Digital cups help older people cope with heat

Digital tools developed by the University of Applied Sciences Vorarlberg are designed to help older people cope with heatwaves, ORF reported. The KLINGEL research project tested smart drinking cups and SMS reminders for drinking, airing rooms and providing shade.

Older people can be particularly affected by rising summer temperatures. Thirst often decreases with age, while simple protective measures such as drinking regularly, airing rooms and providing shade can easily be forgotten. This increases the risk of dehydration and overheating.

KLINGEL, whose name refers to climate-adapted and healthy living, was carried out by the University of Applied Sciences Vorarlberg with the Regio Walgau, the Götzis social services and practice partners Butterweck KG and SimpleSteps, and Intefox GmbH. The project team developed simple digital solutions intended to help older people manage heat while also easing the workload of care staff.

The team tested tools designed to fit easily into everyday life. Smart drinking cups remind users to drink regularly and help care workers prepare drinking records. Room climate sensors linked to weather data indicate the best times to air rooms and provide shade. SMS messages also remind users when to drink enough, air rooms and provide shade.

Older people accepted the digital support surprisingly well, said project leader Tobias Werner of the university’s Human-Centred Technologies research centre. The smart drinking cups were particularly well received from the outset.

The project showed that simple tools can significantly improve older people’s wellbeing without overwhelming them with complicated technology, the team said. A business model is now planned for sensor-based monitoring of drinking and room climate, as well as for the digital reminder systems. Initial steps towards bringing the solutions to market are planned in the Lake Constance region.