Assistance robot Aria (Image courtesy of Gyeongsangnam-do official blog)
DAEJEON, Feb. 14 (Korea Bizwire) –In several recent incidents in the city of Daejeon, smart care robots have garnered attention for their role in saving lives.
On the afternoon of January 26, a 70-year-old woman, referred to as Ms. A, experiencing a headache in her home, called out to her care robot AI speaker for help by saying, “Aria (the voice service command), save me.”
The AI speaker’s operating company quickly notified emergency services, and paramedics transported Ms. A to the hospital.
Ms. A, who showed symptoms of cerebral hemorrhage, received medical treatment and is currently recovering. Another case on January 20 involved a 70-year-old man, Mr. B, in an apartment in Dong-gu, who fell due to symptoms of angina and brain disease.
He also sought assistance through the care robot, and thanks to the swift response of paramedics, he was taken to a hospital and is on the path to recovery without any life-threatening conditions.
The city of Daejeon, along with five district governments and the Daejeon City Corporation, is operating care robots to prevent solitary deaths among the elderly. These robots use sensors to detect movements within a 5-meter radius and monitor vital signs such as breathing and body temperature.
This year, the city plans to distribute a total of 1,000 care robots, 200 in each of the five districts, to help alleviate feelings of helplessness and depression among the elderly living alone.
A Daejeon city official stated that the city government planned to expand the target group for the care robot services and will strive to prevent solitary deaths, recognizing it as an important social issue.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
