$heff DD Alert on GCKO (.045) Friday Dec 4th this stock traded 54 mill shares in the last 2 hrs of a Friday afternoon. 10-day moving avg volume is 1.8 million. There definitely seems to be something on the horizon with Gecko that caused this upward spike in share price (up 606%).
We could hear news soon from GCKO regarding their discussions w/ a top tier NYSE company (from 11/10 PR). I believe that insiders or funds believe that news is imminent and moved the company on Friday. The volume was significant for what is a low volume traded company!
US News & World Reports Article on 12/5/09 (yesterday) could fuel GCKO even more this week!
Scientists, Lawyers Mull Effects of Home Robots
http://www.usnews.com/science/articles/2009/12/05/scientists-lawyers-mull-effects-of-home-robots.html
This is a fully reporting Pink Sheet company with significant potential from the DD that has been compiled. GeckoSystems is a dynamic leader in the emerging mobile robotics industry revolutionizing their development and usage with "Mobile Robot Solutions for Safety, Security and Service(TM)."
FROST & SULLIVAN REPORT ON GECKO SYSEMS
http://geckosystems.com/downloads/F&S%20GCKO%20Senor%20Fusion%20Mkt%20Res%2009.pdf
VKNG.OB is another biotech company that recently ran .003 to $1.00 a few weeks ago in 8 days on news regarding a contract w/ the army. They had an A/S of 400 mill shares w/ a small O/S and Float as well.
Share Structure for GCKO
http://finance.yahoo.com/q/ks?s=gcko.pk
Share Structure
Float 53 mil
O/S 246 mil
A/S 250 mil
52 wk high .087 52 wk low .0043
GECKO SYSTEMS MARKET OPPORTUNITY
Using U.S. Census Bureau data and various predictive statistical analyses, the Company projects the available consumer market
size in dollars for cost effective, utilitarian, multitasking eldercare personal robots in 2010 to be $74.0B, in 2011 to be $77B, in
2012 to be $80B, in 2013 to be $83.3B, and in 2014 to be $86.6B. With market penetrations of 0.03% in 2010, 0.06% in 2011,
0.22% in 2012, 0.53% in 2013, and 0.81% in 2014, we will anticipate CareBot sales, from this consumer market segment, only, of
$22.0M, $44.0M, $176M, $440.2M, and $704.3M, respectively. The Company expects these sales despite -- and perhaps because
of -- the present recession due to pent up demand for significant cost reduction in eldercare expenses.
Competitive Note:
The known competitive product offerings, or in development include, but are not limited to:
In Asia: Honda ("ASIMO"), Toyota ("Partner Robots"), Fujitsu (Frontech's "enon"), Sanyo ("FLATTHRU"), NEC ("PaPeRo"), Toshiba ("ApriAlpha", "ApriAttenda"), Samsung, Hitachi ("EMIEW"), Matsushita ("HOSPI"), Mitsubishi ("Wakamaru"), etc.
In Europe: Robosoft ("robuLAB10"), Robowatch, Dyson, Husqvarna, etc. are working to achieve their first personal robot trials, too.
In the U.S.: iRobot ("CiCi"), Mobile Robots ("PeopleBot"), RoboDynamics ("MILO"), Evolution Robotics, etc. are also still seeking to develop viable, cost effective personal companion robots with eldercare benefits.
Prestigious U.S. universities such as MIT, Georgia Tech, Stanford University, UCLA, Carnegie Mellon University, University of Michigan, Virginia Tech, etc. are but a few of the domestic engineering schools engaged in personal companion robot research and development activities.
None of the foregoing have initiated in home evaluation trials of their personal companion home care mobile robots.
GeckoSystems' Mobile Robots Conference Aligns First Tier Manufacturer for Pent Up Demand
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/GeckoSystems-Mobile-Robots-iw-303767768.html?x=0&.v=1
Martin SpCONYERS, GA--(Marketwire - 11/10/09) - GeckoSystems Intl. Corp. (Pinksheets:GCKO - News) (http://www.geckosystems.com/) -- announced today that during their first annual "Mobile Robots in Motion" conference last week, a first tier contract manufacturer -- after viewing numerous demonstrations, examining and discussing GeckoSystems' first product, the CareBot(TM)—is confident that within six months they could produce GeckoSystems' CareBot at the rate of one thousand (1,000) per month. GeckoSystems is a dynamic leader in the emerging Mobile Service Robot industry revolutionizing their development and usage with "Mobile Robot Solutions for Safety, Security and Service(TM)."
