Enhancing Cognitive Therapies for Older Adults with EBO: An Autonomous Social Robot System Integrating LLMs and Therapist-in-the-Loop
Year: 2024
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: The growing population of older adults necessitates effective cognitive therapies. Social robots have potential as therapeutic tools, providing companionship, entertainment, and support. Traditional methods for cognitive engagement need more in terms of personalization and interaction. This paper presents the development of a system using the social robot EBO for interactive cognitive games and therapies, leveraging Large Language Models (LLMs). The system integrates the narrative generation via Llama on the CORTEX architecture, user response capture with Whisper, and narration through the MeloTTS engine. Tailored for older adults with mild to moderate cognitive impairment, it personalizes interactions based on individual interests, preferences, and cognitive levels. The therapist-in-the-loop approach allows the therapist to participate in the initial game configuration. The system conducts the therapy sessions autonomously, providing a final summary for analysis. This personalized therapy aims to enhance user experience and maximize the therapeutic utility of the system in promoting cognitive and emotional well-being within this demographic group. We evaluated various opensource LLMs and demonstrated their potential effectiveness through a pilot study, showcasing enhanced user experience. This approach could significantly enhance therapies for older adults using social robots as interactive tools.
Authors: Blanco-Castillo, Antonio, Chong Ojeda, Jackie Lee, Condón, Alicia, Núñez, Pedro
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7028174274