Animatronic pets at retirement homes a sign of how robots will contribute to our lives

GLEN ARM, Maryland: Mary Thompson sits in a hallway at Glen Meadows Retirement Community, staring aimlessly. Since she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's around six years ago, it's been difficult to get the 86-year-old to interact with others, her son Mark Thompson said. 

Most of her sentences don't make sense and she doesn't talk much. But place Henry – a robotic cat – in her lap, and her whole demeanour begins to change.