Giraff mobile telepresence device introduced in UK!

One of Robotdalens health robotics projects has now completed its journey from idea to first commercial product. Giraff Technologies AB has received its first orders, including one from University of Warwick in London. The Giraff is a mobile telepresence device that helps elderly and others living at home stay connected with their friends and caregivers. The product will be debuted in London on May 10, 2010 at the Radisson Blu Portman Hotel to media, care organizations and investors.

The founders of Giraff Technologies got the idea of applying their product to home care after talking to service organizations around the world about the unique challenges of keeping people living in their home safely and independently.

- Often, the greatest challenge in elderly home care is not in providing medical care or services such as cleaning and cooking, but in keeping people connected to their world, says Stephen Von Rump, CEO of Giraff Technologies. The Giraff allows any family member, friend or professional caregiver with a laptop and web camera to virtually visit a home, move about and freely interact with the residents there (talk and listen, see and be seen) just as if they were physically present.  And nothing is required of the residents; they simply receive the visit as they would anyone in their home.

The company is based at the Automation Center in Västerås Science Park. The founders relocated there from Silicon Valley in the U.S. after surveying the home care market in Europe along with Robotdalen. They have received their first orders from municipalities in Sweden, and will soon deliver Giraffs to municipalities around Europe as part of an EU Ambient Assisted Living grant coordinated by Örebro University.

- Robotdalen has invested heavily in developing new robotics products, in particular for health robotics, and can offer much assistance on the journey from idea to commercialized product, says Erik Lundqvist, CEO of Robotdalen. We put user needs at the focus of all product development, as the Giraff demonstrates, and we very much look forward to following its further development!”

The launch event will take place at the Radisson Blu Portman Hotel in Portman Square, London at 12:00, and will include a unique entertainment event featuring the renowned operatic singer Petra Jablonski with the Giraff.  Persons interested in attending should contact Stephen Von Rump at stephen.vonrump@giraff.org.

For more information contact Adam Hagman, director of Robotdalen Health Robotics at +46 70 305 5441, or Erik Lundqvist, CEO of Robotdalen at +46 21 107 026.  To learn more about the Giraff and the home care revolution, visit www.giraff.org.