Circuits of Care: Ageing and Japan’s Robot Revolution

By 2036, one in three people in Japan will be over the age of 65. While the nation wrestles with a shrinking labour force, the Robot Revolution Initiative was launched to expand robotics into every corner of Japanese economy and society. Circuits of Care follows anthropologist David Prendergast as he meets researchers developing and testing assistive technologies for older adults. From cybernetic walking supports to companion robots and automated sensor networks in nursing homes, older adults and care professionals share their experiences of the practical benefits these technologies bring, the problems they create and the unexpected relationships that can blossom.

Director, producer. Social anthropologist and Professor of Science, Tecnology and Society at Maynooth University in Ireland where he was also previously Head of the Department of Design Innovation. David also worked at Intel for eleven years where he was a Principal Investigator at the "Technology Research for Independent Living Centre" and co-founder of the "Intel Collaborative Institute for Sustainable Connected Cities". He has served as Visiting Professor of Healthcare Innovation at the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Trinity College Dublin. His latest book "Aging and the Digital Life Course" was named a CHOICE "Outstanding Academic Title" by the American Library Association. Filmography: Circuits of Care: Ageing and Japan´s Robot Revolution (2021) Documentary - director, producer

– Long Story Shorts International Film Festival 2021 – Best Documentary (Romania)
– World Film Carnival 2021 – Outstanding Achievement Award Documentary (Singapore)
– Film in Focus International Film Festival 2021 – Nominee Best Documentary (Romania)
– Chicago Indie Film Awards 2021 – Official Selection (USA)
– Indigo Moon Festival 2021 – Official Selection (USA)
– Society for Visual Anthropology Film and Media Festival 2021 – Official Selection (USA)