Risks

Privacy

The elderly may be concerned that the operator would use a remote-controlled robot to look around their flat while they are changing clothes or having a bath. If the elderly's mental state deteriorates further and they become confused, the situation may get more problematic. Elderly persons with Alzheimer's disease may be unaware that robots are observing them and may engage in particular behaviours or say certain things because they believe they are in the privacy of their own home. Who should have access to this information, and how long should it be kept? With today's mass storage hard drives, it is possible to record the elderly's entire existence, posing a significant problem for the elderly's privacy rights. Service robots can record user behaviours and map the user's home. This may be a concern because the robot may be storing data that infringes on the user's privacy.