In his talk “Ethische Dimensionen von Robotik in der Pflege” (“Ethical dimensions of robotics in care”) at the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) on December 8, 2020, Prof. Dr. Oliver Bendel made the case for robot parks where people can encounter real robots. “You can also set up specific parks with robots in the care sector. Mind-controlled wheelchairs, exoskeletons, high-tech prostheses, etc. could also have their place there.” (own translation) In the 2021 study “Roboter, Empathie und Emotionen” (“Robots, empathy, and emotions”), the technology philosopher takes this idea further for Switzerland: “In order to bring people closer to machines and enable a critical assessment, direct contact should be promoted, for example with the help of robot parks.” There is also a need for “relevant further training for (non-specialist) scientists, journalists and politicians, whereby robot parks could also be used here” (“Roboter, Empathie und Emotionen”, own translation). In 2024, dozens of four-legged and two-legged robots as well as numerous other social robots and service robots will be available. Even advanced models will be affordable from 1000 to 2000 dollars. The time is ripe for robot parks, whether in Switzerland or Germany or anywhere else in Europe (Image: DALL-E 3).
BY OLIVER BENDEL
