It's called (not surprisingly) Nonny and it's an innovative way to video call your loved ones through a simple gesture: touch a photo. The startup of the same name, in collaboration with Sorgenia, wanted to give its contribution to all the elderly, but not only them, who in recent weeks they are forced into the house by the restrictive measures for the coronavirus emergency, perhaps alone and without the possibility of meeting children, grandchildren and other relatives. 100 of them, chosen from among Sorgenia customers and with particular attention to the Lodigiano area, the first red zone in Italy (where the energy company also has a production plant), have already been sent the devices, which present themselves like a sort of tablet and whose use is extremely intuitive.
The solidarity project is called "Stay close to those you love" and is now destined to expand to hundreds of other elderly people who, contacted by Sorgenia among its customers, claim to be in solitary confinement and need to video communicate with their families in nimble way. To do this, with Nonny, a single gesture is enough: touch the photo of whoever you want to contact, who it is always available on the display because the tablet never goes into stand-by. As regards the video calls received, the system even answers automatically, in case the person is not able to do it independently.
The initiative is aimed precisely at supporting what is today the most vulnerable segment of the population, first of all as hardest hit by the spread of Covid-19 (and with the highest mortality rate), and then due to the drama of loneliness and lack of assistance. According to estimates, there are almost 14 million elderly people in Italy who are currently in this difficult situation. Furthermore, Nonny and Sorgenia have also donated some devices to nursing homes and to some Municipalities particularly affected by the epidemic.
“A supportive initiative – explained Michele Vaccaro, the Milanese manager who created Nonny – which comes from un a company like Sorgenia that wanted to make a concrete contribution to the weakest bands making them feel less alone. With Nonny we can break down these distances and encourage virtual but almost real communication".
