olympics

Tokyo 2020 unveils robots to help wheelchair users, workers

12 Comments
By Jack Tarrant

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12 Comments
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She does not look impressed, the biggest problem facing wheelchair users is lack of understanding of needs of wheelchair users from non wheelchair users and this just goes to show.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

the new face of omotenashi.....

4 ( +4 / -0 )

 the biggest problem facing wheelchair users is lack of understanding of needs of wheelchair users from non wheelchair users and this just goes to show.

Exactly. As a wheelchair user for over 6 months with experience in 3 countries including Japan I can attest to that. Technology is helpful but empathy and human support is much more important. While Japan has many more elevators and escalators than any of the other countries I spend my time on wheels, I regularly stood in my wheelchair in front of elevators on station platforms in Tokyo and Osaka, full of people who had cut into my way to get in first. Not once was I offered first entry.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

I have high hope for Japan to show the leadership in certain high technologies during Olympics.

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

I don’t know. Having to wait for one of 16 robots to slowly crawled towards my seat and carry my small handbag? It sounds terrible. We all know that the security stations are going to let you take any large bags so it’s not like a robot need to carry stuff for me. I think we’re still at the “gimmick stage“

6 ( +7 / -1 )

What are they going to do? dance for the people? Robotics are still very primitive, even though Japan considers itself at or near the top of the field. I foresee a LOT of preventable errors and inconveniences.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Which came first the robot or the idea of designing a robot for a handicapped individual in mind?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Japan needs to stop thinking that disabled people equals people with no leg mobility in a chain with wheels that is not motorised

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Awesome. A ¥10M robot to carry your bag, show you to your seat and give some info, but they want human "volunteers" to work for free. So much for logic.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I think they should use robots and technology to deal with the masses, and humans to interact with wheelchair users. Do the engineers who design these things ever talk to the actual end users to see what they most want from automation?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Negative Nancy all over the article even when it's something positive.

Good step forward Japan, glad steps are taken constantly to improve the lives of every Japanese, tourist and foreign workers.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Negative Nancy all over the article even when it's something positive.

Because the difference between marketing propaganda and reality, honne and tatemae is too obvious.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

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