therapy for dementia by AP-HP, France. In 2018, Prof. Shibata was awarded the “Ryman Prize” that is the most prestigious award in the fields of geriatric medicine, welfare and health in the world. In 2022, he was awarded the 10th Anniversary Special Robot Award by the Gov. of Japan.