GB2515991A - Online calendar access device for elderly people - Google Patents

Abstract

An online calendar access device, such as a portable appliance (figure 2) or mobile device (figure 6), provides a simple push-button interface for the elderly, infirm, or those with impaired eyesight, hearing or short-term memory, to retrieve messages from one or more online calendars, to help with everyday living. Messages (events and appointments) may be inserted in the calendar by a relative, carer or other competent person using an Internet connected personal computer or other mobile device. The device checks for updates and downloads the data from the calendars on a regular schedule. The device may provide feedback by updating the calendar or sending SMS text messages to a nominated mobile phone number. A user may access the calendar data by pressing one of several large distinct buttons P1,P2 & P3; typically one button each for messages from TODAY, TOMORROW or THIS WEEK. Messages are displayed on a character display screen, and/or audibly announced through a loudspeaker, or headphones. Pressing the button again will repeat the message output.

Description

Specification of an online calendar access device for elderly people -An online calendar access device for elderly oeoole.

Background:

Elderly people are living much longer nowadays, due to advances in medical science, health care and living standards. A recent (Feb 2013) parliamentary enquiry into Britain's rapidly ageing population heard evidence that between 2010 and 2030 flue number of people over 85 will doube, and the number of peope aged over 65 wiD increase by a factor 1.5 during the same period. Half of those born after 2007 can expect to Uve to over 100. The coroUary of this increase is that more old people wiU need caring for, and for longer.

Also nowadays the way we care for the elderly is changing; increased social mobility and aspiration, and the dispersal of families around the country means it is less common for the elderly to cohabit with their children, as might have been the case a few decades ago. More frequent is the case where elderly people remain longer in their own homes, and professional carers or relatives -sons and daughters -will visit the elderly people to provide care and support.

This combination of increased longevity, and provision of care in the home, means that today's generation of working age adults in their 50s and 60s are often supporting elderly parents or relatives in their 80s and 90s in their own homes.

Despite living longer, elderly people's bodies are often outliving their mental and sensory capabilities. h 2013 the Nuffleld Trust predicted a 32% increase ri elderly people with moderate or severe disability, and a 32% 50% rise in over-65s with chronic diseases. It is also predicted by a university study that the incidence of arthritis arid dementia (two of the live most corrlmori chronic conditions among the over.-65s) would increase by 25% by 2020 and more than 50% by 2030.

With increased longevity then, comes progressive degeneration of senses such as eyesight or hearing, or of cognitive capabilities such as awareness, perception, reasoning and judgement, or of both. Specifically: * short term memory retention decreases with age. This is a common symptom of vascular dementia which predominantly affects older people, and is a progressive disorder that affects how the brain works, and in particular the ability to remember, think and reason.

* age-related macular degeneration is a common condition which progressively impairs eyesight. It is caused by reduced blood flow to the retina which occurs with age, and erodes the central vision, leaving just some peripheral vision.

* Manual dexterity also declines with age, partly linked to degenerating eyesight and perception.

For those living in their own homes with declining short term memory capability, remembering and processing simple day to day tasks or appointments, such as taking daily prescription medicines, attending a doctor's appointment, or just what is in the fridge for tea tonight or how to make a meal, becomes increasingly difficult or impossible, leading to worry, confusion and decline. This difficulty in processing simple tasks is exacerbated when the person is also losing their sensory faculties, eyesight and/or hearing, and physical capabilities.

Elderly and disabled people in this position often need frequent help, direction and support from an able bodied person, but if they live in their own home, carers or relatives are often not readily accessible to render immediate assistance. A person suffering from dementia can ask the same question repeatedly every few minutes, having forgotten not only the answer, but also that they have asked the question only moments ago.

Some examples of the sort of day to day reminders that elderly or cognitively impaired people find useful are: * Doctor's appointment this afternoon. Jane will collect you.

* Jane will call you this evening.

* Call John today -it is his birthday. His number is in your book.

* Take shower this morning then put on clean clothes.

* Take your tablets this morning -they are in the kitchen drawer.

* Pasta ready meal in freezer for dinner Use broccoli from fridge.

* Always take your stick if you go out for a walk * Put out green wheelie bin for collection tonight * Lock the back door every night.

* Your phone is off the hook -please check it and call Jane.

