Page 31 - Seniorstoday May 2024 Issue
P. 31

and sophisticated voice assistants are             their lightweight construction, they’re also
         integrated into smart speakers.                    beneficial for those with mobility issues,
          Once your voice assistant is set up,              and their quiet operation lets you go about
         activate it using its wake-up word followed        other activities with peace of mind.
         by a command. For instance, say, “Hey
         Siri, turn the air conditioner on” or “Hey         Medical Alert Systems
         Alexa, switch the porch lights on”. Having
         someone remind you to take your pills can
         be a genuine blessing. Give it instructions
         like, “Alexa, remind me to take my
         Omega-3 medicine daily at 8:00 pm.
          According to Statista smart speaker
         market share, Amazon Echo dominates the
         global market with a 65% share, followed
         by Google Home at 26% and Apple
         HomePod at 19%. In India, Amazon Echo              A medical alert system comprises three
         holds a significant majority with 61% of the       parts: a help button usually worn on
         market share, followed by Google Home at           the wrist or around the neck, a two-way
         28% and Apple HomePod at 14%.                      communication system placed at home,
                                                            and an emergency response centre.
         Robotic Vacuums                                     Pressing the button on the device
                                                            activates the system and sends an alert to
                                                            the two-way speaker base unit. The unit
                                                            then connects you to a trained emergency
                                                            response operator who, depending on the
                                                            emergency, dispatches emergency services
                                                            or informs your emergency contact. The
                                                            advantage of a medical alert system over
                                                            a mobile phone is that it is always on your
                                                            body and can summon emergency help
         Aging makes us more susceptible to dust            with a simple press of a button.
         and allergens, which, when left unchecked,          Modern medical alert systems are
         can cause respiratory disturbances and             equipped with advanced features, like
         infections. Robotic vacuums employ                 step tracking, fall detection, health vitals
         mapping technology to create a blueprint           monitoring, and voice recognition, albeit at
         of your home, and their high-efficiency            steeper prices. Most systems also integrate
         brushes, suction, and filters capture              with an online app, enabling caregivers
         minute particles even from hard-to-reach           to monitor multiple user profiles, track
         spots.                                             their location, contact customer service,
          Seniors barely need to intervene since the        and more. Furthermore, when you update
         vacuums have a self-emptying feature and           your account information in the app, the
         automatically move toward their charging           changes will be registered with customer
         dock when running out of juice. Given              service.


        SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #59 | MAY 2024                                                                31
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