Advanced telecare solution that helps vulnerable people stay independent wins innovation challenge

Essence SmartCare Spain has won an innovation challenge for its telecare, which incorporates predictive learning algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI) to improve the lives of elderly and disabled people.

Ibernex, which develops healthcare solutions, launched the technology challenge through Aragon Open Future, an open innovation initiative by Telefónica in alliance with T-ZIR.

50 startups, SMEs, technology centers and entrepreneurs entered the competition. During the evaluation process, the nine most innovative projects participated in a virtual event, coordinated by the Aragón Open Future team, in which, together with Ibernex, their proposals evolved.

The winner of this call, Essence SmartCare Spain, develops innovative advanced telecare solutions aimed at service providers for elderly care.

Its solution, based on predictive learning algorithms and AI, is capable of evolving according to users’ needs and monitoring their activity through programmed rules and automatic behaviour learning.

Now, Essence SmartCare will carry out a real pilot of its proposal, paid for by Ibernex, with a value of up to £45,000.

The platform sends alarms to family members and carers when there is a change in the individual’s normal behaviour pattern, which could be identified as risky or harmful to the individual’s health, such as excessive use of the bathroom at night or leaving the front door open for more than 15 minutes.

Then, carers and family members are notified of the change in behaviour via an alarm, which can be sent via text, email or through the mobile app.

This technology helps vulnerable people on a daily basis and makes it possible to detect the deterioration of health in the early stages. The platform also adds a system of unobtrusive devices that allow older people to age independently in their own home.