AI Lonely Pensioner Aid

The piece of equipment would be very similar to the Amazon Echo or similar but suitably equipped for a/an elderly, disabled or lonely person with zero IT skills.  

No doubt the unit would need to connect to wifi via an in-built hub/modem, however

The unit would also come with a small input keyboard such that friends or relatives could program in important / emergency phone numbers.

The unit would be capable, by voice command alone, of making phone calls, answering questions, playing music or tuning into radio stations.  -  Maybe when further developed operating a variety of household functions/appliances.

Why the contribution is important

Isolation and loneliness is an increasingly unfortunate development of society's progress as we live longer and become more insular.  Certainly many of the current older generation have already been left behind by the rapid pace of modern technology.

Essentially if they've not installed wifi by now, it's unlikely they will in the future.

by BruceSmith on May 30, 2018 at 07:34PM

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Comments

  • Posted by BruceSmith May 30, 2018 at 20:08

    Eg. I have an elderly relative, registered blind, living alone but with zero IT skills. He relies on his radio and can no longer see TV - and more importantly the digits on a telephone. He has a number of serious health issues but couldn't summon help as he refuses to use a push button emergency call button. A device that he could talk to, and which would provide entertainment, information, advice and help would GREATLY increase the quality of his life.

  • Posted by NSeletzky June 07, 2018 at 14:15

    Google or Amazon devices could probably do this with the appropriate software, but they would need as you said, to be able to be operated by someone with 0 IT skills. It would be good if such a company would volunteer to contribute an "elder friendly" version of their device.

  • Posted by OAIteam July 11, 2018 at 12:35

    Many thanks for your response. The Office for Artificial Intelligence recently attended CogX, a London-based AI festival that gives companies of all sizes the opportunity to network and demonstrate the technologies they are developing. Products similar to what you set out are becoming available, for example during this presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJpCz3YRx70. Businesses are therefore reacting to the needs of customers and we fully support the emergence of the innovative products that are emerging.
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