Care robot Genie trialled at Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading
Researchers say more testing is needed before routine use
A robot that is being used for care purposes has been trialled in Reading.
‘Genie’ is an experimental care robot that can be used as a companion for people who are ill in a hospital, rehabilitation centre or a care home.
The robot can help people by providing medication prompts, hydration reminders, appointment alerts, and daily mood check-ins.
As well as those care functions, it can also help by holding mobile phone calls and video calls, and providing entertainment through the radio, YouTube and Netflix.
Genie was devised by Service Robotics from Bristol, and tested at the Royal Berkshire Hospital.
Researchers at the University of Reading’s Henley Business School have guided pilot uses and surveys of care practitioners in the town.
The work has been conducted by Doctor Rodrigo Perez-Vega and Dr Echo Feng from the school’s Consumer Futures Lab.
They recently presented Genie as a window into the future of care at a meeting of Reading Borough Council’s Older People’s Working Group.
Dr Perez-Vega said: “In a survey of 79 staff on elderly care wards, 62 per cent saw a role for robots on dementia wards.
“With the council, they’ve visited over 50s at community centres in Whitley Wood and Southcote.
“The university is working with robotic engineers to help deploy them and build familiarity.”
The survey respondents did express concerns about scams and privacy, with the doctors stating the Genie require more testing with other hospitals and councils ahead of routine adoption.
Dr Feng said: “Genie needs to be charged and connected to WiFi. That is a little bit of a restriction, but the technology develops every day.”
Following a question from councillor Andrew Hornsby-Smith (Labour, Church), they clarified that Genie can be connected to a TV via an HDMI cable to provide a bigger screen for clients.
The doctors played a video of Genie which highlighted its features, including the video call, medication reminder and entertainment functions.
The presentation was welcomed by cllr Paul Gittings (Labour, Coley), who expressed a desire for more trials of Genie to take place to aid the council’s ‘home first’ policy of helping people readjust to home living after a hospital visit.
He said: “In Reading we have a home first policy, I see this as a ‘super Alexa’ service.
“This has got some potential, it’s a glimpse into the future.”
The presentation was held in the council chamber on Friday, October 16.
The group also heard from the community organisation SaveEnergy, which provides a free home energy advice service.
The next meeting of the group will take place on Friday, February 5, 2027.