MIT Solve

Solution Overview

Solution Name:

Promotor of digital inclusion

One-line solution summary:

A virtual assistant designed specifically for the elderly, allowing them to take full part in the digital world

Pitch your solution.

Aging is a global phenomenon, which is taken particular relevance in upcoming economies. In Chile, it has been occurring at a very accelerated pace and it is expected to continue its growth.

The digitalization process, increased by the global pandemic, has had its impact and forced everyone to adapt ot its new forms of interaction.

This process has increased the existing digital breach between the elderly and the rest of the population, leaving a great portion out of it and in a state of social frailty, exacerbated by the confinement measures taken by the government in search to stop the spread of the virus.

Therefore, we propose the creation of a virtual assitant which can empower the elderly in the use of the internet and its digital tools, without restricting their participation and allowing them to be a part of this digital world that is happening outside of their realities.

What specific problem are you solving?

Giving the accelerated digitalization of life, in the context of the pandemic, a large portion of the population has been left out, which has incede in its participation, socialization and overall wellfare. Most of these outcast belong to the elderly population.

In Chile, the over 60 age group is rapidly increasing and currently they constitute 12% of the population.

Here it is observed that while 90% of the people over 18 yeras uses the internet on daily basis, in the group of people over 70 years, 90% of them doesn't know how to.

This digital breach, already a problem in the past, has reached a new meaning with the global pandemic, because the constant menace of the coronavirus has meant for people to take cover and minimize contact, to which all kinds of services, public and private, have responded with a digital option.

When asked about their aprehension to take part in this world, most of them refer to the vulnerability they feel when it comes to scams and fake information. Together with this fear is the realization that most of the websites and apps, but foremost, the design of the hardware are not made thinking of the elderly.

What is your solution?

We proposed to create a virtual assitant for the elderly, that focuses on digital inclusion, allowing them to take part in the digital world completely and safely.

It has the ability to identify menaces such as malware, fake news and suspicious websites, and also provides audio help and tutorials for the use of some appliances.

It also provides a personalized interface to interact with, individually customized.

It uses machine learning and deep learning to recognize the malwares and fake news.

It has also a machine learning base audio chat bot, which translates neurolinguistic language into writing and talks back in spanish, which is also a novelty for our solution, giving that most of the somewhat similar existing solutions are only in english.

It's expected to operate with an interoperable language, which will allow it to connect with other public and private initiatives, such as the much applauded "Digital Hospital".

Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?

The elderly constitute a large portion of the population in Chile, and in many ways they are neglected. The digital inclusion only constitutes a small part of the problem.

Existing initiatives focus on providing the hardware and usually lack in giving them a full digital experience, limiting the alternatives and allowing them to take part only in the portion the rest of the population, most specifically the younger generations, believe the elderly should manage. This goes against the principles of digital inclusion, which promotes full inclusion and ability to embrace every part of it.

In addition to the former, the confinement measures adopted by the government in order to minimize the spreading of the virus, have meant for an important group of the elderly to isolate and it has taken its toll on their mental and physical health.

Early this year we organized an online seminar for the elderly and their care ecosistem. In it, which was scheduled for 4 saturdays, from 8.30 to 12.30, we interacted with over 300 people of the community.

One of the speeches was oriented to digital inclusion and we took a little screening on the matter, realizing that most of the existing aprehension for fully participating in the digital world were related to safety issues and interface options.

Searching for the existing options, most of what we found was similar to a parental control, which doesn't converse with the empowering principles of digital inclusion.

We expect to continue the development of this solution with the help of this group of people, as representing the elderly community.

Which dimension of the Challenge does your solution most closely address?

Equip everyone, regardless of age, gender, education, location, or ability, with culturally relevant digital literacy skills to enable participation in the digital economy.

Explain how the problem you are addressing, the solution you have designed, and the population you are serving align with the Challenge.

Giving the pandemic, the need for connection and digital abilities has been exacerbated. Even when in Chile we have the infrastructure to provide a safe connection to most of its population, we lack in the ability to teach everybody the ways of this digital world.

The elderly are one of the most vulnerable groups in almost every aspect, and the measures taken to confront the pandemic have affected negatively this age group, exacerbating its deficiencies.

Our development could mean a step forward in the full digital inclusion of the elderly, impacting also the existing proposals to digitalize the health system, among others.

In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?

Santiago, Chile

What is your solution’s stage of development?

Prototype: A venture or organization building and testing its product, service, or business model.

Explain why you selected this stage of development for your solution.

We are still at early stages, but have already a model that have already shaped the ways and technology behind this development.

We are hoping to have a minimum viable product in the following months and start in september with trial tests, for which we count with a significant group of elderly people.

This development is being modeled under the tutelage of GeriatriCare, a 5 year old entrepeneurship which focuses on innovative and efficient healthcare for the elderly.

Who is the Team Lead for your solution?

Javiera Asecio