Familiar with computers to such an extent that she has her own blog, which she even updates on a daily basis, 94‑year‑old Lea Mina Ralli was the ideal «volunteer» to test the technologies being developed within the framework of the European project GiraffPlus.
The goal of the project is to create a set of devices that will enable independent living for seniors such as Mina Ralli, who want to continue living on their own, despite the difficulties they face due to advanced age. “Many ask me why I don’t live with my daughter, but she has her own family and therefore several responsibilities»,” says the hyper-elite in the dedication made by the Commission to the project.
In GiraffPlus devices there is a robot «telepresence», which takes care of the elderly person's communication with the «outside world». Through the camera on the «face», the microphones and its speakers, the robot allows her to communicate at any time via image and voice with relatives, friends, and doctors who monitor her.
As it happens with the other devices of the project, the 94‑year‑old Italian woman «cohabits» with the robot for 5 months, which she has named «Mr. Rodin», often writing about it on her blog. «With Mr. Rodin I feel calmer about the years to come, as do my children and grandchildren», she adds.
In the framework of the project, a large variety of sensors has also been developed, which have been designed to monitor various activities (e.g., cooking or sleeping), as well as devices that measure blood pressure or sugar. In this way, the responsible parties can monitor the daily life of the elderly and check that no problem has arisen.
At GiraffPlus, scientists from 6 European countries are participating, and the goal is that by the end of the year the platform will have been installed in 15 more homes for testing. Based on the schedule, the technologies will be made available commercially by the end of 2015.
Source: kathimerini.gr
