Social Robot Teddy Bear by Fujitsu – for dementia patients

Teddy bears are not just cuddly creatures for kids at bed time. Fujitsu Labs has developed a prototype teddy bear for adults that’s packed with some sophisticated hardware and can interact with and respond to humans. The stuffed bear is being called a  “social robot with a personality,” and can make simple gestures, eye contact and small talk.

The hope is to use them for “robot therapy” in geriatric medicine for patients that suffer from dementia, says Fujitsu.

Fujitsu’s teddy bear robot is reminiscent of Pleo, the green robotic dinosaur capable of displaying basic emotions through animatronics and reacting to its surroundings. Despite Pleo’s innovative approach and tech capability, the robot didn’t really become a mainstream sensation –largely because it was positioned as a toy.

Fujitsu’s teddy bear robot comes with loftier ambition. The robotic teddy bear can be plugged to a PC using a USB port. Sensors stuffed into it help it make some gestures such as lifting one of its furry hands up in response to external stimuli.

The bears have a miniature camera built into their nose so they can automatically wake up from sleep state when they sense a person nearby and can turn in their direction.  A voice synthesizer inside the device lets it channel the voice of a young boy. The sound is projected from a built-in speaker and synchronized to the robot’s behavior.

The robotic bears are capable of up to 300 movement patterns including raising its arms, looking downwards and kicking its feet. The movement are combined with display of “emotions” to signal happiness, sadness and anger, says Fujitsu. And since the robot can be connected to the PC, new movements can be recorded and displayed.

What makes these robots interesting, says Fujitsu, is that it is interactive and real, in a world that is increasingly filled with virtual interactions. The bears can be played with and are likely to integrate easily into people’s lives, says the company.

Fujitsu hopes its teddy bear can help develop “robot therapy,” a way to use robots to help people overcome challenges or problems–much like how animals are used to cheer up patients in some hospitals today.

If you want to see how the robotic teddy bears work, check out this video:

Source: Wired

Voda Phone + Red Cross = Assited Living For AD Patients

Vodafone is working with the Spanish Red Cross to offer a service called SIMAP – Intelligent Personal Alert Monitoring System – which supports people with Alzheimer’s disease and their care givers. It is a personal monitoring service with an alert programme that provides information on the user’s location, either on demand or in the event of an emergency. The Alzheimer’s patient has a mobile terminal with a built-in GPRS modem and GPS receiver linked to the SIMAP platform. The terminal automatically submits its position and status to the platform every three minutes, with the possibility of customising this time interval.

 

Please Be Patient Card

Use these cards to discreetly let someone know that your loved one has Alzheimer’s and it may take them a little longer to make a decision or to excuse them for saying something unexpected.

Carry the cards with you when taking your loved one to a restaurant, shopping, traveling, or even to a doctor’s office (who may not be examining them for a dementia-related issue).

Show it to the person helping you to easily, succinctly and subtly explain that your loved might need a little more time or a little more patience.

The impatience of some store clerks has been expressed in the research. This is a very simple but effective solution to this problem. So discreet that it will protect the PWD’s dignity and pride.

One Moment Please Post-It Notes

 

Going shopping, to a restaurant, or just out for a drive and worried about him/her not being able to use the public bathroom? He can’t go into the men’s room alone and you cannot go in with him, or can you? Caregivers assisting a loved one who is unable to use the public bathroom unassisted can post these notes on the door outside. Carry them in your pocket or purse and just stick one on the door when needed. The stop sign captures attention and the succinct instructions get the point across – there’s a lady in here helping her father or husband and we’ll both be out in just a minute – Please Be Patient.

Product Features:

• Large, black text on a white background
• Prominent red stop sign
• 25 – 4″ x 6″ sheets per pad
• Removable, self-adhesive “sticky” strip along the top of each sheet

What we like best about this product:
These Post-Its were produced by the Alzheimer’s Store in response to numerous requests by caregivers. It is truly a unique product which will serve its purpose well, when needed.

A product that only was able to be designed based on a very specific but real need of caregivers.

Telephone Hotline

Here’s a dial-less table top telephone that calls only one pre-programmed number the second you pick up the receiver. No long phone numbers to dial or to remember. Excellent for emergencies or just the comfort of knowing that someone familiar will be on the other end when you want to call them.

Product Features:

• Color: Black (only) [there is a product almost exactly the same in feature in white]
• Dial-less face

What we like best about this product: For those who may be having difficulty dialing or remembering their family’s telephone number, here’s a wonderful, subtle, and considerate gift. And it can serve an important need for the caregiver as well – give this phone to a loved one and never again worry that your loved cannot call their family because of a miss-dialed number, a moment of panic when, perhaps due to a senior moment, they suddenly could not remember the right number – just pick up the receiver.

