Kemuri has been shortlisted for the Active and Assisted Living (AAL) Challenge Prize out of 200 healthcare companies.
The programme will award €50,000 to the best idea or product which leverages on internet connectivity and the Internet of Things (IoT) to enhance the quality of life of older people and enable them to survive socially and independently.
The finalists will showcase their ideas at a special Innovation Academy in Brussels which will be evaluated by the judges.
AGE Foundation Deputy Managing Director and Head of Grants and one of the competition judges Karin Weiss said: “We were delighted by the variety of entries we received.
"We saw many interesting solutions and were particularly impressed by the approach taken to bridging the gap between the older and younger generations, as well as the approach to stabilising the quality of life at home for older people.
“The challenge now is to identify a winner that is exciting, commercially viable and close to the edge of the market.
“We want to see the prize being used to connect this potential with investors, refining the prototypes and creating impetus to get the solution to market.”
Kemuri smart power socket monitors the elderly to detect any variations from their usual health pattern.
It is fitted with sensors which continuously measure temperature, humidity, power usage, motion and power supply.
The device can also be used in the kitchen to monitor the use of kettles and microwaves or other electrical devices.
It is fitted with a screen which displays colour-coded changes to patterns of activity that can be indicative of hypothermia, dehydration, malnutrition, power loss and unattended falls.
The device is programmed to issue SMS or web alerts to the patient’s family or to response centre.
Image: A man drawing on a white board. Photo: courtesy of AAL.