Samsung team up with IoT start-up to help elderly people

28 Apr 2015

Mybitat, an internet of things (IoT) start-up, is to partner with Samsung to develop wearable devices that would allow elderly people to stay in their homes longer by sending alerts when assistance might be needed.

Using Mybitat’s data fusion and big data analytics technology, along with new sensors and IoT intelligence algorithms developed by Samsung, the jointly-developed solution will recognise changes in behaviour or health and alert remote care-givers if assistance is required.

The companies plan to deliver technology that will aim to improve an individual’s quality of life as they age by allowing them to live at home securely and more independently.

The technology is likely to become more important in the near future given the increasingly ageing population in many nations, with UN statistics showing that, by 2050, nearly a quarter of the world’s population will be older than 60.

The Samsung division working with Mybitat on this new IoT technology is Samsung’s Strategy and Innovation Centre (SSIC), based in Silicon Valley, which is heavily invested in developing new technologies with regard to health and well-being within the fields of big data analytics and IoT.

“We believe current systems for managing ageing require significant improvement,” said Mati Kochavi, Mybitat founder.

“We want to redefine these systems and offer affordable options that open up new possibilities for ageing individuals. This collaboration with SSIC will help us to accelerate the day when more seniors can live their lives with improved health in familiar, comfortable surroundings.”

Elderly woman holding a cane image via Shutterstock

Colm Gorey was a senior journalist with Silicon Republic

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