Conventional means of supplying this support using written medium, such as a diary or notepad, or verbally in person or by telephone, become progressively inaccessible or impractical for elderly people with degenerative short term memory, or sight or hearing impairment.

Written notes are often of little help, particularly to sight impaired people. Even if they remember where it is, and to read it, no sooner have they read it, than it may be forgotten. Written notes, or diaries, cannot be updated easily, and rely on the carer or relative to attend in person to make an amendment or record a new appointment or event.

Telephones too are fraught with difficulty for many elderly people, particularly if visually or hearing impaired, or arthritic. Those with short term memory impairment, or dementia, can forget who to call, or why they have called, and what the answer was immediately after the call, often calling again and again.

Can Internet technology help? Today, the ubiquitous presence, availability, and ease of access to the Internet has revolutionised interpersonal and data communications, so could offer a solution. But access to internet technology, such as online calendars, is often beyond the capabilities of the elderly population because it generally relies on familiarity with digital devices such as personal computers or organisers, or smart mobile phones. It also relies on good eyesight, a steady hand, and manual dexterity for use of the keyboard, phone keypad or tablet touchscreen. Very often elderly or physically or sensorily/cognitively challenged people cannot manage to use such devices -they have not been brought up in the digital age -the technology is just beyond their capabilities both physically and mentally.

The problem is therefore twofold: a) how can the elderly, forgetful, or sight or hearing impaired person get timely access to helpful messages, appointments and reminders in a simple, repeatable, but above all easy-to-access form, to support them in their everyday living b) where the solution also allows carers and relatives a secure interface to provide that information as easily and conveniently as possible, whilst the carers/relatives go about their own daily tasks? This invention provides the solution to these problems, through a simple-to-use interface to online calendars.

Carers and relatives can use any method for providing that calendar information (PC, laptop, tablet, smart phone), and the elderly dependent can use this invention to retrieve it in an accessible, repeatable, audible and visual format.

Statement of invention

This invention proposes an online calendar access device which has a simple push-button interface to present information (appointments, messages or reminders) from one or more online calendars in audio and visual format, in response to pushing one of several (typically 3) clearly distinguishable buttons, which are of different shape and colour.

Each button can be associated with a period of time in the calendar, typically TODAY, TOMORROW and THIS WEEK. Pressing a button causes the information for that time period to be displayed visually, and/or announced audibly.

Repeated button presses will repeat the message audio/visual output again.

The invention is simple to use for elderly or sensorily/cognitively or physically challenged persons as it requires minimal technical capability or manual dexterity.

Advantages 1. For people with impaired eyesight -the buttons can be identified by position and touch, and the information is announced through a loud speaker, or headphones.

2. For people with impaired hearing -the text is displayed on a easy-to-read digital display, as static text, or scrolling either vertically or horizontally.

3. The invention is configured to retrieve calendar information automatically from the online calendars via an internet connection at scheduled intervals, without user intervention.

4. The invention caters for old people with failing memory or vascular dementia who might require to hear/see the same messages many times over, by allowing repeated button presses to repeat the information output.

5. The invention is secure, allowing only authorised people to update the calendar information.

6. The invention is flexible, allowing authorised people to update the calendar information at any time, using any device supporting a web browser and internet connectivity -PC, laptop, tablet or smart phone.

7. The invention allows for individual, personalised messages for husband and wife in an elderly couple, and "spare" calendars which could be used for a specific set of messages -for example, "Meals" -daily suggestions about what meal to make (based on the carer's knowledge of what is in the fridge or freezer). Three calendars are used as an example throughout this specification, but more or fewer than three could be used.

8. Preferably, the invention can update the calendars, and send SMS text messages to alert a carer about fault scenarios.

9. Preferably, the invention uses widely available online calendar technology (one example being Google Calendar), and freely published programmatic interfaces to retrieve the calendar event data, and to render the text-to-speech.

10. Preferably the invention has three message buttons, but more or fewer could be used.

11. Preferably, the invention is dedicated to this single task when operating, making it simple to use for the elderly.

Introduction to drawings

The invention can be made in several different ways, two examples are described in detail here with reference to the accompanying drawings: * a Portable device, similar in size and appearance to a portable radio.

* a Mobile device, similar in size to a large mobile phone.

Figure 1 -shows a conceptual drawing of the Portable and the Mobile versions.

