New ways of connecting human: Guided video creation and storytelling on a mobile phone
Nature vs culture
Man is a social animal that lives in a society with friends and family. In nature, the animal world also lives in their own societies – herds and packs – but that world is different from the human society. The animal world is governed by the law of survival of the fittest. Whereas, in the human society the mighty takes care of the meek. We, as a society, are wired to take care of people with special needs and those in vulnerable age group.
Pandemic and the vulnerable
When the Corona pandemic hit the world earlier this year, it seemed Charles Darwin’s theory of “Survival of the Fittest” might apply to the human society as well. Governments around the world took swift action and locked down the economy. They urged and even mandated people to severely restrict their movement. With remote working and travel restrictions, the communities for senior living particularly got isolated. While the physical isolation was aimed at reducing the risk of health hazard for the seniors, they getting distanced from their children, grandchildren and other relatives was emotionally challenging for them. The relatives were also concerned about the well-being of their seniors. As in remote working, zoom or other video conferencing tool was an available option for people to connect and handle their social responsibilities. But this option was only slightly better than a having a conversation over phone. It needed both parties to have time for each other at a common schedule. A better and easier solution was needed for this problem.
We, as a society, are wired to take care of people with special needs and those in vulnerable age group.
Technology giveth hope
This is when the human society rises to the occasion and does something different – and so did one of software companies in the US with the help of CES. When the distancing happened in physical contact, closing in happened with digital contact. This software company re-purposed the available technologies and pivoted its business offering to develop a solution that squarely addressed the situation the seniors were in. They developed a new and a more memorable way to stay connected for the elderly and their families and be aware of each other’s well-being.
Studio in a smart phone
They developed a SaaS based video creation app which the elderly could use to create and share videos of their daily mundane activities and mini adventures. Delivered from the cloud, the mobile app turned out to be a digital playground for the elderly. It was a studio in a smart phone that is amazingly easy to use. It is a platform to stitch and broadcast real-time memories which the receiving relatives could watch at leisure. This asynchronous mode of high-quality communication resulted in peace of mind for the relatives but more importantly a purpose in the lives of the elderly. The elderly could now be creative and give wings to their expressions. They could share their life status and receive responses and feedback from their children. It resulted in better bonding with their digital-savvy grandchildren.
CES helped re-purpose the available technologies to develop a solution that squarely addressed the situation the seniors were in during the pandemic.
CES helped develop this SaaS based video capturing and sharing app to help the residents stay in touch with their loved ones. Videos can be easily stored and replayed in the app allowing the families to conveniently revisit the captured and shared memories whenever desired. But the app also helped improve the attractiveness of the community, which was a surprise bonus. The community became more desirable and talked about by the future dwellers. The property management looked good as well and, ultimately, the property value went up.
When the distancing happened in physical contact, closing in happened with digital contact.
Other uses of this digital solution
This technology found its application in other use cases as well. A similar app was developed to operate as a platform to commemorate the life of a departed soul. People could use this mobile phone-based platform to collate and sequence the pictures of a person expired. They could use it to share an emotional digital obituary and sum up a life well lived, and sometimes, to mourn a life that was cut a bit short. A funeral home can offer this platform as an app and improve its services significantly by making a somber social gathering a little less grieving.
Technology continues to support human evolutionary journey from sapiens to a more intelligent social being. The digital evolution reconfirms the existence of the spirit that makes us human and humane.
CES stands with its clients and partners
CES continues with its endeavours of making life more humane and to fulfil its obligation to make the pandemic a little less painful for the society. For a conversation on how CES can help your customer and the communities with our intention and innovation, please contact us at sales@cesltd.com.
