This month we were honoured to be invited to an event organised by the Internet of Caring Things (IoCT). The IoCT is hosted by the National Innovation Centre for Ageing and works with companies to promote digital technologies which can improve lives.
The event – a Smart stuff workshop – was a great opportunity to meet members of the IoCT Voice®Community and understand more about how they can help to co-produce products and services. It was highly interactive and participants worked as teams to create and pitch an idea for a digital care product.
At this event, the caring relationship was unlimited – we were encouraged to think broadly about care – for people, pets, our planet…..
The groups created various ideas – an interactive photo resource to overcome isolation those living with dementia, an app to promote public transport use, an implantable device for humans to collect and share a cornucopia of personal and biometric information and the IQ9 – a digital chip implant for dogs which could monitor some key biometrics in real time to help vets and owners tailor care and support.
The discussions emphasised how valuable technology can be – to save time, to connect virtually, and to automate repeated tasks but there were consistent and recurring concerns relating to privacy, data security, and improper use.
Overall, it was a wonderful way to connect with others interested in using the internet and digital technology to enable better care. We spoke to members of the Voice®community, IoCT staff and other delegates to explore how The Carents Room could reach a larger audience, develop its offer and boost its impact.
