Innovation

Prevention and detection of anomalies

When people live alone at home Telegrafik uses motion sensors, which are put into the living room, the kitchen, the entrance and the bedroom. And thanks to the sensors and all the algorithms Telegrafik develops, it can detect anomalies or changes in a person's normal home routine. This is called actigraphy services, a non-invasive method of monitoring human rest/activity cycles.

What is an anomaly? Here's an example. A person normally wakes up at 8 and has breakfast in the kitchen at 9 every day, but one day she she wakes up at 8 but does not take her breakfast. This indicates that maybe she fell when she woke up, maybe she had a problem. So the sensors send an alert to the carers, for example the family, to tell them that Telegrafik has detected something wrong. The family members have then the chance to check if everything is all right.

Telegrafik also created a smartphone app (Otono-Me), so the families can check if everything is okay in the house of the person in real time. For example, when the family calls and the person does not answer the phone, the smart app can show where the loved one is in the house. The family can see on the smart app that their loved one is just outside in the garden or cooking in the kitchen.

The families can also access an analysis of the activities of the person. For example they can access data about how much time the person spends in the kitchen to have her meal and the time she spends in the bedroom to sleep.

Telegrafik’s purpose is also about prevention. It can sense when the person feels less and less good, based on their home activities, so he or she can be brought to the doctor to see if something is wrong.

Uses sensor technology instead of wearable technology

The service is discreet because it is only about motions sensors. The person does not have to wear anything, like for example an alarm button. The problem with alarm buttons is that people do not wear them or do not want to disturb their families.

Telegrafik’s service instead is comforting for the carers and also for the families because they know if something wrong occurs. The installation is very easy and quick to do and anyone is able to do it. It doesn't even need an internet connection.

Telegrafik is a smart-care platform. It can use every sensor on the market. Right now only motion sensors are used. It does not create sensors but uses sensors. The data is collected and transformed into useful information via algorithms.

The platform is available to business-to-business partners, where a new partner doesn't have to use the Telegrafik brand and just access the actigraphy services. When a family wants to install it, they need to call partners of Telegrafik such as insurances or care companies. Then the partner can give the entire service.

Inspiration

The founder of Telegrafik, Carole Zisa-Garate, came up with the idea of Telegrafik when it became stressful to know that her Grandmother lived alone at home, without any help. Zisa-Garate started installing motion sensors in the Grandmother’s house and tested it on her.

Her technological knowledge was created by her 10 years work experience in the automobile industry.

When she noticed how big her personal benefit could be from this, she decided to come up with her own company.

Overall impact

Service that reaches everyone. Everyone has a grandmother, a granddad or knows and elderly person that could need this service. It reassures people, protects them. Older people want to stay at home, they do not want to wear alarm buttons. Telegrafik offers a service for their needs. You do not care about having sensors in your house, you just want to be safe.

Business benefit

Telegrafik is a technological service. The dream is to be connected anywhere but nowhere at the same time. In 2025 motion sensors shall not exist anymore, but instead all kinds of other sensors shall be used. In the future it shall be affordable to everyone. This innovation offers efficient services that you do not see and help your life being better by analyzing and helping to perform your daily habits. For example, it sets your alarms, or remembers you of groceries you have to buy.

Today Telegrafik helps elderly people but tomorrow all people should benefit from it. The main goal in the future is to have less things to do or worry about but have more time for everything else.

Social and environmental benefit

There are more and more elderly people in Europe and living alone. Especially in countries such as France elderly relatives do not live together with their younger relatives. The person lives alone.

Interview

Deborah Pares, Telegrafik