Perceptions on bringing the VTV to Japan and robots into care: A study of the Danish welfare technology assessment model ‘VTV’ in Japan
Translated title
Perceptions on bringing the VTV to Japan and robots into care
Authors
Lausen, Marcus Helsberg ; Jacobsen, Emil Buch
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2019
Submitted on
2019-06-06
Pages
87
Abstract
Afhandlingen undersøger, hvordan den danske model for vurdering af velfærdsteknologi, VelfærdsTeknologiVurdering (VTV), bliver oversat og brugt i Japan som Assistive Technology Assessment Tool (ATAT). Formålet er at forstå, hvordan VTV/ATAT bliver opfattet i en japansk sammenhæng, og hvilken værdi og hvilke udfordringer det giver i udvikling og indførelse af plejerobotter. Vi gennemførte feltarbejde i Japan og arbejdede sammen med de aktører, der omformer VTV til ATAT. Vores metode bestod af kvalitative interviews, deltagerobservation og workshops for at belyse interessenters syn på ATAT. Derudover afprøvede vi selv værktøjet på to kommunikationsrobotter, OriHime (OryLab) og Palro (Fujisoft). Med udgangspunkt i STS (videnskabs- og teknologistudier) og situationsanalyse, som kortlægger aktører og problemstillinger i en konkret situation, viser vi, at ATATs relevans forstås i lyset af de politiske strategier, som præger udvikling og implementering af plejerobotter. ATAT opleves som relevant, fordi robotters virkninger er komplekse og ikke lader sig indfange af snævre, forudsigelige målinger. Set som et 'grænseobjekt'—et fælles redskab, som forskellige grupper kan bruge på hver deres måde—er det en udfordring at få ATAT til at rumme mange divergerende perspektiver, og fleksibilitet er nødvendig. Vi erfarede, at ordet 'vurdering' kan mindske fleksibiliteten, fordi det forbindes med at måle faste effekter og sikre kvalitet. Vi konkluderer, at modellen ikke rummer alle svar i sig selv og fortsat kræver justeringer. Samtidig kan ATAT bidrage til, at beslutningstagere i højere grad forholder sig til berørte interessenter og til de komplekse forhold, der opstår, når ny teknologi indføres i plejesektoren.
This thesis examines how the Danish model for assessing welfare technology, VelfærdsTeknologiVurdering (VTV), is adapted and used in Japan as the Assistive Technology Assessment Tool (ATAT). The aim is to understand how VTV/ATAT is perceived in a Japanese context and what value and challenges it brings to developing and introducing care robots. We conducted fieldwork in Japan and collaborated with the people transforming VTV into ATAT. Our methods included qualitative interviews, participatory observation, and workshops to explore stakeholders’ views of ATAT. We also tried the tool ourselves by applying it to two communication robots, OriHime (OryLab) and Palro (Fujisoft). Drawing on STS (science and technology studies) and situational analysis, which maps the actors and issues in a specific situation, we find that ATAT’s relevance is shaped by political strategies that influence how care robots are developed and implemented. ATAT is seen as useful because the effects of robots are complex and cannot be captured by narrow, predictable metrics. Viewed as a 'boundary object'—a shared tool that different groups can use in their own ways—it can be challenging for ATAT to accommodate many divergent perspectives, and flexibility is needed. We found that the word 'assessment' can reduce flexibility because it is associated with fixed measurements and quality assurance. We argue that the model does not contain ready-made answers and still needs adjustments. At the same time, ATAT may help decision-makers engage more with affected stakeholders and with the complications that arise when new technology is introduced in the care sector.
[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]
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