Longevity Explorers | Palo Alto: Recent Episodes
Longevity Explorers
Robotics and AI for Seniors. One member is fascinated with developments in this field and wants to find a way to keep up with what is available and affordable. She does not have a specific application in mind but may need help with declining eyesight.
Someone reminded us that Alexa can serve as a smart link to our TV enabling us to command programs to be shown at will. The downside is we don’t need to get out of your chair, something that can be debilitating.
The Romba cleaning device was mentioned, but the downside here is that it displaces a human who relies on cleaning jobs as a source of income (as may many others of the upcoming devices).
The Japanese are in the forefront developing robots that can care for the elderly.
Robotic dogs are available that provide companionship, follow you around, and respond to commands but don’t require to be fed or walked.
Someone wanted a robot with arms that can put the laundry in the machine and reach low or high shelves would be useful.
The difference between robots that meet physical needs and those that meet human/emotional needs was put out as a discussion point. Later in the discussion a third type of robotic assistance was identified, the performance of routine but onerous tasks (such as sorting the mail).
Someone sought a robot to perform the functions of Certified Nursing Assistant in an assisted living facility. One function would be assistance with medication dispensing. Pill dispensing robots are already in use and can be key to helping someone on multiple meds retain independence.
Members returned again to the theme that what we really need is a source for information for what is already on the market and assessment of how well they work – like a Consumer’s Report for elder care robotic aids.
Other forms of smart technology mentioned included Refrigerators (already in the stores), Clothing drawers that select color matched outfits appropriate for weather and scheduled activities each day, Clothing made of functional fibers that respond to temperature during the day, Mobility Assistive Clothing. Some questioned whether such devices would be really useful to them now, but others noted that for people with Alzheimer’s Disease such devices could be very helpful in keeping them independent
The Challenge of New Products and Keeping up with System Changes by Longevity Explorers: Recent @ Avenidas
One member was a strong advocate for importance of maintaining physical balance and avoiding falls that can precipitate an inexorable process of physical decline in seniors. He serves on the Fitness Committee at a Senior Living Center and said their main focus was to look for devices to help people avoid falls. A product of potential value to seniors would be socks with sensors that are used by marathon runners to provide feedback on their foot placement as they run. It’s application for seniors could also include detectors for upcoming obstacles and trip hazards. Unfortunately, the Falls Clinic at Stanford did not seem too interested in adapting the marathon runners’ socks for use with seniors. Someone commented that just pulling on such socks could pose a problem for some seniors.
A general question elicited by this discussion was how can we let seniors know what is available to help them. This is a need Avenidas seeks to fill, but people have to be attentive to program offerings, or ready to make their needs known to Avenidas staff.
A pole walking class was mentioned as one example of Avenidas programming designed to help develop fitness and balance. One person spoke highly of the improvements she experienced from learning how to use walking poles and getting out more often with them.
Conversation starts with mention of Wii as a product that gets you to exercise at home. Someone further extolled the value of U-tube, this time to provide balance and fitness instructions, especially when hooked up to your TV. The value of walking on rough ground had a strong advocate, as long as you avoid doing a “face plant.”
This lengthy recording covers several different topics: The starting point for different segments is indicated.
START: The i-cloud is better for synching your calendar and contacts across all your devices’ instantly than i-Tunes which has a lag time.
Facetime: Wonderful for connecting to family for conversation, seeing the grandchildren and can be used when travelling overseas if have wi-fi.
Other communication applications mentioned included Skype, WeChat, Line.
Trip Advisor and AirBnB: enable setting up all the details for trips and where to stay.
i-Pod. Stores all my music so I can listen when walking or when at home using Bose speakers. Sadly this device is being discontinued.
Tune-in Radio: You can listen to your favorite radio station wherever you are using WiFi.
i-Pod. Use this to store all the music I want to hear so I can listen to it when walking or at home using Bose speakers. Sadly this device is being discontinued.
Tune-in Radio: Allows you to listen to your favorite radio station wherever you are over WiFi.
11:30 Minutes:
We reviewed Richard's traveling collection of jar openers. Other offerings brought by members included a rubber hammer and a church key. Someone advocated using a can opener for hard to open plastic packaging.
14 Minutes:
Helpful information sources
U-tube is an excellent source of free information on how to use all sorts of devices ranging from how to tune the carburetor of an Austin Healey, to discussion of Artificial Intelligence and other educational topics by famous speakers.
Alexa or Siri also provide information about a lot of things. These have an advantage over doing an online computer search, e.g. with Google, for people with poor eyesight as they can listen to the information. Some wondered how far Alexa’s range for query and response is within a home. Do you need multiple outlets for use in different rooms? Others warned that too much reliance on informational devices will render humans redundant.
19:30 Mins
Dedicated one-way messaging system
The Day Clock, https://www.dayclocks.eu, a specialized tablet, originating in Europe, was described. Its’ developers are marketing it through web sites focused on support for people with memory impairments, but our member thought it has a broader application for any senior who is isolated. It is described as a tablet for orientation, planning and connection. It displays the date and time along with messages, photos, and reminders entered remotely by family and friends of the recipient. Messages can be displayed on the screen, or delivered over speakers. It can be programmed to display a person’s schedule that day, upcoming events, and to give a reminder to take meds at designated times. Family and friends can also send photos and messages from wherever they are.