Martin Spencer, President/CEO of GeckoSystems, stated: "As all of us here at GeckoSystems are excited about this development, due to the nature of the upcoming discussions, I feel it is in the best interest of all parties involved to withhold the name of this contract manufacturing company at this time. This first tier contract manufacturer is listed on the NYSE and is a broad-based provider of electronics to technology-driven companies in diverse markets. They provide their customers with sophisticated electronic and electromechanical products through prime contracts, contract design and manufacturing services. They have five manufacturing locations worldwide that are ISO 13485 Registered Facilities."
GeckoSystems Releases "Mobile Robots in Motion" Conference Videos
http://www.smartmoney.com/news/pr/?story=PR-20091112-000014&print=1
Robots
Silicon Stethoscopes
Courtney Boyd Myers, 09.17.09, 06:00 PM EDT
Telepresence technologies and robotics promise another way to ease future health care burdens.
http://www.forbes.com/2009/09/17/robots-health-care-technology-breakthroughs-telehealth.html
As Congress continues to wrangle over how to care for a growing population of elderly people, technologists are working on their own answer: robots.
Exactly what a robot is, of course, has changed a lot from the days when robots were largely factory drudges. These days, robots can be as cute as pets or as efficient as a nurse. Robots are also becoming part of a broader "telehealth" program in which a combination of electronics and communication can let doctors examine patients remotely or enable people to stay in touch with patients confined to their homes.
"If we can virtually connect doctors to patients who need it most, wirelessly monitor our aging population and keep patients healthier at home," says Tandy Trower, Microsoft's robotics group's director. "We can dramatically reduce our nation's health care costs."
In Pictures: Robots That Care
As part of Congress' ongoing health care debate, the House of Representatives has introduced language into its bill [HF-3200] that would establish an advisory committee on telehealth to begin considering whether such procedures would be covered by Medicare and Medicaid--something that would be a giant step forward for robotics solutions.
Companies use videoconference calling all the time; why shouldn't doctors? Colin Angle, CEO of iRobot, suggests that remote diagnostic technologies (or "telerobotics") could let doctors interact with patients even if they're home in bed. A robot equipped with vital sign sensors--such as a stethoscope and a blood pressure monitor--could wirelessly convey that data to a doctor.
Using technology similar to modern videoconferencing, corporate giants including General Electric, Intel, LifeSize and Cisco have also entered the health care market. In April, GE and Intel announced a quarter of a billion-dollar joint venture to develop home medical monitoring technologies (as an extension of home security). GE's current product, QuietCare, is a remote monitoring system with a wireless base station and infrared sensors set up throughout the home. This summer, Cisco introduced "HealthPresence," a patient care technology that lets doctors and patients interact in much the same way as people engaged in a videoconference. In July, following pilot programs in Aberdeen, Scotland, and San Jose, Calif., Cisco reported that 90% of the involved patients were satisfied with the interaction and would recommend it to others.
Robotic-assisted surgery has been going on for years. (See Also: "Robo-Docs.") But increasing companies are offering more technologies aimed at helping doctors ply their craft over great distances, particularly in rural area where there is limited access to high quality health care.
For instance, InTouch Health, a Santa Barbara Calif.-based robotics company, offers two types of robotic diagnostic stations used by more than 200 hospitals in the U.S. These enable doctors to interact with hospital patients at a distance. Founder and Chief Executive Yulun Wang believes that within five years' time, such technology will easily let family members check on loved ones in hospitals. InTouch is the only company that the FDA has cleared to offer remote presence robots to hospitals.
