Robots as a Mental Health coach in the workplace but their look plays a significant role.

 

Robots as a Mental Health coach in the workplace but their look plays a significant role.

 

 We are living in the age of a knowledge society where everything is tech-based everything is fast-paced and everything is automated.

 

The era of robotics and robots is a new normal, round ball-looking devices helping to get rid of dust simply, Thevacuum cleaner is replaced by cleaner robots, and robots are taken the place of waiters, even AI and robots are widely used in E-tourism. The

 

From security checks to baggage management even helping guests to reach their destinations robots are everywhere. China, Japan, and Korea are paving the path of a new robot-led society.

 

People staying at home or working from home felt stress, anxiety, and depression like never before.

 Lay-offs, lack of job security, and apprehensiveness towards disease.

 HOW ROBOTS CAN HELP?

The study conducted by the University of Cambridge established the fact that a robot can take care of mental well-being at the workplace.

 

The question now arises how can a robot help maintain mental health?

 

The experts of Cambridge made two robots, one humanoid, and one another toy-like.

 

Dr. Micol Spitale and his co-workers took their robots from the lab to real-life settings. And monitor the progress of robots. These robots are, ,the QTRRobot(QT) and the Misty . They supported employees to improve their mental well-being. The robot-guided employees through 4 different exercises. These just not worked for their mental soundness but also their physical health. Furthermore, participants who participated in the program discussed how robots are like coaches, their soothing voices, and facial expressions made them feel better and created a safe and relaxed environment.

 

One of the studies done by oracle Found that using automation or robots lowers the workload, helps in achieving better mental health, robots can be available 24*7, they can be trustworthy too.

 

Does the robot's appearance matter?

The nearly childish humanoid robot QT stands about 90 centimetres tall. Misty is a 36 centimetre tall robot that resembles a toy. The screen faces of both robots could be configured with various facial expressions.

 

The child-looking or humanoid-looking robot did not benefit the employees as the toy looking did. Most employees claim that the toy looking misty made them feel connected safe and calm, on the other hand, the child-looking humanoid robot was not that effective. Experts analysed that it could be because of our innate idea of robots which is usually like a toy. Robots are toys that's what we perceive that led to more trust in misty.

In conclusion, we can say that robots can revolutionize the whole process of mental well-being at the workplace however people do raise questions about what if robots attack us or could cause us injury. The article published on 22 October in labour economics indicated that robots are quite safe to work with. They will also facilitate humans to accomplish errands that can be harmful to humans. In simple terms, robots can change the whole working system and make habitation more enjoyable.

  

Griffin, C. (2023, March 16). Robot Interaction Improves Mental Wellbeing in Workplace.

 

Boxmining. https://boxmining.com/robot-interaction-improves-mental-wellbeing-in-workplace/

 

 

The cyborg therapist: How AI and humans working together can help employee mental health.

 

(n.d.). https://www.oracle.com/news/connect/how-ai-and-humans-working-together-can-help-employee-mental-health.html