[Report] Elderly Companions 'Grandchild' Robots, Transparent Screens on Subway Windows... Technologies Helping the Vulnerable Gathered

'Smart Life Week' Opens at COEX on the 10th
From Care Robots to Walking Assistance Robots, Variety
Oh Se-hoon "Walking with the Vulnerable, the Path to a Smart City"

"Grandma, it's time to take your medicine~"

As I held the robot 'Hyosooni,' which looked like a children's doll, a voice announcing the 'medicine time' came out. It sounded like a grandchild speaking affectionately to their grandparents. Hyosooni and 'Riku' are care robots that keep elderly people company, part of the 'future-type care' born in the rapidly aging era.

[Report] Elderly Companions 'Grandchild' Robots, Transparent Screens on Subway Windows... Technologies Helping the Vulnerable Gathered

On the 10th, the care robots Riku (left) and Hyosoon displayed at Smart Life Week held at COEX, Seoul. Photo by Kim Young-won

On the afternoon of the 10th, 'Smart Life Week (SLW),' where 147 companies gathered to showcase innovative technologies, was held at COEX in Seoul. The exhibition hall was bustling with people of various nationalities. Citizens and company representatives enjoyed the event by directly experiencing robots and technologies that help the vulnerable.

Technology Helps the Mobility-Impaired and Citizen Safety

In the space where visitors could experience the 'real-time city,' they could touch a transparent screen on the subway window like a scene from a movie to check the situation near the station in real time. When touching the destination station, information such as whether the escalator at that station is broken, the nearby weather, and congestion levels were provided in real time. A representative from Whitescan, the company owning this technology, explained, "Mobility-impaired people need this information before getting off."

A transparent subway screen that allows real-time information checking is exhibited at the Smart Life Week exhibition hall held at COEX, Seoul on the 10th.
Photo by Kim Young-won

The 'Smart Pole,' designed for citizen safety and walking convenience, was also set up in a corner of the exhibition hall. In short, it is a 'smart streetlight.' When the Seoul city 'Ansim-i' app is turned on and the phone is shaken, a report is received, and the lights of nearby smart poles blink on and off according to the reporter's location. A company representative explained, "In the past, we found (the reporter) through GPS, but the margin of error was large," adding, "The lights blink as the reporter moves, so even if the police receive the report, they can easily find them." This type of smart pole has been gradually installed mainly in Seoul for the past five years.

More Convenient Than Before... Technology That Improves Quality of Life

The wearable walking assistive robot that helps elderly people with weak leg strength also attracted attention. Wearing KIST's 'Moonwalk Omni,' which wraps around the waist and thighs, I felt a pushing force as if someone was pushing me from behind when walking or climbing stairs. The device detects the angle when lifting the leg and the frame lifts and lowers the leg together. The device weighs 2.9kg and did not feel heavy when worn. A KIST representative said, "We want to help people who have difficulty walking to walk better with less effort by wearing the device so they can return to daily life and engage in many activities."

There is also a robot that simultaneously performs patrol and recycling collection, 'killing two birds with one stone,' in parks frequently used by citizens. The robot 'Gaemi,' currently conducting a demonstration project in a park in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, regularly moves around the park to perform patrol duties. At this time, the recycling bin installed inside can be conveniently used by citizens. By scanning the QR code attached to benches, citizens can call the moving 'Gaemi' from afar and easily dispose of their trash.

The outdoor mobile robot 'Gaemi' is exhibited at the Smart Life Week exhibition hall held at COEX, Seoul on the 10th.
Photo by Kim Youngwon

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon toured the exhibition hall that day, viewing and experiencing devices including the muscle assist robot and urban air mobility (UAM) aircraft. This SLW is the first event hosted by Mayor Oh, who promotes it as the 'Korean version of CES.' He emphasized, "No one should be left behind because of technology, and we are utilizing technology from the citizens' perspective so that socially vulnerable people can enjoy a comfortable and convenient smart life," adding, "Walking together with the vulnerable is the path smart cities must take, and it is a path that can be taken because it is a smart city."