Then there are private practice doctors who are using all available social networking tools to stay on top of their patients' care. For instance, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, a pediatrician and expert in preventive medicine, Dr. Jay Parkinson, began utilizing Gmail, Skype and iChat in September 2007 to make "house calls" and communicate with patients. He wanted to be able to share data with other doctors in his office but he needed a platform to do so. In 2008, he founded "Hello Health," a social networking platform like Facebook for doctors and patients to interact.
Big corporations, including Microsoft and Google, offer online health care accounts aimed at helping patients take better control of their own health records. (See: "The Devil Inside Wired Medicine.") Even though Parkinson is an advocate for online medicine, he cautions that there are side affects: It's hard enough for doctors to encourage people to adopt healthier lifestyles. Doing it remotely gets even harder.
Then there's the matter of reimbursing doctors for their time. In America, most physicians prefer to deliver a quantity of medicine due to the reimbursement model of healthcare instead of ensuring quality medicine through good communication, time and establishing personal relationships. As a result, Parkinson believes telehealth will be a good way to augment care between in-person visits but doubts it will ever completely replace in-office visits. "Given the current physician reimbursement model as defined by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, physicians are paid less to see you via telepresence than in the office. Why would a doctor want to sacrifice income just to use telepresence?" Parkinson notes.
Others are more upbeat. Microsoft's Trower believes that the next step in telepresence health care technologies will put a personal care robot in your home. GeckoSystems of Atlanta, Georgia, hopes to become the first U.S.-based company to deliver eldercare robots. It plans to begin selling its robots early next year, after a series of public evaluation trials. GeckoSystems' CareBots include two engines: a self-navigating mobile platform that uses environmental cues and GeckoChat, a language recognition and processing engine.
"The CareBot will follow Grandma like a pet dog and tell her jokes, talk about her favorite TV shows and read her favorite bible verses," promises Spencer. Over the past 10 years, GeckoSystems has spent $6 million developing its mobile CareBots, which Spencer expects will sell for $10,000 to $15,000 apiece. Spencer figures that price will look like a bargain to patients who are considering spending more than $20,000 a year for a spot in an assisted living program.
"Imagine a robot in your elderly parents' home," Helen Grenier, co-founder of iRobot and CEO of DroidWorks writes, "allowing you to virtually visit by means of video, or one that can deliver a drink and important medication at the right time, letting the aged remain independent longer … [This is] absolutely not science fiction. … All it would take is recognizing these as critical national goals--before other countries take the lead."
Other countries, most notably Japan, are also working on home-care robots. Companies that have robots already at work include Fujitsu's "enon" service robot and Mitsubishi's Wakamaru. Other companies, including ones in South Korea and France are also working on homecare robots.
How else could robots speed up the evolution of America's next health care program? None have yet run for Congress--but could that be far off?
Personal Robots to Monitor Elderly Vital Signs
http://cgmasi.com/eyeontechnology/2009/06/personal-robots-to-monitor-elderly-vital-signs.html
By cgmasi on June 16, 2009 3:59 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks
Nearly every technophile on Earth has seen Star Wars medical droids subbing for human physicians, surgeons, and other medical professionals. Unlike most technological marvels portrayed by Hollywood as existing sometime in the far future, such robots aren't that far from reality. A case in point is GeckoSystems Intl. Corp.'s CareBot robotic elder-care system, which graduated to nurses' aid status with the addition of a miniaturized, solid state onboard blood pressure and pulse rate monitor.
"We believe that the incorporation of an onboard blood pressure/pulse rate monitoring system for our CareBots will further enhance their cost effective, utilitarian capabilities. Our CareBot's ability to automatically follow and verbally remind a designated care receiver at predetermined dates and times that their blood pressure/pulse rate needs to be checked by this onboard, integrated monitoring system will enable a higher level of safety, security and cost savings for those at home and in nursing homes, assisted care facilities, hospitals, etc.," observed Martin Spencer, President/CEO of GeckoSystems.
The company says CareBot is a multitasking personal robot incorporating advanced, proprietary AI engines. Given the CareBot's network connectivity and Internet accessibility, alerts of vital signs and other various healthcare events outside of normal range can be quickly sent by telephone, instant or text messaging, and/or email.
