Large field study uncovers possibilities for the use of robots
New article by CIMT researcher Mette Maria Skjøth, among others, explores the possibilities of using ethnographic observations to find cases for testing robots in daily life in a hospital.
The article describes a comprehensive study with 296 hours of ethnographic observations of work processes at Odense University Hospital. The observations have contributed an extensive amount of data, which will be used to develop cases to test whether robots can make a positive difference to workflows and personnel.
In a busy everyday life, the healthcare staff may not have the overview, energy or knowledge of the technical options needed to think about alternative workflows or opportunities for optimisations. So instead of simply asking the departments at the hospital if they can and want to test a robot, the researchers have observed workflows and processes so that they can assess where robots might be able to make a positive difference.
It has been a time-consuming process, but in return the researchers have gained extensive insight into work processes and the staff's need for support and help with everyday tasks. An insight which must now be used to develop cases to test robots and possibly other technological aids.
Read the article Robot use cases for real needs. Besides Mette Maria Skjøth, Leon Bodenhagen, Kerstin Fischer, Trine S. Winther and Rosalyn M. Langedijk are behind the article.