About the company myJoice
Our goal is to make communication simple for everybody regardless of age or ability to use technology. That’s the reason we provide the world’s easiest TV-phone.
Joice makes it easy for people to communicate with others through their television set. Individuals who may find a computer or even a telephone difficult to use can connect with family and friends with the simple touch of a button.
With Joice, a whole new possibility for contact presents itself. An elderly woman living in a senior home can use Joice to see and talk to her son who lives hundreds of miles away. The parents of a young disabled adult living in an assisted living facility, can use Joice to frequently check on their child’s wellbeing. Friends, regardless of age can easily see and talk to each other from the comfort of their own living rooms. Joice is a tool that helps improve quality of life and well being for all people.
Background
In 2004 my mother, Gerd Pagrotsky, had a stroke. Overnight she went from being a mobile and active 80 year old who spent most her time amusing others by playing the piano for seniors at several senior citizen homes in Gothenburg, to being totally dependent on nursing care.
My brother and I, who are often away traveling, were used to always being able to reach our mother on the phone. One day while in London I called my mother. The line was busy. I called repeatedly for several hours. I became uneasy, called the family, what if mother had a stroke?
I called a neighbour, who after a quick check was able to confirm that everything was all right with mother. The phone was off the hook. Several days later the same thing happened again, but this time the neighbour was not at home, and after speaking to the family, I placed an anxious call to Domestic Care Services who sent its emergency service.
The same thing happened again – mother fell asleep with the telephone lying off the hook on the floor of the bedroom.
What will we do next time? I spoke with my mother and gave her careful instructions about how to work her new telephone with oversized keys.
Naturally the same thing happened again. We started to ponder the problem.
Since millions of people in countries where broadband has been established for a number of years, like here in Sweden, also have elderly parents someone must have developed video communication in order to be able to have both visual and oral communication with those who do not have access to a computer. Skype existed, but my mother would never be able to learn to use a PC.
My son Daniel and I discussed the problem and he called around amongst his friends. No one knew of any such service. We combed the Internet and contacted experts in Europe and in the USA. Everyone said that it must, of course, exist, but it didn’t. That was when we decided, with help from a number of experts and friends, to start MyJoice.
I am convinced that few things bring more joy than for a grandmother in, for example Lysekil to be able to see and speak with five-year old Ville who lives in Shanghai. It is just as much fun for the kids as for the grandparents.
For my brother, our families and me the worry has been dispelled. My mother Gerd is happy since we can always reach each other.
David Pagrotsky (founder MyJoice)
Testimonies from users
Liselotte Arthur
Nathalie Ylitalo
Anita Ander
Jessica Eckerstein