What our customers like about this product: The hot line phone is working very well for my mother.  She can’t mess up the programming and she can just pick up the handset to call me.  The bell could be louder given her hearing is poor, but we have improved it by sitting the phone on a metal cookie sheet to make the bell ring carry better.  Black is also a good color.  It doesn’t show dirt, and is sitting on what used to be my Dad’s half of the bed, and the black phone shows up well against a white blanket making it easier to see.  Thanks for having this available.
Paula
(for my Mom Virginia)

Scoop Plate

This 9″ diameter plate has a high, tapered, contoured back that allows the user to push and capture food that might otherwise be pushed off the plate or abandoned.  The high back wall is useful also to grasp while scooping food. The plate has a slip-resistant base. Break-resistant plastic, microwavable, dishwasher safe (top rack)

Nothing strange or unusual to attach to, break or fall off the plate. This contoured plate looks enough like your own dinnerware to fit right on the table, providing dignity and subtle assistance.  It also has a non-slip bottom to further assist and prevent challenges eating.  But best of all, it works really well, making it possible and easier to continue to get every bite.

Why always white? Maybe think about more contrasting colors for more advanced? Doesn’t need to be a solid color, the inclusion of color can be nicely designed:

Four-Button Memory Picture Phone

The Photo Memory Telephone offers four large picture buttons (1″ x 1-1/2″ each).  Press the picture to automatically dial that person. Features include: large, easy-to-read buttons; adjustable handset volume (up to 40 decibels); plus adjustable volume control; and it’s hearing aid compatible. A removable cover fits over the number buttons leaving only the picture buttons visible. (Color: White) 

For the first time here is a phone that provides only the necessary information: the picture to press to call the people your loved one wants to call. No numbers to dial, just a simple solution to the problem of remembering their number and dialing it correctly.

Audio Patient Monitoring System

The Audio Patient Monitoring System allows the caregiver to listen in on the patient from their bedside or while moving about the house (Range: 150 feet). The Basic Package includes a patient bedside unit with speaker/microphone; a remote, wireless, caregiver speaker/microphone; and two ac adapters for continuous use and charging the batteries (batteries included).  Both the bedside unit and the caregiver speaker/microphone can be mobile (6 – 8 hours battery life for the caregiver unit, 8 – 10 hours for the patient base unit) or used continuously plugged into a standard electrical outlet. The Audio Patient Monitoring System will constantly monitor a patient (like a baby monitor), hearing all sounds, plus the caregiver has the ability to speak (and listen) to the patient from anywhere in the home via their portable, remote, wireless unit. If more privacy is desired, the unit can also be used as a speak-only pager allowing the patient to call and talk to the caregiver by manually pressing the button on a corded bedside microphone (included), turning off the constant listening feature.

 

Add a bed, chair or floor pad which plugs into the patient unit and sends an unmistakable alarm to the remote caregiver unit, if and when the patient gets up from the chair or bed, or steps on the floor pad – simultaneously monitoring the patient sounds. (2-second delay for bed & chair  pad, 1-yr. warranty on all pads)

What we like best about this product: In the event of a fall or when help is needed before the patient tries to get out of bed two way communication is critical, “Don’t get out of bed Mom, I’m on my way to help you.” No other monitor that we have found provides this very important feature.  It will also notify you if and when you are out of range or the battery is getting low.

Target: Live-in  Caregiver

Feature: Audio, 2 way communication, alarm

No Visual feature

Fire Rated Door Mural

These high resolution, full color door murals camouflage the door, making it appear to be a set of shelves, rather than an exit.

Product Features:

• Size: 3′-0″ x 6′-8″
• Full Color
  
• Material: Class A, Fire-rated Polyvinyl
  
• Attaches with peel off adhesive
  
• Self-adhering, Removable

Paper door murals are one step to deterring residents from opening dangerous doors, however, some Fire Marshals take exception to this because any combustible material added to a fire-rated door directly affects the combustibility (and therefore the fire-rating) of that door. However, non-combustible, fire rated materials do not.

These door applications are printed on Class A, fire rated polyvinyl. They are not only non-combustible, but self-extinguishing. They can actually improve the fire-rating of the door. Thus the Fire Marshall should take no exception to the application of these door murals and the ultimate goal of creating a safer environment for the residents is accomplished.