Frequently Asked Questions

Digital care, also known as digital health and social care, is the use of digital services and modern technologies to support and improve the quality of health and social care for an individual. Sentai can help individuals in need of support, their families and care providers to offer digital care through a voice enabled virtual companion to help individuals in need of support with day-to-day tasks, alleviate loneliness and connect the care circle.

No. Sentai’s solutions look to enhance the care offering by making more hours available through digital care check-ins or by complementing and enriching the in-person care service if this is already in place. Whether that be for a client who doesn’t always require in-person visits regularly, a client who is on a waiting list for care or a client who just wants a friendly voice in their home, Sentai is designed to enhance human care, not replace it. It extends the care service to be a constant companion, available when humans can’t be there. By offering a digital care package before a formal care plan is put together, or whilst the client is on a waiting list ensures clients still receive the essential support in a timely manner.

Sentai is a voice enabled virtual companion, designed to bring peace of mind to carers and independence to those in need of support. It combines new technologies with human insight to address challenges in social care, allowing individuals to stay in their own homes while receiving the support they need.

Formal care settings, such as care homes and home care, often face workforce shortages, funding gaps, and rising costs. Sentai offers an alternative by using emerging and established technologies, including (AI) and motion sensors, to provide caregivers with relevant information about the user's daily routines, activities, and wellbeing. This helps carers provide support without complexity or intrusion, ensuring they maintain their independence.

Sentai is purpose built for the job to act as a companion, customised to you, to care for you and connect you to your friends, family and carers. Unlike an Alexa, the Sentai smart speaker contains a precision microphone, a full-range speaker, and a presence sensor, which provides AI powered natural conversation. It also has an in-built hub (and SIM card) which enables optional connectivity to further presence sensors in the house if needed. It uses responsible AI and has guard rails so the conversation stays on topic. It’s a fun and non-intrusive option for the home to provide support and companionship, and visibility of wellbeing to friends, family and carers. Additionally, the Sentai app for carers, friends and family enables easy configuration of the speaker and provides insight on loved one’s activity and wellbeing along with chat, shopping lists and care notes. Carers and family members can receive notifications when there are issues, for example when medication has run out, urgent shopping is needed or no movement is detected. Everyone can receive the information in a single solution with reports and insight. If needed, Sentai can also connect professional carers and care providers.

Businesses and organisations, such as domiciliary care providers and local council health authorities, can benefit from partnering with Sentai by offering innovative solutions to their clients or community. Sentai's technology can improve the quality of care, enhance the wellbeing of individuals in need of support, reduce the burden on informal carers, and contribute to cost savings in the long run.

Businesses and organisations interested in working with Sentai can explore collaboration opportunities to integrate Sentai's technology into their existing services. This could involve incorporating Sentai's solution into care plans, leveraging the technology to enhance home care services, or offering Sentai's services as an add-on to their current offerings.

Sentai emphasises continuous learning and improvement. The solution aims to become more familiar, friendly, and effective over time by incorporating feedback and leveraging advancements in technology. This ensures that both carers and individuals can make the most of every moment together while staying up-to-date with the latest developments in social care technology.

Privacy is a priority for Sentai. Sentai uses personal data within the system to improve its service offering, never sells data to third parties, and only shares data with authorized individuals or organisations.

Sentai's technology is powered by AI and machine learning, constantly adapting to individual needs. Sentai is designed to be flexible and future-proof, continually evaluating new technologies to enhance its capabilities. This includes meaningful AI-generated conversations, tone analysis, voice recognition, and personalized recommendations based on preferences.

Sentai is not an emergency call alarm and is not intended to replace call alarms where they serve the purpose to the user. Sentai can be used either on its own as its intended purposes as a voice enabled digital companion or it can be used in conjunction with an existing emergency call alarm.

Sentai is a learning device and, as such, uses personal data to improve. Sentai only ever uses this data within the system, will never sell your data to third parties, and will only ever share your data with people or organisations that you have expressly authorised. Sentai abides by all relevant legislation, including the Data Protection Act (1998).

Sentai includes a single smart speaker containing all it needs in one solution, minimising the need for users to learn anything new on a mobile device or download apps. The use of voice activation technology also eliminates the requirement for extensive learning, ensuring a user-friendly experience. This absence of a learning curve makes Sentai an ideal solution for individuals who may not be tech-savvy, offering a smooth transition without the burden of mastering new technologies or new devices. The intuitive design, coupled with voice commands, enhance accessibility and ease of use, making Sentai a hassle-free and accommodating choice for its users.

The primary method to install Sentai is using in home standard WiFi. However, should WiFi not be available there is an in-built eSIM which can be used. See FAQ What is the 4G Connected Version of Sentai, and how does it work?

The 4G Connected Version of Sentai is designed for users who do not have access to Wi-Fi or their own internet connection at home. While the device still needs to be plugged into a power outlet to function, it comes equipped with a built-in 4G modem. This allows Sentai to connect directly to the internet via the 4G mobile network without needing a separate Wi-Fi or broadband connection. It's an ideal option for those who want the full functionality of Sentai but don’t have traditional internet access. This version ensures that Sentai remains connected and fully operational, providing you with updates, notifications, and services seamlessly through the 4G network.

An in-built hub enables optional connectivity to further presence sensors in the house if needed. Currently we would recommend just using one central device / speaker in the main room of the home where the user will spend the majority of their time awake and engaging in conversation, reminders and tasks.

It only takes minutes to set up either using the app or speaking directly to Sentai to connect to Wi-Fi, or mobile internet through an inbuilt SIM card. It’s a fun and non-intrusive option for the home to provide support and companionship, and visibility of wellbeing to friends, family and carers.