Vonage Video API-Enabled grandPad Allows Older People to Stay in Touch with Family and Friends

Widespread adoption of tablets and smartphones has made it easier than ever to stay connected to family and friends, no matter where in the world they may be. Live video is the next best thing to being in the same room with loved ones, enabling a deeper connection than a phone call alone can provide.

However, one group that has been slow to adopt live video is the older people community. Not having grown up with the wide range of digital devices are used today, the complexity can be intimidating and overwhelming. Tiny controls and screens can be tricky for those with vision or mobility issues and what should be an enjoyable experience can deteriorate into one that leaves older people feeling frustrated and isolated.

Recognising from personal experience the problems associated with seniors and technology, the team at GrandPad set out to create an inclusive device that would put the specific needs of older people front and centre. The result is a tablet that empowers them to stay in touch with family, friends and caregivers at the touch of a button.

With just a few taps on an intuitive, easy-to-use interface, older people can join a video chat with their loved ones. This inclusive technology means that older people never have to miss out on an important family event and can speak face to face with family and friends wherever they are in the world. And, because the system is completely secure, they can be confident that only trusted contacts will be able to make and receive calls within a circle of trust.

Why Vonage Video API?

Fully customisable, the Vonage Video API enabled the GrandPad team to design the tablet interface exactly as they wanted, making it extremely simple for their customers to use the product. With no logins or usernames required and no separate video application needed, video calling is built right into the product.

Vonage Video API also runs seamlessly on 4G networks – crucial for the GrandPad, because it runs on a mobile network so seniors don’t need a Wi-Fi connection. The reliable video makes the experience enjoyable and helps users avoid having to troubleshoot.

The range of web, Android and iOS SDKs for Vonage Video proved essential in providing a companion app that friends and family members could use around the world.

The Vonage Video API archiving capabilities also allow GrandPad to offer a ‘Capture the Memory’ feature, which lets participants in a video chat record their calls and save them for later review – capturing precious memories for the future.

The Impact of Connection

A GrandPad user recently made his first video call to his daughter in Colorado. According to the 98-year-old, his daughter lives “in the middle of nowhere” on top of a mountain and he wasn’t even sure the call would go through. At the touch of a button, he was able to not only see his daughter but the beautiful mountains in the background too. He was thrilled and his entire family agreed they needed to take advantage of the GrandPad to help them all stay connected.

With such an easy-to-use interface, simple video calling on the GrandPad helps reduce social isolation and addresses the problem of loneliness among older people. GrandPads are found in the homes of many people suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia, including a user in California who rarely sees her daughter in person because she lives in Hawaii. The simplicity of the GrandPad, with its finite number of options, makes video chats easier, enabling mother and daughter to stay better connected.

“Looking around, the Vonage Video API offered the best open platform with SDKs for all platforms we care about – Android, iOS, web. It also offers a lot of really interesting features, like group calling, signalling and screen sharing. We love that the company is constantly working on new features and enhancements behind the scenes.”

RYAN, Development Team, grandPad