Support for developing social robot apps for mental health and well-being

• Grant number: 24/20634-9
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International
• Start date: August 01, 2026
• End date: September 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Computer Science - Computing Methodologies and Techniques
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Fantinato
• Grantee: Marcelo Fantinato
• Visiting researcher: Patrick C K Hung
• Visiting researcher institution: University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), Canada
• Host Institution: Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades (EACH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This project aims to bolster the RoboCARE initiative, a thematic project submitted to FAPESP (2024/16263-5) for cooperative implementation between the School of Arts, Sciences, and Humanities at the University of São Paulo (EACH-USP) in Brazil and a team from the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom. This initiative specifically focuses on enhancing applications for telepresence robots to support mental health and cognitive well-being among older adults. This two-month collaboration will primarily involve defining the requirements, modeling, and designing applications tailored to this context, aligning with the project's co-production and codesign ethos.If the thematic project is not approved, the visiting professor's stay will serve as an opportunity to review and refine the proposal, leveraging their expertise in the field to strengthen the project for resubmission.The visiting professor will contribute to:1. Defining Requirements: Establishing detailed functional and user-centered specifications for applications that address mental health support needs among elderly individuals. This will involve gathering insights from relevant stakeholders, including healthcare providers and potential users.2. Modeling and Designing Applications: Structuring application frameworks and user interfaces that are accessible, user-friendly, and conducive to the needs of older adults, leveraging ethnographic insights from RoboCARE's ongoing co-creation workshops.3. Supporting Early Implementation and Testing: Overseeing the initial development stages and conducting preliminary trials to evaluate usability, accessibility, and effectiveness. These early tests will adhere to RoboCARE's methodology, ensuring that feedback from healthcare providers and older adults is incorporated into the design iterations.The collaborative project will adhere to co-design principles, actively involving end-users and healthcare professionals to ensure applications are contextually relevant, ethically sound, and designed to facilitate real-world integration within long-term care settings. This short-term support is intended to enrich the RoboCARE framework and set a foundation for scaling the applications in broader healthcare contexts. (AU)