GeckoSystems uses sensor fusion extensively for actionable situation awareness in their complete multitasking personal robot, the CareBot. Their mobile robot's hardware and software architecture is designed to be expandable and upgradeable such that many years of cost effective usage can be readily achieved.
The primary market for this product is the family for use in eldercare, care for the chronically ill, and childcare. The primary distribution channel for this new home appliance is the thousands of independent personal computer retailers in the U.S.
Spencer suggests thinking of it as a new type of labor saving, time management automatic home appliance. The unit decreases the difficulty and stress for the caregiver who needs to watch over family members most, if not much, of the time day in and day out due to concerns about their well being, safety, and security. Not infrequently, the primary caregiver has a 24 hour, 7 days a week responsibility. There is concern that medication will be missed or the care receiver have an accident requiring immediate assistance. And the care receiver may be very resistant to a "stranger" coming in to her home and "running things" in the care giver's absence.
Spencer points out that the CareBot is a new kind of companion that always stays close to the care receiver, enabling family and friends to care for them from afar. It tells them jokes, retells family anecdotes, reminds them to take medication, reminds them that family is coming over soon (or not at all), recites Bible verses, plays favorite songs and/or other music. It alerts them when unexpected visitors, or intruders are present. It notifies designated caregivers when a potentially harmful event has occurred, such as a fall, fire in the home, or simply been not found by the CareBot for too long. It responds to calls for help and notifies those that the caregiver determined should be immediately notified when any predetermined adverse event occurs.
The family can customize the personality of the CareBot, modulating the voice's cadence to be fast or slow. The intonation can be breathy, or abrupt. The voice's volume can range from very loud to very soft. The response phrases from the CareBot for recognized words and phrases can be colloquial and/or unique to the family's own heritage. The personality can range from brassy to timid depending on how the caregiver, and others appropriate, chooses it to be.
Addition of medical-condition monitoring technology is a landmark for the robotic care system, upgrading its functionality from strictly social interaction as a companion (no mean feat itself!) to managed-care activity that may be beyond the capabilities of an untrained human caregiver.
Personal Robots to Cost Effectively Enable Smart Homes for Eldercare
http://www.nursinghomeratings.ca/press-releases/46-personal-robots-to-cost-effectively-enable-smart-homes-for-eldercare
Posted on Wed, July 22, 2009 at 5:24 pm
Carebot Will Nag You Back to Health
ARTICLE DATE: 05.01.09
By Lance Ulanoff
One day, we'll all have armless, boxy, nagging robots in the home to remind us to take our meds and that it's time to watch Jeopardy! This is the dream behind GeckoSystems Intl. Corp.'s CareBot personal robot.
Under development for over a decade, the CareBot prototype is a mobile automaton that can easily, if very slowly, navigate among people and objects. It'll follow grandma around the house, let other families watch her from afar (via internet-based video teleconferencing) and contact someone on the outside if grandma falls down and can't get up. According to GeckoSystem company execs, it can also operate for up to 14 hours on a single charge.
In a video demonstrating the robot's utility, it's living in the home of an elderly woman, asking her if she fed the dog and if she wants to watch TV. Its robotic voice gives her the TV listing for her favorite show. When she tells it that, yes, she does want to watch Jeopardy!, it dutifully returns later to tell her it's time to watch it. At this point the woman grows cranky and shoos the robot away saying, "I have guests." A bit of a comedian, CareBot then responds with, "You don't love me anymore." This has all the makings of a hit sitcom.
Apparently some of these responses are canned, while other may be text-to-speech. The release lists more than half a dozen capabilities all named "Gecko[something]. Among them is "GeckoChat," which lets caregivers "teach the CareBot what to say, and when."
GeckoSystems Intl. Corp. President Martin Spencer could not share pricing or availability details, but did, in relation to price, say somewhat cryptically, "Honda believes the market to be larger than the cell phone once the price of a utilitarian, multi-taking personal robots is that of a small car. We don't disagree with Honda in this regard."
