Nectec plans centres for elderly

The centres will provide them with the tools to go through their daily routines without the need for any assistance.

Nectec will initially set up community centres in three provinces - Nakhon Ratchasima, Chainat and Ubon Ratchathani.

The project will provide homes with facilities such as remote-controlled electrical appliances, Chadamas Thuvasethakul, Comm-ittee Secretary of the IT Project under the initiative of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, said.

Houses in the communities will also have alarm systems so that residents can alert other community members in case of emergencies.

As the houses will be equipped with electrical appliances that can be controlled by a panel, community members will be able to perform daily routines themselves with ease.      

"The corporation will not only take the research and development [of assistive technology] from the laboratory right up to the field trials and finally to the actual use of the product, but will also facilitate support for the disabled in leading an independent life, free from any barriers to assistive technology, thus improving their quality of life," Chadamas said.

She said Nectec plans to develop assistive technologies and tools which will improve the quality of life of the disabled and the elderly such as digital hearing aids and prosthetic limbs that cost 50-per-cent less than the imported ones.