Konnekt Videophone
editThe Konnekt Videophone, an Australian product launched in 2016, is a one-touch video telephony appliance that can make and receive face-to-face calls and can also make regular voice calls to telephones.[1] It uses Skype technology to connect people through the Internet.[2] [1] It is designed for easy use by the elderly, disabled, those with arthritis or Parkinson's, a hearing impairment or dementia, and for general use in aged care facilities.[3] [1]
Design
editThe Videophone was designed by a Melbourne-based company called Konnekt.[4] [5] [6]. Founded in 2013, Konnekt develops and sells the Konnekt Videophone.[7] Company founders [8] Karl Grimm and John Nakulski found it challenging to teach their own elderly parents how to use new technology because the seniors had trouble remembering login details, because their hand-eye coordination made it hard to press small buttons, and because their devices were never charged and often incurred popups. These problems inspired the design of the Konnekt Videophone.[9]
Features
edit- One touch to answer and make calls [1] [10] [11] [12]
- Large personalized buttons with clear text [11] [13]
- Large 15-inch advanced resistive touchscreen - compatible with glove/prosthetic/bandage [11] [14] [13]
- Loud, clear sound [3] [11] [15]
- Connects face-to-face with mobiles, iPads, tablets, computers and other Konnekt Videophones using Skype [10] [11] [16]
- Makes voice calls to regular telephone services [10] [11]
- Multiple back-up numbers [11] [4] [16]
- Automatic answer of incoming calls from authorised callers, enabling two-way viewing and speaking with a remote care-giver in an emergency [1] [10] [11] [17] [18] [19]
- Capacity to share text or images to Videophone from a computer during a call [11] [3] [16]
- The product includes Internet access [10] [20] [21] [4] and video support via a call button [21] [22] [3], and can be personalised [6] [18] [20] [21] [10] [23] to individual needs.
Claimed health benefits
editThe Videophone enables the elderly to have more face-to-face contact due to its capacity for calling family and friends at the touch of a button via Skype.[24]
- Studies show that regular face-to-face contact between older adults and their family and friends can help reduce social isolation[25] and feelings of loneliness.[26] [27]
- Social isolation and/or loneliness have been linked to, or associated with, high blood pressure [28] [29] [30], poor sleep [31] [30], depression [32] [33] and higher morbidity and mortality rates.[34] [30] [35] [36]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e https://www.pulseitmagazine.com.au/aged-care/3084-konnekt-ready-to-go-live-with-one-press-connection-through-videophone
- ^ https://www.konnekt.com.au
- ^ a b c d http://seniormoves.com.au/konnekt-videophone.php
- ^ a b c http://humanservicesdirectory.vic.gov.au/SiteDetails.aspx?SiteID=157897
- ^ http://ilcaustralia.org.au/suppliers/15386
- ^ a b http://www.truelocal.com.au/business/konnekt/chelsea
- ^ https://www.konnekt.com.au/the-company
- ^ https://www.konnekt.com.au/the-team-at-konnekt/
- ^ https://www.konnekt.com.au/the-konnekt-vision/
- ^ a b c d e f https://www.ilcnsw.asn.au/items/12127#product_details
- ^ a b c d e f g h i http://ilcaustralia.org.au/products/20471
- ^ https://www.konnekt.com.au/one-press-connect/
- ^ https://www.konnekt.com.au/large-touch-screen/
- ^ https://www.konnekt.com.au/easy-to-hear/
- ^ a b c https://www.konnekt.com.au/touch-screen-video-phone/
- ^ https://www.konnekt.com.au/auto-answer-video-phone/
- ^ a b https://www.konnekt.com.au/preferences/
- ^ http://rentalinq.com.au/the-konnekt-videophone/the-features/
- ^ a b https://www.konnekt.au/installation
- ^ a b c https://www.konnekt.com.au/zero-configuration-videophone/
- ^ https://www.konnekt.com.au/skype-phone/
- ^ http://rentalinq.com.au/the-konnekt-videophone/
- ^ https://startsat60.com/stories/tech/tech-review-konnekt-videophone
- ^ https://www.ohsu.edu/xd/about/news_events/news/2015/10-05-research-face-to-face-s.cfm
- ^ http://www.acsa.asn.au/Publications-Submissions/Social-Isolation-and-Loneliness.aspx
- ^ http://sydney.edu.au/news/84.html?newsstoryid=11208
- ^ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2841310/
- ^ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16594800
- ^ a b c https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20652462
- ^ http://www.journalsleep.org/viewabstract.aspx?pid=28332
- ^ http://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/196/2/96
- ^ http://gerontechnology.info/index.php/journal/article/view/gt.2011.10.01.004.00
- ^ http://www.pnas.org/content/110/15/5797.full
- ^ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25499429
- ^ https://news.uchicago.edu/article/2014/02/16/aaas-2014-loneliness-major-health-risk-older-adults