Tech firm creates AI devices to help aging population

The AI hob system warns people about potential fires

An electronics firm in Gloucestershire says it is creating AI devices to help an aging population.

Heber, based in Chalford, is celebrating its 40th anniversary of creating products for the entertainment and medical sectors.

Several inventions were showcased on the BBC Tomorrow's World, including the first breathalysers used in pubs.

Richard Horne, who founded the company, said employees were now focussed on creating devices to help with assisted living.

Among the new products is Pippa, an AI hob and stove monitor that can be placed above an extractor fan to look at the hob and alerts anyone if there are any problems in the kitchen.

Heber, which is based in a 300-year-old mill, also creates electronics that go inside systems people can take home and use to run old video games.

Mr Horne, Heber's commercial director, said: "It's surprising how much technology gets developed outside of this little mill."

Richard Horne is celebrating 40 years of being in business

Pippa, Mr Horne said, would "guard vulnerable people" and help increase safety in homes.

Over the years Heber has designed and manufactured a variety of products shown on TV such as an auto scoring electronic dartboard, and in collaboration with the BBC an electronic bridge game companion.

They've also designed washing machines, tumble dryers, claw machines, penny pushers, arcade systems and pinball.