Robotics in Social Care: Let’s Talk About the Reality, Not the Fantasy
Robotics in Social Care: Let’s Talk About the Reality, Not the Fantasy
What happens when we talk about robots in social care—but without robotics experts in the room?
I recently attended "Your Life in Robot Hands", a Science Speakeasy event at the Life Science Centre. Excited by the title (because, robots!), I expected a conversation about real-world advancements in robotics—the science, the development, the practical applications.
Instead, I found a fascinating but frustrating discussion focused on social, financial, and ethical barriers to robotics in care. It was an insightful panel, featuring a social care expert, a qualitative researcher, and a disabilities scholar, but—tellingly—no one who actually worked in robotics.
The Missing Piece: Talking About Robotics Without Robots
The discussion did a great job of exploring the barriers, such as:
Funding & infrastructure challenges—There’s no clear structure to make robotics accessible to those who need it.
Public resistance to surveillance—Many people don’t want constant monitoring, fearing a loss of independence.
Lack of participation in development—Even when technologies emerge, users often don’t get a voice in their creation.
....It didn’t give much insight into the solutions or the current state of robotics in social care. When the panel was asked, “What robotic technology in social care excites you?”—there wasn’t a clear answer. And that was disappointing.
Why This Matters: Robotics Is a Tool, Not a Dystopian Fantasy
One of the biggest problems in how we talk about robotics is the disconnect between perception and reality.
The event's promotional image showed an elderly man gazing lovingly at a humanoid helper robot—an iRobot-esque dream that doesn’t really exist yet.
The reality? Robotics in social care today is mostly assistive technology—devices that help lift patients, detect falls, or provide medication reminders.
The problem? Conversations about robotics are either utopian or dystopian, when in fact, robotics is just a tool—a powerful one, but one that needs to be taught precise tasks and used effectively.
We need to stop pretending that robotics is this far-off futuristic overlord and instead talk about how we integrate real robotics into social care today.
Final Thoughts: Moving the Conversation Forward
I left the event feeling that while the panel did a great job of engaging the public, it didn’t push the conversation forward in terms of robotics as a practical tool. If we want real progress, we need to:
Include robotics and AI experts in these discussions.
Talk about what’s actually available right now, not just barriers.
Make robotics less intimidating—help people see it as a tool, not an all-seeing entity.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention what a fantastic event the Life Centre put together. I did feel it was missing certain aspects, but the panel did justice to the conversations, and the chair did a brilliant job guiding the discussion. The audience was engaged, and the discussion was cohesive and accessible. Regardless of what I wanted from a panel on robotics in social care, having a platform that opens discussions about elusive social topics is remarkably important—even when the topic leaves us with more questions than answers.
Because the future of social care isn’t human vs. robot—it’s human AND robot, working together.
What do you think? Have you seen robotics in care settings? Do you think public perception is helping or hurting its progress? Let’s discuss!