The discussion focuses on the challenge of keeping up with ever changing operating systems on our IT devices and suggested some valuable solutions.
One member spoke anxiously of her reliance on an IT helper and wondered how people cope if they cannot afford to hire someone.
Someone who serves as a volunteer Tech Guy for his senior housing complex attested to the great value available from internet connectivity for seniors, but the enormous challenge seniors face. He is called on to help solve problems, from forgetting passwords to suddenly being confronted with a display that does not respond to commands. The basic problem is that Operating Systems are too complex and fail to provide a simple way out if the user presses the wrong button. He suggested there should be an adaptive interface that provides service appropriate to the skills of the user and adjusts as users gain skills would be excellent.
Another member pleaded for a “Restore” button to bring everything back to the way you had it before your grandchildren came to visit and messed things up.
This discussion started with a plea for some sort of guide to all the wonderful high tech tools that are available. We then turned to the ever-changing array of choices in high tech tools some of us have adopted. One example is Alexa, which can do so much for one, but it is confusing to manage. What is needed is a service that would develop a customized package of options for a user.
Another source of frustration was figuring out how to borrowing on-line books from the library to read on a White Paper Kindle. One member said she spent 2 hours with a librarian to figure it out. It took 35 steps to rent books on Kindle and the librarian commented that few older people even try. Another member said she made use of a library sponsored teen tutor service to get help. Members were encouraged to share knowledge of helpful resources at our next meeting.
We had an intense discussion about the use of robots as helpers, starting with some people’s experience with single function versions of this newly emerging technology. Robots now tend to be specialized with single functions – fetching and carrying, cleaning, putting things away for later retrieval, walking with you etc. Safety concern that such robots may run you over was raised. So were privacy threats from a device like Alexa that can hear everything said nearby. For a Robot to be truly helpful as a house-keeper, the home needs to be designed especially for it.
The conversation also evolved into a recognition that advances in Machine Learning can enable these devices to serve us in very individualized ways over a wide range of functions. The possibility of a Robot serving as a companion that you could train to know you better than anyone else raised concerns again about privacy and some skepticism that a Robot could truly show empathy or have genuine wisdom. Others were concerned that some people would find such devices preferable to genuine human interactions – leading to the end of humanity as we know it
The type of housing we occupy can greatly affect not only our physical but also our mental wellbeing. Discussion about different housing options was spirited and informed. Many participants in this Longevity Circle are members of the Avenidas Village that provides resources for people who chose to age in place. But situations arise when living in one’s home becomes problematic – unhappiness from a sense of isolation, decreased mobility, ill health, dementia. Various options to help counter isolation, one of the worse hazards of old age, were mentioned – accommodating a trusted helper (graduate students for example) in a Granny unit or even part of your house in exchange for help and companionship. The importance of careful screening for such a person was noted. Co-Housing was identified as a great option that provides contact with younger families, mutual help and sharing but such facilities are few in this area. Apartment complexes with organized social programs can also provide multigenerational contacts to avoid isolation. The City of Palo Alto is exploring various ways to meet the need for elder housing and is seeking community input. With all these alternatives, it would be useful to have someone who can advise elders on housing choices and which is best for their lifestyle and needs. One person warned strongly against For Profit Senior Housing facilities, but extolled the flexibility and care to be found in some Non Profit Continuing Care Retirement Centers.
An engineer in the group who enjoys making things bewailed the fact that many tools may be helpful but not many are fun. This prompted a lively discussion about gadgets that are fun to use. Virtual Reality technology was a favorite. You can use it to take trips to exotic or interesting places without the hassles of actual travel, to check out accommodations you may be considering, or even for hands-on training to make sense of a confusing users manual. One member told us about how his doorcam enabled him to engage with callers at his home even when he was far away. The fun aspects of Amazon’s Alexa as a source of jokes or answers to questions was noted – with a wish that it could even be mobile. Someone reminded us that you can have a lot of fun with a simple computer to play games, Sudoko or crossword puzzles.
One member spoke of the isolation engulfing his wife as her dementia advances. She can no longer do email but does enjoy Face-time and photo sharing with family and friends. However, she is unable to initiate or even respond to a Face-time call on her own. The group struggled to fully understand the problem (inability to initiate) and then did some brainstorming about devices that would enable trusted family and friends to initiate contact from afar onto a device that would herald an incoming call with an attention grabbing signal and an easily detectable and operable ANSWER button. Such a device could even be mounted on a motorized robot that could go right up to the person receiving the call to get their attention. Outgoing calls would be harder to facilitate for a person who has lost the ability to take the initiative. More than one person spoke of family members with similar limitations.
The selection of a trusted financial advisor was key. One person recommended using a fee-based financial planner who won’t churn your investments and can run analyses of your portfolio over various scenarios (sensitivity analysis). Another advised turning assets over to someone while you still had enough wits about you to assess their capability and trustworthiness. Others spoke of vetted lists or asking friends to find a trusted advisor. One person relied on a Financial Company to manage assets, and another warned strongly against investing in funds.