UK Government: New technology challenge to support people who are isolating

[Andy]

£500,000 of funding is available for technology companies who come up with digital support solutions for people who need to stay at home because of coronavirus.

The funding will be available to innovators who can find digital ways to support people who need help during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

The ‘Techforce19’ challenge aims to support those who need to stay at home for several weeks and need help. This could include people who need mental health support or who have social care needs.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-technology-challenge-to-support-people-who-are-isolating

 

[Denise]

I hope they continue the services afterwards for those who consistently have to self-isolate.

 

[Sasha]

I'd like to see some gadget as simple as a landline that offers online video calls for elderly people who aren't familiar with the Internet and wouldn't know what to do with a computer even if they had one (and it's too late to sit next to them and coach them now). I'd buy my mum one like a shot if it existed.

 

[alktipping]

I'd like to see some gadget as simple as a landline that offers online video calls for elderly people who aren't familiar with the Internet and wouldn't know what to do with a computer even if they had one (and it's too late to sit next to them and coach them now). I'd buy my mum one like a shot if it existed.

have you seen the advert for portal looks like a tablet but the advert seams to make it look very simple to use .possibly misleading .

 

[Sasha]

have you seen the advert for portal looks like a tablet but the advert seams to make it look very simple to use .possibly misleading .

I did see an ad, but when I looked at a demo on YouTube I thought it would be well beyond anyone not used to the Internet. You don't just switch it on and have a simple interface, unfortunately.

Massive tech opportunity for a business, I'd have thought.

 

[alktipping]

I did see an ad, but when I looked at a demo on YouTube I thought it would be well beyond anyone not used to the Internet. You don't just switch it on and have a simple interface, unfortunately.

Massive tech opportunity for a business, I'd have thought.

yes so many adverts for tech are allowed to be very misleading . like when they show modern phone apps working really fast and then in very small print at the bottom a disclaimer deliberately placed there because our brains are wired to see moving images first . I think such advertising is very dishonest and puts me of having any dealings with those companies and products.

 

[Gecko]

I'd like to see some gadget as simple as a landline that offers online video calls for elderly people who aren't familiar with the Internet and wouldn't know what to do with a computer even if they had one (and it's too late to sit next to them and coach them now). I'd buy my mum one like a shot if it existed.

Possibly still too complex but there are some phones designed for the elderly such as this one:
https://www.techsilver.co.uk/product/easy-smartphone-elderly/

If it's set up for them, they were told how to turn it off and on, and had instructions, then picking up a WhatsApp video call might be doable. But I do agree tech companies could quite easily do better here, and would have a market.