The Paro seal robot: demeaning or enabling?

The Paro seal robot resembles a baby harp seal, and has been designed as a therapeutic robot for use with older people, particularly those with dementia. Its behaviours encourage nurturing behaviour: it has an appealing face, cries out like a seal, and responds to stroking (or hitting). In this paper, claims about the positive effects that the seal robot has on the health and well being of those who interact with it are considered. So too are the objections that have been raised about its use: that it could lead to reduced social contact, and that its use involves the deception, and infantilisation of vulnerable older people, and that it negatively affects their dignity. The benefits and costs associated with the robot are considered in the context of the Capability Account [1] which provides an account of what is required for a life worthy of human dignity. .