Presentation on Emotional Robotics at the DGGG Conference in Frankfurt

16.09.2026

What role might robots play in the future care of older adults? And what factors determine whether new technologies will actually be adopted? Dr. Thorsten Kolling will address these questions in his presentation at the DGGG Congress in Frankfurt.

Robots in Nursing Care—A Blessing or a Curse?

Presentation titled “The Use of Emotional Robotics in an Aging Society: A Blessing or a Curse?” Presented at the DGGG Conference in Frankfurt

What role might emotional robots play in the future care of older adults? Dr. Thorsten Kolling (AOR) addressed this question in his research presentation at the conference of the German Society for Gerontology and Geriatrics (DGGG) in Frankfurt.

The research findings show that older adults accept communication robots as well as emotional and social-assistive robots in care settings. Various personality traits influence this acceptance, such as the tendency to anthropomorphize technical artifacts, prior experience with technology, or fear of technology. Users’ technology-related self-image also plays an important role in the acceptance of robots.

The congress of the German Society for Gerontology and Geriatrics took place in Frankfurt from October 23 to 26, 2026, with the theme “The Future of Aging: Perspectives in Flux.”