Technology Meets Tradition: Investigating User Acceptance and Engagement with Robots for Supporting Older Adults in Pakistani Homes

Paper Title

Technology Meets Tradition: Investigating User Acceptance and Engagement with Robots for Supporting Older Adults in Pakistani Homes

Publication Info

• Topic area: Human-Robot Interaction in culturally specific caregiving contexts
• Keywords: Social assistive robots, aging population, cultural sensitivity, Urdu-speaking robots, caregiving technology, user acceptance, user engagement, Pakistan, family dynamics, holistic care

Background and Problem

• Problem / challenge: Limited research exists on culturally sensitive social assistive robots (SARs) tailored for non-Western contexts like Pakistan, where aging populations face loneliness and caregiving challenges due to evolving family structures.
• Significance: Addressing the needs of older adults in Pakistan through SARs could alleviate caregiving burdens, enhance well-being, and provide companionship, especially in contexts of social isolation and limited access to technology.
• Motivation and related work: While SARs have been studied globally, their application in linguistically and culturally diverse settings like Pakistan remains underexplored. Existing research highlights the importance of aligning robots with users’ cultural and linguistic preferences, but gaps persist in understanding user perceptions and acceptance in real home environments.

Solution

• Proposed approach: A mixed-methods home study investigating user acceptance and engagement with an Urdu-speaking SAR among 14 older adults in Pakistan.
• Novelty:
  1. First study to explore older adults’ perceptions of SARs in Pakistani home settings.
  2. Empirical evidence and practical insights into SARs’ role in Pakistani households.
  3. Design recommendations for culturally sensitive SARs tailored to Pakistani traditions and values.
• Procedure and key techniques:
  • Conducted a 3-day home study with 14 participants aged 56–81 years.
  • Used the SoftBank Robotics Nao robot with Urdu speech capabilities via Wizard of Oz (WoZ) setup.
  • Evaluated user acceptance (TAM 2) and engagement (EAQ) through questionnaires, interviews, and video analysis.
  • Activities included medication reminders, Quran recitations, language learning, storytelling, and memory games.
  • Analyzed cultural alignment, family dynamics, and caregiving expectations through thematic interview analysis.

Results

• Concrete findings:
  • Anxiety (ANX) decreased significantly from Day 1 to Day 3 (F(1,13) = 19.74, p < 0.05).
  • Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU) improved significantly over the study (F(1,13) = 10.42, p < 0.05).
  • Engagement measures such as Focused Attention (FA) and Felt Involvement (FI) increased significantly (FA: F(1,13) = 4.61, p < 0.05; FI: F(1,13) = 5.50, p < 0.05).
  • Gaze declined significantly across days (F(1,13) = 6.74, p < 0.05), stabilizing by Day 2.
• Advantage over baselines: Enhanced acceptance and engagement through culturally sensitive design (Urdu language, religious integration) compared to generic SARs.
• Experiments / evaluation:
  • Mixed-methods approach combining TAM 2 and EAQ questionnaires, inductive thematic analysis of interviews, and video coding of engagement metrics.
  • Participants interacted with the robot in naturalistic home environments over three days.
• Limitations and future work:
  • Limited to first impressions; does not address long-term acceptance.
  • Robot was controlled via WoZ, limiting autonomous capabilities.
  • Participants were educated, potentially biasing results; future studies should include individuals with lower literacy levels.
  • Environmental distractions during home-based sessions may have influenced engagement.

Summary

This study explored the acceptance and engagement of Urdu-speaking social assistive robots (SARs) among older adults in Pakistan, revealing the importance of cultural and linguistic alignment in fostering meaningful interactions. Quantitative findings showed reduced anxiety and increased ease of use and engagement over three days, while qualitative insights highlighted the role of cultural norms, religious practices, and family dynamics in shaping perceptions. The study proposes six design considerations for culturally sensitive SARs, emphasizing faith-sensitive features, family-centered customization, inclusive access, and hardware resilience. These insights contribute to the broader understanding of SARs’ potential in non-Western caregiving contexts and pave the way for future research on long-term adoption and autonomous capabilities.