Lonely old people in New York will be sent robots to communicate

Hundreds of older people in New York will get roommates as part of a new program to combat social isolation. Henceforth older people won't have to worry about a roommate leaving dirty dishes in the sink or running out of toilet paper. That's because their roommate will be a talking robot named ElliQ. Fox 5.

The New York State Office of Seniors NYSOFA will provide ElliQ over 800 residents from Intuition Robotics.

What is social isolation

Social isolation occurs when a person does not have enough social contacts, when he does not have many people with whom he can communicate regularly.

“Everyone needs social connections to live and thrive. But as people age, they often spend more time alone. Loneliness can make older people more vulnerable to social isolation, which can affect their health and well-being, according to the National Institute on Aging NIH. “Studies show that social isolation can lead to health problems.”

The National Institute on Aging claims that social isolation is particularly bad for brain health. It poses a high risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

What is ElliQ and what does it do

Like digital assistants like Alexa on the Amazon Echo and Siri on the Apple Homepod, ElliQ is a voice-controlled device that interacts with a person.

But there is one difference - ElliQ is specifically designed for older people to make small talk with them and encourage them to be active. The device does this by actively speaking out and interacting with people. It reads messages and displays photos from approved senders (such as family members, friends, and healthcare professionals). In addition, the robot offers interactive games and broadcasts workouts for the elderly.

The Israeli company Intuition Robotics calls this robot the world's first active and sensitive caregiver. ElliQ initiates a conversation with the user using artificial intelligence to provide context for future chats. The company claims that this projects empathy and builds trust in the user. That is, ElliQ, getting to know his interlocutor better, tries to improve communication and deepen relationships.

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ElliQ main categories

ElliQ's features fall into four categories: entertainment and communication, communication, health and wellness, and daily life assistance.

Here are examples of what users can access through ElliQ:

• Exercise Videos (Silver Sneakers Partnership)
• Health Content (collaboration with Mayo Clinic)
• Transportation support (Uber Health)
• Conversation and inspiration
• Notifications to a loved one (if necessary)
• Setting and tracking health and wellness goals
• Reminders (events, appointments, etc.)
• Text messages
• Video call
• Recording and sharing memory
• Music, jokes, news
• Displaying photos using the built-in picture frame (with automatic update)

The NYSOFA press release states that users interact with the talking robot on average 20 times a day.

“ElliQ is designed to support seniors for wellness purposes, as well as connect with family, friends and more through voice commands and/or on-screen instructions,” said NYSOFA.

How much does ElliQ cost?

Users actually cannot buy this device. Instead, ElliQ charges a $250 setup fee (aka registration fee). And then a subscription fee of $40 per month, or $30 per month if paid annually. The setup fee includes shipping and handling, setup assistance, four wellness coaching sessions, and more.

Why You Can't Buy ElliQ Right Away

“ElliQ is an incredibly expensive product to manufacture,” Intuition Robotics said in a post on its FAQ page. “Our subscription model allows us to offer ElliQ to as many seniors as possible at an affordable monthly price.”

If the user cancels the subscription, they will have to return ElliQ Intuition Robotics. In any case, the device does not work without a subscription.

What is the budget for ElliQ in New York

New York State has committed $2,9 million to support NYSOFA's anti-isolation initiatives through new and expanded technology programs. This amount includes $700 allocated to the ElliQ project.

“Despite misconceptions, older people are embracing new technologies. Especially when they see that they are designed to meet their needs,” NYSOFA Director Greg Olsen said in a statement.

In addition, NYSOFA's innovation budget includes $350 to expand a program that provides older New Yorkers with realistic animatronic pets.