CallGenie – Simple Video Phone for the Elderly

Skype is one of the most widely used video calling applications and is available on all major computing platforms, not just mobile. Want to call the elderly person from your laptop or desktop computer? Then Skype is the answer.

The television is the largest screen in most people’s homes. Add on to that the fact that the majority of elderly people have their main chair positioned directly in front of their television, why would you introduce another smaller screen into their living environment when the television is already there?

What if you have spectacles? Varifocal glasses will allow you to switch from watching television to reading a book by looking down through the bottom of the lens. Looking at a screen a metre or so away would require the user to tip their head back to be able focus on the screen. Unless, of course, the screen is positioned on the floor, which is usually not practical.

CallGenie works in conjunction with televisions ranging from 20″ through to 75″, or bigger. Why limit the user to watching a small screen while the largest screen in the home is right in front of them.

No. We set up Skype to only answer calls from known contacts.

A Fully Configured CallGenie Appliance includes CallGenie Software, mini PC, webcam and television control hardware.

• Choose from HD or Full HD Webcams (see FAQs for help choosing)
• Remote configuration by Smart Life Solutions
• Available as an appliance in the UK and USA. Canada (coming soon!)*
• Delivery 3-5 days (UK)

 *CallGenie solutions are being used in the US, Canada, Brazil and Mainland Europe where customers have bought the hardware themselves and sourced the CallGenie Software from us.   UPDATE: You can now buy CallGenie Appliances in the USA – follow this link to our US distributor – CallGenieUSA.                                   

CallGenie requires HDMI-CEC to control the television. This is provided as standard in most premium LED/QLED/OLED* televisions from:

• Samsung (no smaller than 37″)
• LG (WebOS Smart TVs only)
• Sony
• Panasonic
• Philips

(*) LCD and Plasma televisions are typically not compatible

The following technologies aren’t supported:

• Amazon Fire TV Edition (JVC, Bus, Ferguson etc)
• Vidaa OS (Hisense, Toshiba etc)
• TV/DVD Combinations (Bush, Hitachi, JVC, Sharp etc)

To check if your television has HDMI-CEC use your remote control to access the television’s menu. Then check in Settings, System or something similar to look for the option. You may also want to look at your televsion’s instruction manual or just try performing a web search for the model of your television and “Enable HDMI-CEC.”

Please note that manufacturers may have their own trade names for HDMI-CEC:

If in doubt check with us that your television will work.

Yes, you can. If you, or the person you are buying a CallGenie Appliance for, are chronically sick or disabled and are using CallGenie Appliance for personal or domestic use.

The following qualifies as chronically sick or disabled:

• You have a physical or mental impairment which has a long-term and substantial adverse effect upon your ability to carry out everyday activities
• You have a condition that the medical profession treats as a chronic sickness, such as diabetes or Alzheimer’s disease 
• You have a terminal illness

Smart Life Solutions is required by HMRC to keep a record of all customers who have qualified for VAT relief for the disabled. Their names , addresses and other relevant information may be shared with HMRC upon request.

To get VAT relief for the disabled you need to create a Smart Life Solutions account and fill out a short questionnaire. Smart Life Solutions will confirm your application for VAT relief for the disabled typically within 8 working hours. Occasionally, we may need more information from you before it is approved.