GECKO-Professional Healthcare
GECKO-Commercial Security
GECKO-Government
CAREBOT VIDEO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxK46chfP6A
$HEFF DISCLAIMER
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=40119940
Disclaimer: I have never ever been paid or compensated by anyone for any stock I trade or discuss! None of the information posted on this site is to be construed as financial or investment advice. This information is not to be construed as an offer to buy or sell any security mentioned on this board. The creator of this board is not a licensed broker or financial advisor of any kind. The information on this site is gathered from sources available to the public.
We could hear news soon from GCKO regarding their discussions w/ a top tier NYSE company (from 11/10 PR). I believe that insiders or funds believe that news is imminent and moved the company on Friday. The volume was significant for what is a low volume traded company!
US News & World Reports Article on 12/5/09 (yesterday) could fuel GCKO even more this week!
Scientists, Lawyers Mull Effects of Home Robots
http://www.usnews.com/science/articles/2009/12/05/scientists-lawyers-mull-effects-of-home-robots.html
This is a fully reporting Pink Sheet company with significant potential from the DD that has been compiled. GeckoSystems is a dynamic leader in the emerging mobile robotics industry revolutionizing their development and usage with "Mobile Robot Solutions for Safety, Security and Service(TM)."
FROST & SULLIVAN REPORT ON GECKO SYSEMS
http://geckosystems.com/downloads/F&S%20GCKO%20Senor%20Fusion%20Mkt%20Res%2009.pdf
VKNG.OB is another biotech company that recently ran .003 to $1.00 a few weeks ago in 8 days on news regarding a contract w/ the army. They had an A/S of 400 mill shares w/ a small O/S and Float as well.
Share Structure for GCKO
http://finance.yahoo.com/q/ks?s=gcko.pk
Share Structure
Float 53 mil
O/S 246 mil
A/S 250 mil
52 wk high .087 52 wk low .0043
GECKO SYSTEMS MARKET OPPORTUNITY
Using U.S. Census Bureau data and various predictive statistical analyses, the Company projects the available consumer market
size in dollars for cost effective, utilitarian, multitasking eldercare personal robots in 2010 to be $74.0B, in 2011 to be $77B, in
2012 to be $80B, in 2013 to be $83.3B, and in 2014 to be $86.6B. With market penetrations of 0.03% in 2010, 0.06% in 2011,
0.22% in 2012, 0.53% in 2013, and 0.81% in 2014, we will anticipate CareBot sales, from this consumer market segment, only, of
$22.0M, $44.0M, $176M, $440.2M, and $704.3M, respectively. The Company expects these sales despite -- and perhaps because
of -- the present recession due to pent up demand for significant cost reduction in eldercare expenses.
Competitive Note:
The known competitive product offerings, or in development include, but are not limited to:
In Asia: Honda ("ASIMO"), Toyota ("Partner Robots"), Fujitsu (Frontech's "enon"), Sanyo ("FLATTHRU"), NEC ("PaPeRo"), Toshiba ("ApriAlpha", "ApriAttenda"), Samsung, Hitachi ("EMIEW"), Matsushita ("HOSPI"), Mitsubishi ("Wakamaru"), etc.
In Europe: Robosoft ("robuLAB10"), Robowatch, Dyson, Husqvarna, etc. are working to achieve their first personal robot trials, too.
In the U.S.: iRobot ("CiCi"), Mobile Robots ("PeopleBot"), RoboDynamics ("MILO"), Evolution Robotics, etc. are also still seeking to develop viable, cost effective personal companion robots with eldercare benefits.
Prestigious U.S. universities such as MIT, Georgia Tech, Stanford University, UCLA, Carnegie Mellon University, University of Michigan, Virginia Tech, etc. are but a few of the domestic engineering schools engaged in personal companion robot research and development activities.
None of the foregoing have initiated in home evaluation trials of their personal companion home care mobile robots.
