8 minute read
The robot revolution
TECHNOLOGY HOW CAN ROBOTS AND ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY AID INDEPENDENT LIVING FOR DISABLED INDIVIDUALS?
Whether they increase safety, improve accuracy, or reduce waste, robotics advances unprecedentedly. Technology is proven to add value but not replace human care.
The future of robotics in our daily lives is here and now. As Alexa has demonstrated, designed for a purpose, robotics or any other assistive technology can provide practicality in the home. Despite the advances in technology such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, facial recognition, and more, the one-stop-shop for all needs is not readily available for the masses. Instead, unique services are available for different use cases. As no two needs are the same, we must embrace the variations technology seeks to solve.
Social care providers around the UK also seek new solutions in technology to manage care demands and improve independent living. Life’s daily challenges can be complex, and people are seeking solutions to improve their independence safely. Confronting these challenges becomes more complicated when family and care providers aren’t around to help with daily tasks or provide companionship. Can robots help with this conundrum?
“A robot doesn’t replace human care,” one support worker commented. “But it does free up my time to provide meaningful care.” The potential for robotics in caregiving is great. Although there are doubts about whether robots can perform tasks safely and effectively, robotics in social care is on the rise. The care requirements globally have created new opportunities for robot-centric companies to push for increased awareness and acceptance of assistive robots.
A day in the life of Adam
To get an idea of how robots can impact the day-to-day life of disabled people, we spoke to Adam. Adam needs assistance managing his health conditions; daily medication is administered by his care worker on the visit days and prepared by his care worker for him to take alone on the non-visit days. However, he has difficulty ingesting medication, and if doses are missed, it has a severe impact on his mental and physical wellbeing. Completing tasks for daily living (e.g., shopping, cooking, managing finances) is another area where Adam receives support.
Unfortunately for the futuristicready adults, a robot that puts away the dishes or adds your laundry to the washing machine is not yet available. Equally, a robot to provide meaningful care such as conversations or sharing stories from the past is not ready. However, Adam does now use assistive technology and robotics to help him in some areas when his support worker is unavailable.
An 11 am daily medication reminder, which is audible and visual, on a Genie device. Though he has the reminder on his phone, he usually ignores these. “It [Genie the robot] is better than my phone because I’m so used to my phone’s reminders. It gives me more reinforcement.”
Adam told us, “Before [I had Genie], I knew that I needed to take my medication, but I would usually wait for my support worker to come, and I would miss medications on the days she wasn’t there. Missing medications made me poorly. When I hadn’t taken it, I had the shakes – it’s critical I take it every day.”
LEFT & BOTTOM Assistive technology allows users to communicate with loved ones as well as simulate companionship.
Adam feels that video-calling technology is one aspect that would really benefit him, giving an example of when his support worker has planned visits but cannot attend. He told us, “I think there will be times we could use it practically because I rely on her so much. There will be times when she can’t come, which makes me have a meltdown because if they send someone I don’t know, they can’t do what she can do. Genie would allow her to do most of the important things I need over the video calling feature, such as her helping me with my finances which is my biggest worry. It would work better than having someone else come in to cover for her.”
However, there are also challenges that come with robotics.
Take the Amazon Astro, a home monitoring robot. It can patrol the house to provide a video view of the house through an app on your phone. As Astro follows people, it can video call family or use the screen to watch Amazon Prime or Netflix. The periscope can rise three and a half feet from the floor, tall enough to peek over most countertops. The uses are endless. However, it may not be accessible to all disabled people, some adults with visual impairments may not see Astro on the floor, creating a trip hazard, which is also troublesome for more fragile users who live alone. A question to ponder is: what does a young child do with an Astro? It appears to be a toy-like item that will need monitor-ing if a young child starts to play with Astro. Could this be a danger for young adults, too?
What comes next for robots and social care?
In 2017, Service Robotics Ltd introduced GenieConnect® for older adults requiring remote care for some care needs. Since 2021, the evolution of the service has extended to adults with learning disabilities to enable greater independence, safety and choice.
iGenieConnect® has a touch screen that doubles as a face and gives GenieConnect® a bit of a personality. GenieConnect® asks Adam how he is feeling today, announces reminders for medication or living tasks, and provides entertainment. While Adam is aware that GenieConnect® is a robot, he acknowledges a kind of companionship and added value to his daily life. A setup, installation and training fee is set at £0.
AUTHOR: Tammy Whalen Blake,
Marketing Executive at Genie Connect
WEB: genieconnect.co.uk
HERE FOR YOU: KEEPING THE UK CONNECTED NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE
Lucy Baker, Digital Voice Director at BT Consumer
Connectivity forms an important part of our lives. It’s staying in touch with friends or loved ones, making a booking or even a purchase you love. What’s more, it finds out the latest information that helps keep you up to date. At BT, our mission is to ensure that everyone has the connectivity they need which is why we’re passionate about connecting people and future proofing the UK’s home phone network.
So, it’s time to update to a new digital home phone service that will stand the test of time. Existing phone lines run on technology that’s been around for more than a century, which no longer offers the best way to connect customers who want a landline home phone.
Laying the foundations for success
To ensure we make the switch as simple as possible for everyone, we’ve set up a Digital Voice Advisory Group. We’ve been collaborating closely with consumer associations and charities that represent those with additional needs and those who live in rural areas. We are listening and learning to ensure everything from how we communicate, to the products and services we provide, are designed to support our customers. Lorraine Gailey, Founding Director of We know that landlines are a lifeline for Hearing Partners and member of the Digital many, including those with disabilities or Voice Advisory Group said: “We often take additional needs, and that’s why the landline communication for granted. But for anyone isn’t going away. It’s simply being upgraded who has problems hearing, life can be really from analogue to digital and we’re here to challenging and isolating. We’ve been support you every step of the way. working with BT to ensure that
BT’s service is called Digital customers who have hearing Voice and for many, the impairments receive the switch is as simple as support they need when it plugging a handset comes to Digital Voice, into an internet router so that they’re able to rather than the phone fully benefit from this socket on the wall. new digital service.
Our customers are at As part of BT’s the heart of everything Customer Inclusion we do. So, we continue Panel for many years, to review and improve I’ve found it positive our approach to take and reassuring to into account the needs see how the company of our customers. We is prioritising future recognise everyone’s technology that is inclusive circumstances are unique. and taking the time to make Supporting those with sure everyone can benefit.”
additional needs
Our customers are at the heart of everything we do. So, we continue to review and improve our approach to take into account the needs of our customers.
For many, the landline is more than just a phone, as it supports equipment like health pendants or alarm systems. Customers need to feel confident that these systems will be there when they need them. We’ve been working with manufacturers since 2017 to support the switch to digital, including providing access to a dedicated testing lab.
We’re encouraging customers who use these systems to contact their provider if they’d like additional reassurance about these changes, to make sure their equipment is ready for a digital phone line.
Our Here For You campaign brings together products and services for those who need extra support. Here For You includes information about the latest accessibility options and priority services for customers with long-term illnesses or disabilities, advice for dealing with scams and the Home Essentials social tariff. You can let us know if you have additional needs by contacting us directly on 0800 800 150. We will be on hand to offer advice and support based on your circumstances and requirements.
We’re here to help
Those who want to have a home phone will need to make the switch to digital by December 2025. BT is here to help customers through this transition. If you have additional needs, please do contact us directly and we’ll provide you with guidance based on your individual requirements. You can call us on 0800 800 150.
The switch will ensure everyone stays connected now and into the future with a future-proof home phone service.