Figure 2-shows front view ( Portable version) Figure 3-shows top view ( Portable version) Figure 4-shows rear view ( Portable version) Figure 5-shows end views ( Portable version) Figure 6-shows top, front and end views ( Mobile version) Figure 7-shows back view ( Mobile version) References to the "Portable" version are annotated P1, P2, P3 etc in the text.

References to the "Mobile" version are annotated Ml, M2, M3 etc in the text.

The Portable and Mobile versions of the invention are described below, with a common description where they are the same, or individual subsections for each version when necessary.

Detailed description.

The invention is an electronic internet access device which accesses one or more online calendars and allows a very simple push-button user interface to display, and/or audibly announce data contentfrom the online calendars (the data content being messages, events and appointments recorded in the calendars by the relative or carer). Relatives and carers can choose how and when they post events and messages into the calendars, and what to post, using a personal computer, laptop, tablet, smart phone or other mobile access device with an internet connection, and the standard web browser interface to the online calendars.

The invention may provide feedback by updating the online calendars, or sending SMS text messages.

The invention may be a portable appliance, similar in size and appearance to a portable radio, or a mobile device, similar to a large mobile phone. The invention is in a robust enclosure, (PlO and Mb), typically plastic or ABS but other materials are possible. Figure 1 shows a conceptual drawing of the Portable and the Mobile versions; they will be familiar to elderly people in a domestic setting. (A Software only version (an "App") can also be made, to run on any mobile device but this is not described in detail below).

User Operation: The elderly person uses this invention to gain easy-to-use access to the online reminders and messages. All versions have three large push buttons, (P1, P2, P3 and Ml, M2, M3), easily distinguishable by shape, size and colour. (The buttons can be electromechanical components as used in many small electronic devices; when pressed they cause an electric circuit to be made, resulting in the audio/visual data output). The shapes and colours described in this specification are examples, and others can be used.

* Button (P1 or Ml) displays/announces messages for TODAY.

* Button (P2 or M2) displays/announces messages for TOMORROW.

* Button (P3 or M3) displays/announces messages for THIS WEEK.

In response to pressing one of the three large buttons the information is delivered to the user (the elderly person) either visually on the character display screen (P9 or M9), or audibly via the loudspeaker (P7 or M7) driven by text-to-speech conversion software and an integral audio amplifier, or can be listened to using headphones plugged into the headphone socket (P6 or M6), which cuts out the loudspeaker, or via both visual and audio outputs. Volume of the audio output is adjusted using the volume control (P5 or M5).

Repeat presses of the message buttons will repeat the display or announcement of the current information related to that button.

According to preferences set (below), each message when displayed or announced, can be prefaced by the user defined calendar name, and by the day/time; for example "TODAY: 09.3Oam: Mum: Take your tablets after breakfast".

On all versions, where more than one person is using the device, users can optionally select which calendar they require data from by using the Calendar Selection button (P4 or M4). Pressing the button repeatedly will cycle round the calendars set up and named in the Configuration steps below. As each calendar is selected, its configured name, for example, Mum", "Dad" or Meals" is briefly displayed and announced. The user stops pressing the button when the desired calendar name is displayed/announced.

Internet Connection and data download: All versions connect to the Internet, either by using an internal wifi network interface which accesses a user-provided or public IEEE 802.11 wifi network router and internet connection, or if no wifi network is available, using a user-provided mobile broadband SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) inserted in the device (P12 or M12).

Once configured (as below) and connected to the Internet, all versions automatically check for updates and download data from the specified online calendar(s) via the Internet connection at the configured intervals (typically 15 minutes).

The data is stored in the device in persistent solid state memory. When new messages are downloaded for the currently selected calendar, an appropriate message can be briefly flashed onto the display, and an audible alert can be sounded via the loudspeaker. Stored calendar events are discarded if their timestamp (their date and time) is more than the configured period in the past (typically 30 minutes).

Detailed Description (continued:

Feedback: The invention may automatically provide feedback by updating the online calendars to indicate that messages have been read by the elderly user, and may send SMS text messages to a nominated mobile phone number to report certain fault scenarios (for example, unable to access calendars or no data signal), or when shutting down.

Power: All versions are powered by a safe DC voltage from a mains power adapter (not shown, but similar to other consumer electronics devices such as digital radios and mobile phones) which connects at a power input jack socket (P14 or Ml 4). There is an on/off button (P11 or Ml 1) positioned discretely to ensure that the elderly user does not inadvertently turn off the device. All versions can have internal batteries (P15 or MiS) behind a battery access panel (P16 or M16) which can be charged when connected to the mains supply. The Mobile version is intended to principally run from batteries, charged when necessary, like a mobile phone.

