We’re all going to die some day and if you are unlucky enough to do it without any friends or family you might want to try it in the comforting robotic caress of artist and designer Dan Chen’s End of Life Care Machine.
Chen built his robot as part of his Master’s thesis which was entitled File > Save as > Intimacy. The robot is part of an interactive installation dubbed “Last Moment Hospital.” Dying patients are met at the installation by a “doctor” who invites them to lie on a bed. Their arm is then placed under the robot’s caressing arm, the doctor leaves the room and the robot gets to work.
The robot’s LED screen displays “Detecting end of life.” After caressing the arm for a few moments it displays “End of life detected.” It then begins to read from a prewritten script (which is personalized to include the patient’s name):
“Hello Susie, I am the Last Moment Robot.
I am here to help you and guide you through your last moment on earth.
i am sorry that [pause] your family and friends can’t be with you right now, but don’t be afraid. I am here to comfort you. [pause]
You are not alone, you are with me. [pause]
Your family and friends love you very much, they will remember you after you are gone. [pause]
Time of death 11:56″
I really hope that it never comes to that. [Source]
