Revolutionary Video Call for the Elderly Developed by Real Estate Giant’s In-House Venture to Connect Families

Thorough No Operation Required

“Regardless of how far apart you are, or how old you become, everyone wants to be able to talk to their family easily. This is a desire that everyone has. This is why we developed the ‘TQ Tablet,’ which requires no operation,” says Soichiro Ebe, Vice President of TQ Connect.

The company developed the “TQ Tablet” in May 2024, a tablet designed for elderly individuals requiring care, enabling them to make video calls. It has been steadily increasing in sales.

In 2025, Japan will enter a super-aging society, as the baby boomer generation reaches 75 years of age and beyond. In nuclear families, more and more people will begin to worry about their parents who live far away.

While parents are still healthy, things are manageable, but once they enter a care-dependent state, even making a phone call can become difficult. Even if a simple mobile phone or tablet is given, it’s often hard for elderly people to use them properly. There’s also the concern that they might fall victim to fraudulent phone calls or emails.

The “TQ Tablet” is a device specifically designed for communication between elderly people, including those who require care, and their families.

“Elderly people often can’t use devices even if the operations are simplified. That’s why we made ‘no operation required’ our focus. The tablet only needs to be powered on. When the family uses an app, it immediately connects. We take care of all the settings. Since the tablet has a built-in SIM card, there’s no need for separate Wi-Fi or internet contracts,” says Ebe.

 

The “TQ Tablet” features video calling and message-based photo sharing, with calls made through a dedicated app. Its main feature is that when a family member calls, the tablet automatically starts the call without needing any action from the user. This makes it easy for people who are not good with digital devices, or those with physical disabilities, to answer calls.

Even when voice calls are difficult for communication, video calls make it easier to interact. Since the connection is automatic, it can also serve as a monitoring camera. If the user doesn’t want to be seen, they can close the tablet’s cover to turn off the camera.

Additionally, users can send simple messages or share photos via smartphone, which can then be displayed as a slideshow on the tablet, functioning like a digital photo frame. Even for those who find conversation difficult, these methods allow communication. Furthermore, since calls can only be made to registered users, there’s no worry about receiving suspicious calls. While many tablets for the elderly exist, none have such simple features, which makes them difficult for elderly people to use. The fact that there’s no need for Wi-Fi or an internet connection is also a significant advantage for elderly users.

When asked about the development of the “TQ Tablet,” Ebe shared that there were some twists and turns along the way. TQ Connect was established in May 2021 as an internal venture under the new business system “STEP” by Tokyu Fudosan Holdings, with the goal of creating new revenue streams. Initially, the focus was on providing support services for elderly people who were using digital devices for the first time, addressing the digital divide (IT and information inequality) created by the COVID-19 restrictions.

The product was created because it aligned with the voice of the customer

“After the pandemic, demand decreased, so we pivoted (changed direction) and arrived at the current form. We achieved this in just a few months, which I think is the strength of the internal venture system. In a large corporation, I don’t think such a major change could have happened so quickly.

I’ve always believed in ‘Customer is Boss,’ focusing on listening to customer feedback and quickly implementing what customers need. Prioritizing being close to the customer allowed us to pivot with agility, I believe.”

The idea for the “TQ Tablet” also incorporated customer feedback, which led to the pursuit of no need for operation.

“Many people said that the tablet they bought for their parents was too complicated to use, and they were disappointed. That’s when we realized that people just want to talk to their families. So, we thought if we could make video calls automatically, with some consideration for privacy, it would allow for enjoyable conversations.

Based on that idea, we conducted surveys, and many people wanted it, so we immediately updated the system and offered it, and received great feedback.”

Customer feedback is still being gathered. “When we listen to our customers, they all say they want to meet, talk, and leave memories,” said Ebe.

“People want to close the emotional distance. When you’re doing long-distance caregiving, there’s physical distance, right? It’s not just about putting someone in a care facility; people still want to do something for them at the end.

People use it in so many ways. For example, some take the tablet to a family trip to a place they went to together before and show the view to their parents. Others watch sports broadcasts together and cheer. Some even brought the tablet to participate in a wedding. We want to help create such beautiful memories.”

With the rise of nuclear families, the distance from parents has increased. The technology that has evolved, along with the flexible ideas behind it, may be the ones that can bridge that gap.