PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Robots are increasingly replicating more and more lifelike human behavior, but can they imitate animals? This is a different twist on robotic pets and scientists say they can serve as friends and therapy aids to the growing elderly population.  

[with video] ***This story and video originally ran/aired on USA Today. It’s reposted here with permission.*** Brooklyn resident Marilyn Stone* isn’t your typical early tech adopter. She’s 95 years old, can’t see or hear very well anymore, and grew up in a time when...

Jennifer Jolly | Special to USA TODAY When you think of tech early adopters, this Brooklyn resident isn’t who typically comes to mind. She’s 95 years old, can’t see or hear very well anymore, and grew up in a time when the hottest new gadgets around were toaster ovens...

Here, robo kitty! When elderly clients of the Bronx-based RiverSpring Health Plans are feeling low, they might get a cat in their lap — a robotic cat that is. Susan Garelick, 66, did. After she said goodbye forever to her 14-year-old feline two years ago, she was...

Those ages 50 and older in the U.S. generate $7.6 trillion in economic activity, according to AARP, representing a huge financial force. That trend will grow as the number of older adults more than doubles by 2050, representing over 20% of the population.  

Using robotic pets to relieve isolation in dementia patients by Ted Fischer As health care costs for a growing population of older adults continue to skyrocket, the opportunity to address patient needs has become saturated with expensive solutions, from...

So your kid is asking for a pet, right? Of course, he or she is. Get your child a robot dog instead. There’s no clean-up, and no walks during torrential downpours. But all that aside, given that they come in all shapes in sizes, what is most fascinating about robot...

You’ve probably heard of pet therapy, a type of animal-assisted intervention used to improve a patient’s social, emotional, and cognitive functioning. It’s been shown to be particularly helpful for seniors. But what you may not realize is that using robotic cats and...