Amazon Astro Robot

Franks Astro Robot Pet

The Amazon “Astro” is a small robot that can autonomously navigate its way around a single-story home much like a robot vacuum using a camera for floor mapping. It is being promoted by Amazon as a “Household Robot for Home Monitoring, with Alexa” and is currently offered for sale only by invitation (as of Nov 2022).

Alexa Together

Alexa Together

Amazon “Alexa Together” is a software tool that runs on the Alexa app.

It’s designed to run on Amazon Echo devices in a loved one’s home and is managed by a family member on their smartphone using the Alexa app. While it can serve as a “Medical Alert” device in the fall detection category with additional hardware, it also provides some “Activity Monitoring” of a remote loved one through alerts and the ability to easily create daily reminders.

Loop Digital Frame

Loop Digital Picture Frame

The Loop digital picture frame is designed with one specific goal in mind: to create greater engagement with a person who lives at a distance, by means of sharing and viewing photos and videos. One of our explorers had exactly this scenario in mind, and bought the product and tried it out. The overall experience was positive, and the explorer “likes” the product. Here are the details.

HandsFree Health, WellBe Medical Alert

WellBe medical Alert Plus

The WellBe Medical Alert PLUS incorporates the key features of a conventional medical alert into the format of a watch — and includes several smartwatch features as well.

Theora Care, Theora Connect

Theora Connect watch

The Theora Connect is a smartwatch designed to be used by older adults — especially those with mild cognitive impairment or dementia.

Bay Alarm, SOS Smartwatch

SOS Smartwatch medical alert

The SOS Smartwatch is one of the “easiest to use” products in the “medical alert watch” category. It functions quite well as a medical alert, looks quite stylish, and has the key smartwatch attributes of telling the time, and step counting.

UnaliWear, Kanega Watch

Kanega Watch

The UnaliWear Kanega Watch incorporates the key features of a conventional medical alert into the format of a watch — and tells the time. Unusually for a medical alert watch, it also includes a fall detection algorithm.

Oscar Family

Oscar Family under evaluation

Oscar Family is an example of a product category we call “Senior-friendly Tablets“. This in-depth review evaluates the Oscar Family tablet’s individual features, and explores how well it works as a tool for non-tech-savvy older adults.

Claris Companion

Claris Companion with Older Adult

The Claris Companion is an example of a product category we call “Senior-friendly Tablets“. This in-depth review evaluates the Claris Companion’s individual features, and explores how well it works as a tool for non-tech-savvy older adults.

GrandPad Tablet

GrandPad tablet under evaluation

GrandPad is probably the most widely publicized example of a product category we call “Senior-friendly Tablets“. This in-depth review evaluates the GrandPad tablet’s individual features, and explores how well it works as a tool for non-tech-savvy older adults.