Anticipation rippled through the crowd as the cream envelope containing the names of the winners of Best Product for 2021 was torn open on stage at the annual Smarthome Germany Awards yesterday. This prestigious organization carefully selects and acclaims the best new developments in the German-speaking Smart-home industry each year. Applause broke out as ProKNX was awarded third place for its new offline smart home assistant, Aragon Companion, that enables seniors to live safely and independently at home for longer.
After the awards ceremony, ProKNX CEO, Christian Kiefel said that he was extremely pleased with the placing, and congratulated the two other Best Product award winners, Lebensräume and Hoppe-Gruppe for their excellent products. He stated, “Together as an industry we are changing the face of the smart home to reflect the modern needs and desires of everyday life. Our goal in using this intelligent technology is to help people live more comfortably and safely in their homes than was previously possible.”
The Aragon Companion operates offline to keep the lives of the user completely private. It is a combination of a voice controlled smart assistant that can be used to manipulate lights, blinds, and heating, and an intelligent device that monitors the daily routine of people living alone. The assistant carries out passive problem detection by evaluating data received from installed motion detectors, sensors or manual switching actions and learning the routine of an individual person. If it detects anomalies such as a longer than usual stay in the bathroom, abnormal meal times, or an unusual rising time, it can alert an outside caregiver. A nominated carer can also be contacted through an active verbal request for help.
Kiefel went on to explain that the Aragon Companion assistant also has an enormous advantage over many other smart-home systems on the market in that it is a “plug and play” device that transmits its data over local Wi-Fi. Therefore, it can be easily installed in both new-builds and retrofits as there is no need to disturb any building surfaces to put the system in place.
“We are committed to making inexpensive, high-quality senior-friendly living possible with simple means. The psychological and physical benefits for seniors of being autonomous and safe in their own homes are enormous for the individuals themselves, and for society as a whole,” stated Kiefel. “At ProKNX, we believe that the Aragon Companion can make life more comfortable and far safer for the seniors of today, and will also have a vastly positive impact on our daily lives as we become the seniors of tomorrow.”