The Portable version is intended to be connected to the power adapter, and when thus connected will operate without batteries. All versions can indicate power and battery status in the digital display.

Configuration and User Preferences: As a one-off activity, all versions have configuration data loaded, and user preferences set bya competent person (carer or relative of the elderly user) according to operating instructions to be provided, using a personal computer or laptop and USB memory stick or flash drive connected to the USB interface (P13 or M13). To do this, the device is put into "Configuration Mode" by powering on WHILST holding down the TODAY button (P1 or Ml). A message will be displayed to indicate "Configuration Mode Entered".

The configuration data can be loaded from a connected memory stick, and includes: * the credentials for connection to a wireless network (typically the network identifier (SSID) and password/encryption key).

* the credentials to login to the online accounts for the chosen calendars (typically user/password).

* a user defined name for each calendar in use -for example "Mum", "Dad", "Meals".

* A mobile phone number nominated to be used for fault alert messages (typically, to the competent person or carer) * A licence key which authorises the software use, for a period of time, which may be indefinitely.

The competent person (carer/relative) can then set user preferences. In "Configuration Mode" the TODAY button can be used to scroll round the Features to be set -as an example "audio output" or "text display mode". The TOMORROW button can be used to scroll round the Preference Options for that Feature. Each button press will display an explanatory message on the digital display (for example "AUDIO ON"). When the competent person stops pressing the TOMORROW button, the last option displayed is the one selected for use. Continuing to press the button will cycle back to the beginning of the list and repeat the options.

Two examples of Features and Preference Options are as follows: Feature ODtions Set Audio output ON -output via loudspeaker OFF -no audio output from loudspeaker -headphones can still be used via socket Set Text display mode OFF -no text display ON -static text ON -Horizontal scrolling text (or "walking" text) ON -Vertical scrolling text

Detailed Description (continued):

There are other Features/Preference Options including download interval, static text display refresh, scrolling rates, data discard period, displayed message preferences, time period settings, text-to-speech preferences, calendar update and 8MB alert message preferences.

All Preference Options also have default values unless changed. Other features and options may be added.

When configuration is complete, the data and preferences are stored in persistent storage.

To return to normal operation, the device is powered off, then powered back on normally.

Internal construction: Inside the enclosure is one or more electronic circuit boards with active and passive electronic components, microprocessors and integrated circuits and other components running proprietary or open source or bespoke software, which carry out the following functions: * Voltage regulation * Loudspeaker and audio amplifier * Character display driver * USB interface and drivers * wifi network interface and mobile broadband interface * on-board solid state storage * online calendar application programming interface * text-to-speech conversion * date/time processing logic * bespoke logic to process calendar data in response to button presses * persistent solid state memory * Plus other necessary hardware and software Licence key: A licence key is loaded during configuration, which controls how long the device will operate for. This may be indefinitely, or may be limit operation to a trial period, typically 3 months. 8'

Claims (7)

1. Claims 1. This invention is a online calendar access device which hasa simple push-button interface to present information (appointments, messages or reminders) from one or more online calendars in audio and visual format, in response to pushing one of several (typically 3) clearly distinguishable buttons, which are of different shape and colour.
2. 2. The one-touch push-button interface as in claim 1 can be used by anyone including elderly people or sensorily or cognitively or physically disadvantaged people as it requires minimal technical capability or manual dexterity.
3. 3. Pressing a button as in claim 1 to access the calendar data requires no technical knowledge or Internet awareness for the end user.
4. 4. Each button as in claim 1 is associated with calendar data for a certain configurable period of time in the calendar, as an example, one button for all events for TODAY, another button for all events for TOMORROW and another button for all events for THIS WEEK (where THIS WEEK is defined as being TODAY plus the six following days).
5. 5. A repeated press of the same button as in claim 1 will repeat the audio/visual output of the data associated with that button, and this can be repeated as many times as the user requires.
6. 6. When configured appropriately, the invention can access multiple online calendars, and downloads data from them automatically without end-user involvement.
7. 7. The invention has bespoke hardware and software to process calendar data in response to a button press and present that data by audio/visual outputs.