In a report dated 10 years ago, the Council for Economic Planning and Development made a forecast basing on the dramatic annual increase in Taiwan's aging index that a decade later every four working people would have to support one elderly person on average. However, 10 years on, less than four people now have to support one elderly person, and the number will drop to below two people in 2020.
In view of this, industries have started to search for business opportunities in blue oceans. Tatung Medical & Healthcare Technologies Co., Ltd., which started by providing health-grade oxygen concentrators and other medical devices, as well as integrated medical information systems, ventured further into the healthcare sector three years ago. Aside from cooperating with the Ministry of Health and Welfare to promote telecare, it also has established a website serving as a platform for telecare management, providing chronically ill patients and elderly people with convenient and timely healthcare services.
"What else can be done for elderly people in addition to physical care?" Edward Chen, President of Tatung Medical & Healthcare Technologies Co., Ltd., noted that daily care for the elderly is like a very big jigsaw puzzle and telecare is just the first piece waiting for other pieces. The idea of a "5bobe" portal site for the elderly was born after brainstorming between Chen, his colleagues and professional predecessors in the industry in hopes to satisfy elderly people's needs in terms of food, clothing, housing, transportation, education, entertainment to even psychological support.
The elderly's life is blessed when they engage in the Internet-enabled applications
According to "The Happiness Research of Taiwan's Retirement Communities" conducted by the Commerce Development Research Institute, in terms of "Internet Usage of Retirees," 29.2% of the retirees say they will increase the frequency of using the Internet. There are reports saying that for seniors who frequently use the Internet, the Internet is like a health supplement, and their physical and mental states are better than those of the same age who notably use the Internet less. While the majority of seniors don't have computer backgrounds and they rarely use consumer electronic tools, it is important to find ways to motivate the seniors to adopt 5bobe services and become interested in the Internet.
Following research and investigation results, Tatung Medical & Healthcare Technologies has designed "5bobe" to meet the criteria of usefulness, simplicity and comfort basing on the elderly people's preferences and needs. Regarding website layouts, pop-up windows, bright colors, Flash and small fonts are avoided, and all drop-down menus are limited to two levels to prevent users from having to search through layer after layer. Several four-panel comic strips and animation videos have been designed to help users learn to operate the computer step by step in an easy way. Chen indicated that seniors do use the Internet, but there are numerous barriers in the designs of many existing website interfaces. The friendly Internet environment can be expected after the removal of these barriers.
The next big task after solving the interface problem is to provide proper website functions and information according to the actual needs of the seniors. After conducting several analyses, Tatung Medical & Healthcare Technologies has divided the 5bobe services into five main categories: health, entertainment, parent-child communication, purchases and welfare/allowances. They also have created an adorable character, "Little Five," who delivers relevant knowledge and new information through the health channel; introduces seniors-friendly recreational sites through the entertainment channel; teaches seniors how to interact with their children via emails, Facebook or Line through parent-child communication channel; showcases products - such as adjustable focus eyeglasses, cutleries combining the spoon and fork, chopstick helpers - that are specifically designed to assist the elderly through the elderly purchasing channel; and introduces welfare services for the elderly through the welfare/allowances channel. These make sure the elderly won't miss out on their rights.
Facing the arrival of aging societies, Tatung Medical & Healthcare Technologies combines information and communication systems and services to create a comprehensive value-added supply chain supporting medicare and daily needs. It offers a better life and long-term care for the elderly, adding the new piece of "5bobe" to the jigsaw puzzle.
"5bobe" portal for the elderly: http://www.5bobe.com.tw/
Edward Chen, President of Tatung Medical & Healthcare Technologies, hopes that the "5bobe" portal will satisfy all needs of the elderly people
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