How can humanoid robots help address one of the greatest challenges of a long-lived society – loneliness among older people?
Prof. Emerita Dr. Jana Goriup, Head of the Department of Social Gerontology at Alma Mater Europaea University, presented in China a comparative perspective on Slovenia and China, as well as research work that connects social gerontology with the development of new technologies.
Population ageing and the loneliness of older adults are becoming increasingly important social challenges, while the rapid development of artificial intelligence and humanoid robotics is opening entirely new questions about what place technology will have in the lives of older people. This very intersection was the focus of the lecture by Prof. Emerita Dr. Jana Goriup during the visit of the Alma Mater Europaea University delegation to China.
In the lecture “The Social Role of Humanoid Robots in Overcoming Loneliness Among Older Adults – A Comparison Between Slovenia and China”, she presented the social dimensions of integrating humanoid robots into the lives of older people and the question of their potential role in reducing loneliness.
The comparison between Slovenia and China also offered an opportunity to reflect on two different social and cultural environments which, despite their differences, face a similar challenge: how to ensure a high-quality, inclusive, and dignified life in old age amid population ageing.
When social gerontology meets technology
The topic of the lecture is directly connected to the long-standing scientific research work of Prof. Emerita Dr. Jana Goriup. As Head of the Department of Social Gerontology at Alma Mater Europaea University and Professor Emerita of Sociology at the University of Maribor, she addresses issues ranging from the social inclusion and exclusion of older people to ageism, loneliness, poverty, human rights, and the marginalization of older adults.
An important part of her research interest also includes humanoid robots and their impact on the lives of older people. The development of such technologies is not merely a technological issue. It also raises questions of relationships, independence, dignity, and the place of the older person in a rapidly changing society.
It is precisely the social gerontological perspective that makes it possible for the human being to remain at the forefront alongside technological progress – their needs, relationships, and quality of life.
From humanoid robots to smart cities
On the second day of the visit, Prof. Emerita Dr. Jana Goriup and Dr. Nataša Štandeker also attended the Smart Cities Conference, which offered a broader view of the technological and social changes associated with the development of modern urban environments.
Smart cities are not merely a matter of infrastructure and digitalization. From the perspective of a longevity society, it is also important how new solutions can contribute to greater accessibility, independence, safety, and social inclusion for older residents.
Participation in the conference thus meaningfully complemented the central theme of Prof. Emerita Dr. Goriup’s research work: seeking answers to the question of how to connect technological development with the actual needs of people and society.
Dr. Goriup is the author and co-author of scientific monographs, chapters in scientific monographs, and original scientific articles in the fields of ageing, family and partner life, children, education, and other current social issues.
The presentation in China was therefore also an opportunity for the international presentation of the knowledge and research work being developed at Alma Mater in the field of social gerontology.
At a time when the world is simultaneously facing rapid population ageing and exceptionally fast technological development, linking these two fields is becoming increasingly important. The question of the future is therefore not only what humanoid robots will be capable of, but above all, what role we as a society will assign them in human life.
