Using Intelligent Personal Assistants to Strengthen the Elderlies’ Social Bonds

Abstract

Social isolation and loneliness are among the important factors for the degradation of the life quality as the persons' aging process advances. These factors can have a pronounced effect on the general health and are caused by the decrease in social interaction by the person with the friends, family and ex-coworkers groups. On the other hand, the software and hardware technologies has reached a maturation point were the electronic assistants can acquire information from the user through camera images, as well as to communicate with the user by means of natural voice language. In this context, a model for the adoption of electronic intelligent assistants by the elderlies has been proposed in previous work. In the current work, it is assessed the possibility of using the current consumer assistants to implement the proposed model. Several assistants are analyzed (Amazon, Google, Microsoft and Apple), assessing their functionalities and how they could be used to assist the elderly in strengthening their social bonds with the family, friends and ex-co-workers groups.

A Practical Experience on the Amazon Alexa Integration in Smart Offices

“…In [ 23 ], VAs are used to understand medication names in USA and Canada, but the researchers’ conclusion is that such kind of devices should not be used for the moment as a reliable source of medical information and guidance. A distinct application category is that of employing VAs to help the elderly that have visual impairment [ 24 , 25 ], need strengthening of social bonds [ 26 ], or daily caring [ 27 , 28 ]. In [ 29 ], Amazon Echo Dot was used in the home of seven older adults.…”

A prospective design of a social assistive electronic system for the elderly

“…These conclusions were surprising, in the sense that the literature suggests that the usage of ICT by older adults is complex and extends beyond the dichotomy between 'successful users' and 'unsuccessful non-users' [16]. On closer look, the successful adoption of ICT solutions by older people is related to attitudes, experience of use, and perceived benefits [17], with many studies emphasizing the potential benefits of the use of ICT for elderly people, particularly by allowing them to stay connected to what is happening around them and to interact with others [18][19] [20]. This interaction possibility is particularly important, if not dramatic, for people living in a care centre, which might explain the motivation to use ICT solutions.…”

Conversational Agents for the Elderly, the Guardian Platform

“…In Reis et al [9] the authors assess the main problems related to social relations among the elderly population, as well as the acceptance and introduction of intelligent assistants to stimulate such interaction. The results were promising.…”