What is it about?
The study presents the design of a self-disinfecting, socially acceptable healthcare robot to assist with basic tasks in isolation rooms. Using the Social Robot Co-design Canvasses (SRCC) and human-centered design principles, the robot was tailored to the needs of Lebanese patients and medical staff. The paper outlines the design process, user feedback, and engineering details, offering a practical foundation for future hospital use.
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Why is it important?
This work addresses a critical healthcare challenge: reducing unnecessary physical contact in isolation rooms while maintaining quality care. By designing a socially acceptable assistive robot grounded in human-centered design and tailored to the needs of Lebanese patients and medical staff, the study offers a culturally sensitive, scalable solution for performing routine tasks. The robot is intended to support routine tasks and incorporates features such as planned self-disinfection. It could support healthcare workers, reduce exposure risk, and provide a replicable design framework for future development.
Perspectives
Working on this article was both a technical and deeply human journey. It gave me the chance to explore how robotics can serve people in vulnerable situations, not by replacing care, but by supporting it in ways that are respectful and culturally appropriate. I was especially motivated by the voices of patients and medical staff in Lebanon, whose insights shaped the design. I hope this work contributes to more compassionate, inclusive healthcare technologies.
Nijad Al Dubayssi
American University of Beirut
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: SHARE-C: Social Healthcare Assistive Robot within a Lebanese Engagement Context, ACM Transactions on Human-Robot Interaction, September 2025, ACM (Association for Computing Machinery),
DOI: 10.1145/3748519.
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