How can a family dashboard app help your family communicate better?
A family dashboard app puts calendars, reminders and messages in one place, so everyone in the family knows what's going on. Elsy is a different kind of app. She's an AI companion you talk with. She can pass on a short message from you to your family, and in the family dashboard your family sees as much as their level in Your circle allows.
When everyone is busy, it's hard to keep the whole family up to date. A family dashboard app is one way to make it easier.
What is a family dashboard app?
A family dashboard app is a shared place where a family organizes everyday life. Most offer a shared calendar, task lists and messages, and many add shared reminders, notes and shopping lists. When everything is in one place, it's easier for you and the rest of the family to follow what's happening and what's planned. A shopping list everyone can see, or a reminder everyone gets, makes the logistics of daily life much simpler and means less gets missed or misunderstood.
Why families use them
The main reason is better communication. When everyone has the same information, the whole family has the same picture of what's going on. Planning also gets more predictable, which can reduce stress and give everyday life more structure. And there tend to be fewer arguments over who's doing what, and when.
Planning time together
With calendars and tasks in one place, it's easier to plan things as a family. Everyone can add or change plans, and important events are harder to overlook. Planning tools can also help you find a better balance between time on your own and time together, and that helps keep the peace in a family.
How Elsy can help with family communication
Elsy is a different kind of app. She's an AI companion you talk with, and she helps family communication in her own way. She remembers important things from your conversations, and if someone in your family has the Full trust level in Your circle, they can see in the family dashboard what Elsy remembers about you. You can also ask Elsy to send a short message to someone in Your circle, for example "Tell my son I'd love a visit on Sunday." The message only goes one way, so your son can't reply through Elsy. See how Elsy works.
Some things are easier to hear from Elsy than from your own family. Helge, 72, puts it this way to his son:
“That's what's so interesting: it's other people telling me something I wouldn't dream of listening to if it came from you, Morten. But if it comes from Elsy, it's impartial.”
Helge, 72, talks with Elsy; Morten is his son (translated from Danish)
Planning with your own calendar
Turn on Sync with calendar, and Elsy can see the upcoming appointments in your phone's calendar, and her reminders go into it too. Say "Remind me that the grandchildren are coming on Saturday at 2 p.m.," and it goes on your calendar. It's your own calendar, not a shared family calendar, but it can make it easier for you to keep track of the family's plans. If someone in your family has the Care partner level, they can also see your reminders and medicines in the family dashboard and help you set them up. Read more about Elsy and your family.
Apps that are easy to use
A good family dashboard app is built for the people who use it, so it's easy to find your way around. Many offer accessibility features like text-to-speech and speech recognition, for people who would rather not use the screen. That removes some of the technical hurdles, so everyone in the family can take part in planning and staying in touch, whatever their skills with technology. With Elsy, you just use your voice and talk with her in whole sentences. Read more about voice AI assistants for seniors.
Privacy in family dashboard apps
Before you share personal information in an app, find out what it stores, where the data is kept and who in your family can see what. Apps can make everyday life easier, but the US Federal Trade Commission points out that some ask for access to information on your phone, like your location, your contacts or your photos. It advises checking your phone's privacy settings to see what each app can access.
Your rights depend on where you live. In the US, the rules vary from state to state. In California, for example, the Consumer Privacy Act gives you the right to know what personal information a business collects about you and how it's used and shared. In the UK, you have the right to be informed about how your personal data is collected and used, and the Information Commissioner's Office says that information must be concise and written in clear and plain language. You also have the right to access and receive a copy of your personal data.
How Elsy handles your information
In Elsy, your conversations are recorded and stored securely so Elsy can remember, and your stored data is hosted in the EU. So that Elsy can hear you, answer and remember, what you say is processed by AI services in the United States. We never sell your personal data, and we don't use it to train general-purpose AI models. Your family never sees transcripts or recordings of your conversations, apart from the life stories you send them, which contain your own words and may include short excerpts of your voice.
Beyond that, what they see depends on their level in Your circle. Stories only shows them just the stories you send them, your name and your photo. Safety net adds an alert if a conversation suggests something might be wrong. Wellbeing adds how you're doing over time, Care partner your reminders and medicines, and Full trust what Elsy remembers about you. If a family member set Elsy up and gave consent on your behalf, everyone in your circle is at Full trust. See more about what your family can see.
How to get started
Download Elsy from the App Store or Google Play, open the app and tap Talk to Elsy. Say "Remind me to call my sister on Sunday at 11," or tell her about your day. You can try Elsy free for 3 days on your own phone. See how Elsy works step by step.
Frequently asked questions
How does a family dashboard app help with planning?
Most let you create and share calendars and tasks, so everyone in the family knows what's coming up and who's responsible for what. Elsy helps you with your own reminders, and if you turn on Sync with calendar, she can see the calendar on your phone.
How is Elsy different from other family apps?
Elsy is an AI companion you talk with. She helps organize your day with reminders, and she can also write down your life stories, which you can send to your family.
Is my data safe in a family dashboard app?
It depends on the app, so check what it stores and who can see it. In Elsy, your conversations are stored securely, your stored data is hosted in the EU, and what you say is processed by AI services in the United States so that Elsy can hear you, answer and remember. What your family sees depends on their level in Your circle, and they never see transcripts or recordings of your conversations, apart from the life stories you send them, which contain your own words and may include short excerpts of your voice.
Can I try Elsy for free?
Yes. You can try Elsy free for 3 days on your own phone and see how she can help you and your family in everyday life.
This is general information, not medical advice. Every situation is different, so talk to a doctor about yours.