Social robotics in health-care service : the case of rehabilitation programmes in Hong Kong

Abstract

This chapter deals with the use of assistive technologies in rehabilitation programmes, particularly the physically disabled in Hong Kong. The chapter argues that if the assistive technologies can only restore the biological and physical functioning of the disabled, they remain a robot only. When these technologies also manage to improve the social life of the disabled, they can turn into social robots. Following this line of thought, the chapter argues that rehabilitation programmes facilitating the use of assistive technologies in Hong Kong have difficulties in transforming assistive technologies into social robots. The chapter is concluded by further elaborating these difficulties at both the micro- and macro-level.