# Elderly Assuaging Androids Toco-Chan is a Robotic Panda That Keeps Grandpa Company By Omar Yusuf | Published 2011-11-24 | Life-Stages Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/toco-chan References: [japantrends](http://www.japantrends.com/communicative-robots-comfort-elderly/) & [tumblr](http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/tocco%20chan) Despite what alarmist sci-fi writers may have assumed about the nefariousness of robots, modern machines are especially poised to take care of the elderly, and Toco-Chan is willing to prove it. Dr. Kabe and his student research team at Waseada University are hard at work developing robots whose sole vocation is [comfort and companionship](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/yonbo-smart-home-robot). It may sound strange, but Toco-Chan is capable of not only recognizing his elderly friends, but noticing the subtle facial cues that imply their mood, state of relaxation and overall happiness. Equipped with a voice cute enough to melt your heart, this robotic Panda can engage in [lucid, comprehensive conversations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ourobot) with the senior citizens its been given to, and a chat with Toco-Chan is rarely, if ever one-sided. Let's just hope that grandpa doesn't wander into one of his directionless stories; even robots have their limits for boredom! ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.6/10 - Popularity: 16% | Activity: 25% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Life-Stages](https://www.trendhunter.com/life-stages) > [Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/toys) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Elderly Care Robots:** Opportunity for developing robots that provide comfort and companionship to the elderly. - **Emotion-recognizing Robots:** Disruptive innovation potential in robots that can recognize facial cues and respond to the emotions of their users. - **Conversational Robotics:** Potential for creating robots that can engage in comprehensive conversations with senior citizens. ### Who This Affects Most - **Healthcare:** Opportunity for implementing robots in healthcare settings to assist in elderly care. - **Technology:** Disruptive innovation potential in the technology industry to develop emotion-recognizing robots. - **Senior Living:** Opportunity for senior living facilities to adopt conversational robotics for improved resident engagement and companionship. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Biomimetic Companion Pandas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/anan.md) - [Interactive Companion Care-Bots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fourier-g3.md) - [Friendly Robotic Wheelchair Caregivers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wheelchair-robot-concept.md) - [Socially Motivating Companion Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mori-companion-robot.md) - [AI Care Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hyodol-doll.md) - [Healthcare Assistant Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/healthcare-assistant-robot.md) - [Socially Adept Gaming Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gaming-robots.md) - [AI-Based Children Companions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/robin-the-robot.md) - [Robotic AI Parrot Companions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/onorato-ai.md)