The caring plant

Accenture Technology Labs in Chicago are working on a “caring plant” equipped with microphones, voice recognition software and wireless sensors to feel the presence of a patient or an old person and detect any subtle deviation from the daily routine.

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“Let’s say the grandmother talks to her plant and complains about her illness or discomfort” explains Dadong Wang from Accenture “The plant will record and time-stamp every mention of this problem and communicate this occurence to the clinician.”

Emotion recognition software allows the plant to attach a deeper meaning to what is said “If the grand-mother is weepy unsteady or disoriented the plant is intelligent enough to cheer her up” he adds. Alternatively the plant can contact the care provider in real-time if it detects something serious.

The plant can qlso monitor its own state, reminding its owner when to water it or give it fertilizer.

Read in Wednesday s Wall Street Journal of Europe.
Accenture PDF