GeckoSystems' Mobile Robots Conference Aligns First Tier Manufacturer for Pent Up Demand
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/GeckoSystems-Mobile-Robots-iw-303767768.html?x=0&.v=1
Martin SpCONYERS, GA--(Marketwire - 11/10/09) - GeckoSystems Intl. Corp. (Pinksheets:GCKO - News) (http://www.geckosystems.com/) -- announced today that during their first annual "Mobile Robots in Motion" conference last week, a first tier contract manufacturer -- after viewing numerous demonstrations, examining and discussing GeckoSystems' first product, the CareBot(TM)—is confident that within six months they could produce GeckoSystems' CareBot at the rate of one thousand (1,000) per month. GeckoSystems is a dynamic leader in the emerging Mobile Service Robot industry revolutionizing their development and usage with "Mobile Robot Solutions for Safety, Security and Service(TM)."
Martin Spencer, President/CEO of GeckoSystems, stated: "As all of us here at GeckoSystems are excited about this development, due to the nature of the upcoming discussions, I feel it is in the best interest of all parties involved to withhold the name of this contract manufacturing company at this time. This first tier contract manufacturer is listed on the NYSE and is a broad-based provider of electronics to technology-driven companies in diverse markets. They provide their customers with sophisticated electronic and electromechanical products through prime contracts, contract design and manufacturing services. They have five manufacturing locations worldwide that are ISO 13485 Registered Facilities."
GeckoSystems Releases "Mobile Robots in Motion" Conference Videos
http://www.smartmoney.com/news/pr/?story=PR-20091112-000014&print=1
Robots
Silicon Stethoscopes
Courtney Boyd Myers, 09.17.09, 06:00 PM EDT
Telepresence technologies and robotics promise another way to ease future health care burdens.
http://www.forbes.com/2009/09/17/robots-health-care-technology-breakthroughs-telehealth.html
As Congress continues to wrangle over how to care for a growing population of elderly people, technologists are working on their own answer: robots.
Exactly what a robot is, of course, has changed a lot from the days when robots were largely factory drudges. These days, robots can be as cute as pets or as efficient as a nurse. Robots are also becoming part of a broader "telehealth" program in which a combination of electronics and communication can let doctors examine patients remotely or enable people to stay in touch with patients confined to their homes.
"If we can virtually connect doctors to patients who need it most, wirelessly monitor our aging population and keep patients healthier at home," says Tandy Trower, Microsoft's robotics group's director. "We can dramatically reduce our nation's health care costs."
In Pictures: Robots That Care
As part of Congress' ongoing health care debate, the House of Representatives has introduced language into its bill [HF-3200] that would establish an advisory committee on telehealth to begin considering whether such procedures would be covered by Medicare and Medicaid--something that would be a giant step forward for robotics solutions.
Companies use videoconference calling all the time; why shouldn't doctors? Colin Angle, CEO of iRobot, suggests that remote diagnostic technologies (or "telerobotics") could let doctors interact with patients even if they're home in bed. A robot equipped with vital sign sensors--such as a stethoscope and a blood pressure monitor--could wirelessly convey that data to a doctor.
Using technology similar to modern videoconferencing, corporate giants including General Electric, Intel, LifeSize and Cisco have also entered the health care market. In April, GE and Intel announced a quarter of a billion-dollar joint venture to develop home medical monitoring technologies (as an extension of home security). GE's current product, QuietCare, is a remote monitoring system with a wireless base station and infrared sensors set up throughout the home. This summer, Cisco introduced "HealthPresence," a patient care technology that lets doctors and patients interact in much the same way as people engaged in a videoconference. In July, following pilot programs in Aberdeen, Scotland, and San Jose, Calif., Cisco reported that 90% of the involved patients were satisfied with the interaction and would recommend it to others.
Robotic-assisted surgery has been going on for years. (See Also: "Robo-Docs.") But increasing companies are offering more technologies aimed at helping doctors ply their craft over great distances, particularly in rural area where there is limited access to high quality health care.
For instance, InTouch Health, a Santa Barbara Calif.-based robotics company, offers two types of robotic diagnostic stations used by more than 200 hospitals in the U.S. These enable doctors to interact with hospital patients at a distance. Founder and Chief Executive Yulun Wang believes that within five years' time, such technology will easily let family members check on loved ones in hospitals. InTouch is the only company that the FDA has cleared to offer remote presence robots to hospitals.
