Getting People to Exercise: Will Robots Be the Answer?

We were on vacation in a town near a major summer music venue when we were somewhat startled by the number of tourists in their 70s, 80s, and older walking extremely slowly, often holding onto the arm of a companion (or their walkers) for support. Indeed, one large parking lot was reserved for cars with handicap stickers, and large golf carts took their occupants to the performance hall. Was the slow, somewhat tentative movements of these concert goers and others strolling the streets of the nearby town an inevitable consequence of aging? Or was it the inevitable consequence of a sedentary, exercise-avoidant lifestyle? The decline in muscular strength, stamina, respiratory capacity, balance, and loss of muscle is a well-described consequence of aging.