Editorial

Hampshire County Council to test Amazon’s Alexa as a support tool

Council set to become the first UK local authority to pilot voice recognition and AI technology to support older people needing care

Posted 30 August 2017 by Gary Flood


Hampshire County Council is going to put AI (artificial intelligence) to the test as a tool for helping older people in its care.

Working with its telehealthcare partner, the PA Consulting Group-led Argenti Telehealthcare Partnership, it’s working with Amazon to trial a customised version of the Alexa-Echo device, which users can issue voice commands to.

The idea: help support residents to live independently in their own homes for longer, and reduce social isolation in the elderly, says the authority, which believes it is the first ever local government body to try this approach.

In the pilot, 50 adult social care clients in the county will be offered the device to help support and manage their needs within their own homes and avoid the need for additional care packages.

“Working directly with Amazon will ensure our trial is backed by the experience of one of the biggest internet-based retailers in the world,” said Councillor Liz Fairhurst, Hampshire County Council’s Executive Member for Adult Social Care and Health.

“We are very excited about the possibilities this project could open up in the future, and its potential to benefit the future of social care.”

The specially designed new Alexa software in the Amazon Echo devices is expected to be in use in homes by the end of the year, with the project running throughout 2018.

In that timeframe, adds the council, the aim is to also develop a range of new Alexa skills, linking it to other technology in people’s homes.

This could include ways for reminding people to stay hydrated by linking Alexa to movement sensors around the home, so that when a person enters their kitchen they can be prompted to take a drink.

Alexa could also be used to encourage people to keep fit, by suggesting local walking routes of different lengths. Partially sighted or socially-isolated service users could particularly benefit by asking Alexa for information via the Amazon Echo system, on local weather forecast, latest news, or to switch on digital radio or play an audiobook.

Steve Carefull, adult social care expert at PA Consulting Group and Programme Director for the Argenti Telehealthcare Partnership added: “We are proud to be working with one of the biggest household names to help Hampshire County Council continue to deliver innovative services to the most vulnerable people.

“This technology can complement support from human carers and help ensure resources are focused on supporting those with the greatest needs.”

If this development by a major UK local authority intrigues you, come along to the upcoming Think AI for Public Sector 2017 conference, which will showcase other use cases of Alexa-style tech for digital public services.