Hyodol, A Doll-Shaped Robot

Cover Image: An older woman in her eighties is holding her Hyodol, a doll-shaped robot developed and distributed for older adults who live alone in South Korea. A care worker says that Hyodol was a huge help when the lady had a hard time physically and mentally during the pandemic. More than 10,000 units of Hyodol are currently in use in South Korea, which raises questions on the changing meanings of relationships and care. On the cover, a visual effect of AI sonograms has been added to the original photo to represent the intimate relationship between older individuals and care robots, focusing on their synesthetic experiences involving sound, touch, and verbal interactions.