Smart appliances offer helping hand to elderly

As China's silver economy continues to grow, the country’s home appliance makers are stepping up efforts to bring to market products particularly useful to seniors, a demographic that has shown increasing demand for diversified, easy-to-use and health-oriented household appliances.

- By FAN FEIFEI

Al technologies are increasingly integrated into senior-friendly home appliances, experts said, with features such as intelligent voice interaction and health monitoring having been introduced.

The home appliance maker Haier Group of Qingdao, Shandong province, has developed Al-driven rehabilitation robots that can provide personalised rehabilitation plans based on the physical conditions of the elderly.

Its Al-powered TVs featuring an eye protection function can dynamically enhance image contrast, allowing those with diminished sight to see TV programmes more clearly and comfortably. These products are equipped with medical large models to provide online consultation services, and can automatically generate monthly health reports and send them to users’ smartphones.

Haier is also making toilets designed for those who are less mobile, as well as showers and bathrooms with constant temperature control systems and voice recognition functionality.