Elderly individuals in Singapore are given additional safety measures through the implementation of an emergency alert system based on LoRa technology.
Singapore's Ministry of Health's Age Well SG programme has introduced an innovative emergency system, part of which is the iWOW Technology's battery-powered wireless emergency alert system. This system, powered by Semtech Corporation's LoRa technology and LoRaWAN, is significant in demonstrating the effectiveness of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies in supporting independent living for seniors.
The iWOW system, deployed in over 10,000 public housing flats for seniors since 2019, is set to expand to serve an additional 27,000 seniors housed in about 170 public rental housing blocks. This expansion underscores the potential of this model in empowering independent living for seniors and delivering round-the-clock emergency monitoring.
Pressing the red, wall-mounted button routes an emergency call to a 24-hour response center and notifies the next of kin through an associated app. The button is only activated in an emergency and does not require cellular service. To date, about 800 seniors have received emergency medical care using the system.
The system's network infrastructure had to be cost-effective for the dense housing blocks, a factor that led to the choice of Semtech's LoRa and LoRaWAN technology. The technology was chosen for its ability to support other IoT applications in the future.
Compared to other IoT emergency systems, the iWOW Technology system leverages low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) connectivity for long-range, energy-efficient monitoring and alerting. It uses wearable and embedded sensors, focusing on geolocation, and offers real-time alerts via LoRa networks to caregivers and emergency services.
As the global population ages, with the number of persons aged 80 years or older expected to reach 426 million by 2050, IoT and smart home technologies could be crucial in addressing the needs of an aging population. The iWOW system's main advantages are its long-range, low-power communication using LoRa technology, which suits wide-area elderly monitoring without frequent recharging or Wi-Fi reliance.
Other IoT applications for elderly care emergency alert systems include sensor-enabled environments (SEE) with multiple environmental sensors detecting falls, immobility, heart rate, and other vitals in real time to alert caregivers; wearable devices like smartwatches and pendants with fall detection and emergency call features; smart home integrations such as controlled access, motion sensors, and automated alerts for safety and medication adherence; and AI-supported video analytics for enhanced monitoring.
Shahar Feldman, senior director of product marketing at Semtech, highlighted the potential of IoT and smart home technologies in helping people age in place. JY Chen, senior vice president at iWOW Technology, stated that the emergency devices had to be battery-powered, require minimal maintenance, and consume little energy.
By 2050, the global population aged 60 years or more is expected to reach 2.1 billion. The World Health Organization forecasts that one in six people globally will be aged 60 years or more by 2030. The iWOW Technology system, with its focus on cost-effective, low-power, and long-range emergency monitoring, could be a promising solution for the future.
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- As the global population ages, technology like the iWOW Technology system, powered by LoRa andLoRaWAN, could be crucial in empowering independent living for seniors, especially with the number of persons aged 80 years or older expected to reach 426 million by 2050.
- To cater to the needs of an aging population, smart home devices such as the iWOW system, with its low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) connectivity and battery-powered emergency alert system, could offer long-range, energy-efficient monitoring and alerting, making it a potential solution for the future.
- In addition to emergency devices, other IoT applications for elderly care could include sensor-enabled environments, wearable devices, smart home integrations, and AI-supported video analytics, all aimed at providing round-the-clock care and monitoring for seniors.
