K. Omar et al. (Eds.): FIRA 2013, CCIS 376, pp. 390–404, 2013. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013 Robots as Adjunct Therapy: Reflections and Suggestions in Rehabilitation for People with Cognitive Impairments Syamimi Shamsuddin 1,2 , Norjasween Abdul Malik 1 , Hafizan Hashim 1 , Hanafiah Yussof 1 , Fazah Akhtar Hanapiah 3 , and Salina Mohamed 3 1 Center for Humanoid Robots and Bio-sensing (HuRoBs), Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia 2 Faculty of Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM), Hang Tuah Jaya, 76100 Durian Tunggal, Melaka, Malaysia 3 Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Sungai Buloh Campus, 68100 Batu Caves, Malaysia syamimi@ieee.org, norjasweenabdulmalik@gmail.com, {hafizan8085, hanafiah1034,fazah,salina075}@salam.uitm.edu.my Abstract. The expanding function of robots in rehabilitation has allowed for new intervention methods that are accurate, motivating and repetitive. By analyzing current state-of-the-art evidences, this paper proposes considerable necessities for robots to take part in the rehabilitation environments. Suggestions focus specifically on intervention for people affected by autism, Cerebral Palsy (CP) and dementia. Overall, a robot in human shape present advantages over other types of robots in autism and CP therapy context as it is physically suitable in imitation-based therapy. However, for elderly people affected with dementia, so far only robots in animal shape have been utilized in therapy and succeed to improve their mental functions. Keywords: human-robot interaction, rehabilitation robotics, humanoid robot. 1 Introduction In most parts of the world, robotics technology has become an important part of everyday lives. Robots that used to exist as factory automatons and as research ‘articles’ in solitary labs in universities are now gaining places in our lives in a multitude of roles. The expanding role of robots coincides with the sole purpose of improving the lives of mankind. Notably, the global population that expands every second signifies the growing number of people born with disabilities and also the prevalence of disability that increases steadily with age. It is estimated that 650 million people in this world live with a disability. Plus, 8 out of ten disabled people live in developing countries. As these disabled people are a part of the society that we live in, proper care and rehabilitation are crucial so that they can live the lives of normal people as much as possible. Effective usage of robotics technology in aid of the disabled holds promising and effective possibilities as it is motivating, accurate, objective and adaptive to the needs