Littleton Memory Care Center Helps With Companion Robot Creation

LITTLETON, CO — A Colorado firm is developing a robot to help people with dementia, and residents of a Littleton memory care community are helping with the robot's finishing touches.

The robot — Ryan — was first developed in the University of Denver Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Dr. Mohammad Mahoor, a professor in the department, is bringing Ryan to market with his firm DreamFace Technologies.

“Ryan is a fully autonomous social robot that can have conversations, understand, empathize and remember,” Mahoor said.

His company is working with Littleton's memory care community Highline Place to see how the robot can help people who have Alzheimer's and other memory-impairing illnesses.

“We seek to improve their moods and alleviate depression,” Mahoor said. “Ryan can understand their emotions by observing facial expressions and analyzing the words they say.”

The robot can respond using its own expressive face, natural language, and — added in the newest design — arms that can gesture, a feature that allows Ryan to lead yoga and tai chi.

Ryan can also engage seniors with brain health games, remind them to take their medications, play music, show photos for reminiscing and keep residents' schedules up to date.

Ryan's voice can be changed between male and female, depending on user preference.

The robot does not record video or audio of the seniors; however, Ryan tracks the information gathered about their emotions, data that can help caregivers respond to needs, DreamFace said.

The company aims to put Ryan into mass production by the end of this year. As a final step toward achieving that goal, Highline Place residents will conduct a trial in early June of the newest version.

“Our residents are very interested in serving others," said Jodi Cornman, senior community relations director for Highline Place. "Working with Ryan in this trial is a way they can help advance innovation in memory care to benefit people now and into the future.”