Therapeutic Seal Robot: PARO is a robotic seal designed for use in therapy. It is 9 generations old with sensors, microphones, tactile sensors and other features to detect touch and respond to voices. PARO weighs 2.5 kg and is used in over 30 countries. Studies show PARO reduces stress for dementia patients and caregivers by stimulating interaction and improving relaxation, motivation and socialization. Caregivers report PARO helps calm agitated patients and focuses their attention, making it easier for caregivers to manage behaviors and medication administration.

1. Therapeutic Seal Robot: PARO

2. Takanori Shibata
National Institute of Advanced Industrial
Science and Technology (AIST), Japan &
Tokyo Institute of Technology &
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

3. Model: Baby of Harp Seal

4. Seal Robot, Paro,
for Therapy 9th Generation
CPU
32bit RISC
Posture Sensor
Light Sensors
Vision
Microphone
Audition
Weight: 2.5 kg
・Ubiquitous Surface Tactile Sensor ×12
・Artificial Fur
(Anti-biotic)
Touch
・Whisker Tactile Sensor
Size:
L:550 x W:290
x H:180 mm
Voice Recognition
Learning Functions:
•New Name
•Change Behavior

5. PARO’s Inside (X-ray in NY, 2006)

6. Safety and Dependability
CE, RoHS, and other regulations
z Anti-bacterial, Hair-Loss Prevention, and Soil
Resistant Finish in Artificial Fur
z Electromagnetic Shield
z Coping with Strong Force by Humans
z Easy Usage and Maintenance
y One Switch and Pacifier Type Battery Charger
z Tough Structure
z Drop Test
z Stroking Test (100,000 times)
z Anti-Electrostatic Voltage Test (20,000 Volt)

7. Technical Points
Ubiquitous Surface Tactile Sensor
Automatic Chip Mounter Six Layered Print Circuit

8. Aesthetic Points
Handmade for Quality
Eyelashes Trimming

9. Paro Factory

10. Toyama, Japan

11. Paro on the World Map
(in about 30 countries)
Place where Paro has been used

12. 3,500 Paro in Practical Use
3,500 Paro in more than 30 countries since 2005
300 Paro in Denmark since 2009
(70%+ municipalities adopted Paro
200 Paro in USA since Dec. 2009Approved by FDA as
Medical Device
100 Paro in Australia since 2011

13. Certification of Medical Device
by FDA in the US in Sep. 2009

14. AUD 1.15 M for RCT of PARO in
Australia in 2014
z National Health and Medical Research Council
(NHMRC)
z Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) with about
400 participants in 30 long-term care facilities

15. Aging Societies
7%
Aging Society

16. Key Facts and Statistics - Dementia
From Key Facts and Statistics 2015 – Alzheimer’s Australia

17. Problems in Elderly Institutions
z Elderly people
y Going into depression easily
y Less communication
y Stress
x Disease, medical treatment
x Living in a group, etc.
z Caregivers
y Difficulty of communication with elderly
y Physical & Pychological damage

18. Animal Therapy

19. Problems of Owning Animals
z Allergies
z Bites
z Infection
z House regulation
Difficult to introduce!

20. Paro will work!
No allergies / No bites / No Infection
Stay with residents for 24 hours

21. What Paro can do for people with Dementia?
z PARO has been found to reduce patient stress
and their caregivers
z PARO stimulates interaction between patients
and caregivers
z PARO has been shown to have a psychological
effect on patients, improving their relaxation
and motivation
z PARO improves the socialization of patients with
each other and with caregivers

22. Feedback from users
They’re more attentive, they talk more, they’re more awake. We
have one resident who’s very lethargic, doesn’t want to do
anything but sleep; after 5-10 minutes [with PARO], and then she
starts to pet PARO and start to talk; sometimes she doesn’t want
to let go.
Inga once in a while gets really agitated, PARO changes
everything: calms her down, she doesn’t try to leave or fight. Joc
is usually by herself, and needs interaction--she can’t hear very
well—[so PARO] helps her socialize and interact. With Phyllis, it
helps bring back memories of having a pet. They smile, laugh, and
are happy.

23. One night Phyllis was wandering walking around, and I
gave PARO to her and she focused and calmed down and
then it helped me pass out my meds.
At night when they don’t want to go to bed, we use it to
help comfort them like a pet, it helps them get calm and
relax.
I use it with a resident who didn’t like to go to activities.
Another is alert, but doesn’t like to go to activities, she
was fascinated with it. I use it when residents are agitated
and wandering around.
Feedback from users

24. It helps me a lot in managing the residents’ behavior. If
they wander around, their attention is more focused on
PARO.
It makes my job easier. I don’t have to run around. I
can sit them in one corner then I can do my
medications while they’re interacting with it.
And I can’t manage as one [staff] person here and the
other [staff is working] on the other side [of the
building]. So I can do two jobs in one sitting.
Feedback from users