I'd be grateful for your opinion

[OneInEveryDecade]

OK, I used to teach, I've shelved it, I want to spend more time with the kids, so I'm starting my own venture, working from home.

I want to ask you about a product, it's a device, you plug it into the wall, and basically it works on wifi, reading temperature, light, movement and reads the information, looking for changes. If heating hasn't been turned on, curtains unopened, no movement.

It would work on a monthly subscription charge and would reports back to a database which would identify patterns, so send alerts to mobile apps or via messaging if there are changes.

It doesn't use camera's, it's less intrusive. Is this something that any of you would be useful? Would you or someone you care for find this sort of device intrusive?

I'd really appreciate your thoughts.

[hatgirl]

there are similarish products already on the market.

My local CCG has also been trialling telehealth options that require a wifi connection, they have struggled with take up as the current demographic of elderly people requiring this kind of technology don't generally have a broadband/wifi connection.

Yes families could arrange for this to be set up but it would then be an additional monthly cost on top of whatever your product would cost.

[CMOTDibbler]

Working on wifi would be useless for the vast majority of people who might benefit from it as they don't have internet access.

[hatgirl]

www.justchecking.co.uk

www.canarycare.co.uk

www.springchicken.co.uk/3rings-plug.html

These are all ones I'm already aware of through work. There's probably more and most local authorities also offer their own telecare packages in-house as well which will always be cheaper than anything you will be able to provide.

[ImperialBlether]

How much would the subscription be? What about customers who don't use wi-fi? Have you seen the product where if the kettle isn't boiled by a set time, the carer gets a call?

It's a great idea, OP, but no point moving on with it if it already exists.

[SundaySal3]

I believe Age UK were giving out free devices one winter, that if temperature went below a certain limit it made a load beeping noise and no need for wifi

Gadget plus battery

[ajandjjmum]

We have a Canary in MIL's lounge. The subscription is around £80 a year.

[tadpolefeet]

Interesting. I think all three that hatgirl mentioned rely on mobile networks. So for people in places with poor mobile connection (but who have wifi) this would be interesting.

I was thinking how good it would be if FitBits would be adapted for the elderly. ie a friend could see their movements. Anyone tried this?