Seoul City-SK Telecom, Free Distribution of Over 1,000 'Dementia Elderly Missing Prevention Devices'

'Smart Jikimi', Real-time GPS Location and Key Route Transmission to Guardians

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The Seoul Metropolitan Government and SK Telecom will provide over 1,000 units of the wandering detection device (location tracker) "Smart Jikimi," which prevents the disappearance of dementia patients by detecting their location in real time via GPS, free of charge.

Regarding this, on the 10th, Seoul announced that on the 11th, the city will sign a written agreement in which it will cover all rental and communication fees for the devices, while SK Telecom will support SK's communication network and software upgrades.

Smart Jikimi is a wristwatch-type device that elderly people can wear comfortably. Caregivers can check the current location and main movement paths of the elderly through a dedicated app (Smart Jikimi). If the elderly person wanders outside a pre-set safe zone (Ansim Zone), an immediate alarm will sound on the app.

Performance has been further upgraded to address inconveniences of previous devices. Earlier, Seoul started the "Location-Based Safety Service for Socially Vulnerable Groups" in 2012 to ensure their safety, and since 2013, through Dementia Safety Centers, has been distributing wandering detection devices equipped with location tracking and emergency call functions for dementia patients.

The new device has enhanced battery life compared to previous models, allowing use for an average maximum of 7 to 10 days on a single charge (with location collection every 5 minutes). The design has also changed from a necklace type to a wristwatch type to improve wearing and carrying convenience, and accuracy in location confirmation and real-time tracking has been improved.

Equipped with a waterproof function (IP67 dust and water resistance rating), the device can be worn during activities such as dishwashing or showering. The device's overall performance has been improved with new features such as an LED screen displaying date and time and touch functionality.

Starting from the 11th, the city will sequentially distribute the smart devices through 25 Dementia Safety Centers across Seoul. Applications can be made by visiting the local district Dementia Safety Center and filling out an application form and consent for personal information use.

Before distributing Smart Jikimi, the city conducted a pilot operation with 23 dementia patients, and 95.7% of users responded that they were satisfied with the device and service. Additionally, over 87% expressed willingness to use the device once it becomes an official service.

Seoul plans to continuously enhance service quality by establishing a cooperative system with SK Telecom and aims to introduce technology for indoor location tracking as well as outdoor tracking in the mid to long term.

Lee Won-mok, Director of Smart City Policy at Seoul City, said, "Dementia is a social issue that affects not only the patients but also their families in our rapidly aging society." He added, "Going forward, the city will focus not merely on quantitatively expanding wandering detection devices but on continuously listening to users' voices and reflecting them to provide high-quality services."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.