Quick Response to Help Request from 80s in Uiryeong, Gyeongnam
Established as an Essential Daily Life Service
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Sharon Kang] "Aria, save me"
At around 7:35 a.m. on the 28th of last month, a single phrase from Mr. A (82) at a house in Burim-myeon, Uiryeong-gun, Gyeongnam, breaking the morning silence, was captured by the AI speaker 'Aria.'
The speaker, recognizing the meaning of "save me," immediately sent emergency messages to the Burim-myeon center, a security company, and the telecommunications provider.
The security company, which first confirmed the message, called Mr. A to check his condition and promptly dispatched 119 emergency medical personnel.
Thanks to this swift response, Mr. A was quickly transported to the hospital, completed treatment safely, and is currently living a normal daily life in good health.
Gyeongnam's integrated AI care service has proven effective amid the COVID-19 pandemic, receiving positive feedback from residents.
The AI speaker 'Aria' is a non-face-to-face welfare service that allows users to turn on lights or listen to music, weather, and daily information with simple voice commands.
Through interactive conversations, users can access dementia prevention services and receive messages such as safety guidelines for COVID-19 response.
In emergencies, when help is requested, the system automatically connects to a care manager at the care center during the day and to 119 at night, providing 24-hour non-face-to-face care services.
In Mr. A's case, feeling high fever and discomfort from early morning, he uttered just one phrase, "Aria, save me," following the manual, which automatically sent the emergency message.
To activate the AI speaker's emergency service, one must say 'SOS' or 'Aria, save me.'
When the county distributed AI speakers to elderly living alone in the area last November, the most focused part of the training was teaching them to shout "Aria, help me" in emergencies.
Most elderly people initially thought of calling '119' first in emergencies, so there was a risk that the AI speaker could become useless.
At first, elderly users were skeptical, saying "What use is this?" but gradually opened their hearts to the speaker's capabilities, including playing songs, checking the weather, and even having conversations.
The speaker's performance is excellent enough to recognize even whispered voices within the same space, and later word spread throughout the village, leading to many requests for installation.
Especially after the spread of COVID-19, when checking on the elderly became difficult, the usefulness of 'Aria' has shone even more. It frequently provides infection prevention guidelines without face-to-face or phone contact, helping the health and hygiene of elderly vulnerable to infectious diseases.
A county official said, "Now, when visiting the elderly, they say 'Aria, who’s here?' showing that it has become an essential service in daily life. Seeing them use the AI speaker well and live comfortably brings great satisfaction."
He added, "However, it is somewhat regrettable that one person is currently responsible for 100 households using the speaker, making in-depth care difficult. Budget and other issues make it challenging, but if manpower is increased and system efficiency improved, greater effects can be expected."
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