Then there are private practice doctors who are using all available social networking tools to stay on top of their patients' care. For instance, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, a pediatrician and expert in preventive medicine, Dr. Jay Parkinson, began utilizing Gmail, Skype and iChat in September 2007 to make "house calls" and communicate with patients. He wanted to be able to share data with other doctors in his office but he needed a platform to do so. In 2008, he founded "Hello Health," a social networking platform like Facebook for doctors and patients to interact.
Big corporations, including Microsoft and Google, offer online health care accounts aimed at helping patients take better control of their own health records. (See: "The Devil Inside Wired Medicine.") Even though Parkinson is an advocate for online medicine, he cautions that there are side affects: It's hard enough for doctors to encourage people to adopt healthier lifestyles. Doing it remotely gets even harder.
Then there's the matter of reimbursing doctors for their time. In America, most physicians prefer to deliver a quantity of medicine due to the reimbursement model of healthcare instead of ensuring quality medicine through good communication, time and establishing personal relationships. As a result, Parkinson believes telehealth will be a good way to augment care between in-person visits but doubts it will ever completely replace in-office visits. "Given the current physician reimbursement model as defined by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, physicians are paid less to see you via telepresence than in the office. Why would a doctor want to sacrifice income just to use telepresence?" Parkinson notes.
Others are more upbeat. Microsoft's Trower believes that the next step in telepresence health care technologies will put a personal care robot in your home. GeckoSystems of Atlanta, Georgia, hopes to become the first U.S.-based company to deliver eldercare robots. It plans to begin selling its robots early next year, after a series of public evaluation trials. GeckoSystems' CareBots include two engines: a self-navigating mobile platform that uses environmental cues and GeckoChat, a language recognition and processing engine.
"The CareBot will follow Grandma like a pet dog and tell her jokes, talk about her favorite TV shows and read her favorite bible verses," promises Spencer. Over the past 10 years, GeckoSystems has spent $6 million developing its mobile CareBots, which Spencer expects will sell for $10,000 to $15,000 apiece. Spencer figures that price will look like a bargain to patients who are considering spending more than $20,000 a year for a spot in an assisted living program.
"Imagine a robot in your elderly parents' home," Helen Grenier, co-founder of iRobot and CEO of DroidWorks writes, "allowing you to virtually visit by means of video, or one that can deliver a drink and important medication at the right time, letting the aged remain independent longer … [This is] absolutely not science fiction. … All it would take is recognizing these as critical national goals--before other countries take the lead."
Other countries, most notably Japan, are also working on home-care robots. Companies that have robots already at work include Fujitsu's "enon" service robot and Mitsubishi's Wakamaru. Other companies, including ones in South Korea and France are also working on homecare robots.
How else could robots speed up the evolution of America's next health care program? None have yet run for Congress--but could that be far off?
Personal Robots to Monitor Elderly Vital Signs
http://cgmasi.com/eyeontechnology/2009/06/personal-robots-to-monitor-elderly-vital-signs.html
By cgmasi on June 16, 2009 3:59 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks
Nearly every technophile on Earth has seen Star Wars medical droids subbing for human physicians, surgeons, and other medical professionals. Unlike most technological marvels portrayed by Hollywood as existing sometime in the far future, such robots aren't that far from reality. A case in point is GeckoSystems Intl. Corp.'s CareBot robotic elder-care system, which graduated to nurses' aid status with the addition of a miniaturized, solid state onboard blood pressure and pulse rate monitor.
"We believe that the incorporation of an onboard blood pressure/pulse rate monitoring system for our CareBots will further enhance their cost effective, utilitarian capabilities. Our CareBot's ability to automatically follow and verbally remind a designated care receiver at predetermined dates and times that their blood pressure/pulse rate needs to be checked by this onboard, integrated monitoring system will enable a higher level of safety, security and cost savings for those at home and in nursing homes, assisted care facilities, hospitals, etc.," observed Martin Spencer, President/CEO of GeckoSystems.
The company says CareBot is a multitasking personal robot incorporating advanced, proprietary AI engines. Given the CareBot's network connectivity and Internet accessibility, alerts of vital signs and other various healthcare events outside of normal range can be quickly sent by telephone, instant or text messaging, and/or email.
