EU-funded robot system to assist elderly
An FP7-funded team has developed the GiraffPlus system, a robot that assists older people in their homes and connects them to family, friends and healthcare professionals.
The EU invested €3m in GiraffPlus to test how robots and other devices could help older people live safer, more independent lives. Wearable devices and sensors throughout the home help keep an eye on the person’s health and activities. The sensors are designed to detect activities such as cooking, sleeping or watching television as well as monitor health, including blood pressure or sugar levels. They allow the person’s carers to monitor their wellbeing remotely and to check for falls. A robot moves around the home and allows family, friends and carers to virtually visit the person.
Neelie Kroes, European Commission Vice-President with responsibility for the Digital Agenda, explained: “None of us is getting any younger. But we all want to know that we will not lose our dignity, respect and independence as we age. The EU is investing in new technology that can support the silver generation – adding not just years to our life, but also life to our years.”
Adding her thoughts, Amy Loutfi, project co-ordinator based at Örebro University in Sweden, said: “GiraffPlus will be in 15 homes by the end of 2014. So far we have had six homes in Europe – two homes each in Spain, Sweden and Italy – that have lived with the GiraffPlus system. We currently are in the middle of the evaluations, but we see that various aspects of the system are appreciated differently by the different users. This goes to show that a one size fits all approach to technology at home is not necessarily the best, and technology should be both adaptable and tailored to users’ needs.”
There plans are to put the system into commercial production next year. The GiraffPlus consortium includes public and private partners from Italy, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the UK.