GeckoSystems uses sensor fusion extensively for actionable situation awareness in their complete multitasking personal robot, the CareBot. Their mobile robot's hardware and software architecture is designed to be expandable and upgradeable such that many years of cost effective usage can be readily achieved.
The primary market for this product is the family for use in eldercare, care for the chronically ill, and childcare. The primary distribution channel for this new home appliance is the thousands of independent personal computer retailers in the U.S.
Spencer suggests thinking of it as a new type of labor saving, time management automatic home appliance. The unit decreases the difficulty and stress for the caregiver who needs to watch over family members most, if not much, of the time day in and day out due to concerns about their well being, safety, and security. Not infrequently, the primary caregiver has a 24 hour, 7 days a week responsibility. There is concern that medication will be missed or the care receiver have an accident requiring immediate assistance. And the care receiver may be very resistant to a "stranger" coming in to her home and "running things" in the care giver's absence.
Spencer points out that the CareBot is a new kind of companion that always stays close to the care receiver, enabling family and friends to care for them from afar. It tells them jokes, retells family anecdotes, reminds them to take medication, reminds them that family is coming over soon (or not at all), recites Bible verses, plays favorite songs and/or other music. It alerts them when unexpected visitors, or intruders are present. It notifies designated caregivers when a potentially harmful event has occurred, such as a fall, fire in the home, or simply been not found by the CareBot for too long. It responds to calls for help and notifies those that the caregiver determined should be immediately notified when any predetermined adverse event occurs.
The family can customize the personality of the CareBot, modulating the voice's cadence to be fast or slow. The intonation can be breathy, or abrupt. The voice's volume can range from very loud to very soft. The response phrases from the CareBot for recognized words and phrases can be colloquial and/or unique to the family's own heritage. The personality can range from brassy to timid depending on how the caregiver, and others appropriate, chooses it to be.
Addition of medical-condition monitoring technology is a landmark for the robotic care system, upgrading its functionality from strictly social interaction as a companion (no mean feat itself!) to managed-care activity that may be beyond the capabilities of an untrained human caregiver.
Personal Robots to Cost Effectively Enable Smart Homes for Eldercare
http://www.nursinghomeratings.ca/press-releases/46-personal-robots-to-cost-effectively-enable-smart-homes-for-eldercare
Posted on Wed, July 22, 2009 at 5:24 pm
Carebot Will Nag You Back to Health
ARTICLE DATE: 05.01.09
By Lance Ulanoff
One day, we'll all have armless, boxy, nagging robots in the home to remind us to take our meds and that it's time to watch Jeopardy! This is the dream behind GeckoSystems Intl. Corp.'s CareBot personal robot.
Under development for over a decade, the CareBot prototype is a mobile automaton that can easily, if very slowly, navigate among people and objects. It'll follow grandma around the house, let other families watch her from afar (via internet-based video teleconferencing) and contact someone on the outside if grandma falls down and can't get up. According to GeckoSystem company execs, it can also operate for up to 14 hours on a single charge.
In a video demonstrating the robot's utility, it's living in the home of an elderly woman, asking her if she fed the dog and if she wants to watch TV. Its robotic voice gives her the TV listing for her favorite show. When she tells it that, yes, she does want to watch Jeopardy!, it dutifully returns later to tell her it's time to watch it. At this point the woman grows cranky and shoos the robot away saying, "I have guests." A bit of a comedian, CareBot then responds with, "You don't love me anymore." This has all the makings of a hit sitcom.
Apparently some of these responses are canned, while other may be text-to-speech. The release lists more than half a dozen capabilities all named "Gecko[something]. Among them is "GeckoChat," which lets caregivers "teach the CareBot what to say, and when."
GeckoSystems Intl. Corp. President Martin Spencer could not share pricing or availability details, but did, in relation to price, say somewhat cryptically, "Honda believes the market to be larger than the cell phone once the price of a utilitarian, multi-taking personal robots is that of a small car. We don't disagree with Honda in this regard."
GECKO-Professional Healthcare
GECKO-Commercial Security
GECKO-Government
CAREBOT VIDEO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxK46chfP6A
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