User Manual

What is OurFamilyConnected?

OurFamilyConnected is a simple messaging device that displays messages, photos, and videos sent from family members via Telegram. It also reads messages aloud through a speaker.

The device is designed for elderly users who don't need to interact with a phone or computer — messages appear automatically on the TV screen.

It also includes a dementia-friendly clock that always shows the current time, date, and day in a clear, high-contrast display, and a calendar showing upcoming appointments managed by family members.

Setting Up Telegram

Installing Telegram

1. On your phone, go to the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android)
2. Search for Telegram
3. Download and install the app
4. Open Telegram and enter your phone number
5. You'll receive a verification code via SMS — enter it
6. Set your name (this is what will appear on the device as the sender)

Creating a Telegram Bot

A bot is needed so the device can receive messages from the group.

1. In Telegram, tap the search bar and type @BotFather
2. Tap on BotFather (it has a blue tick)
3. Tap Start or type /start
4. Type /newbot
5. Give your bot a name, e.g. Mums Messages
6. Give it a username ending in bot, e.g. MumsMessages_bot
7. BotFather will reply with a token — this is your BOT_TOKEN. Save it!

Disabling Group Privacy

1. In the BotFather chat, type /mybots
2. Select your bot from the list
3. Tap Bot Settings
4. Tap Group Privacy
5. Tap Turn off
6. You should see: "Privacy mode is disabled"

Creating the Group Chat

1. In Telegram, tap the pencil icon (top right) to start a new message
2. Tap New Group
3. Add the bot by searching for its username (e.g. MumsMessages_bot)
4. Add any family members who should send/receive messages
5. Give the group a name, e.g. "Mum's Messages"
6. Tap Create

Getting the Chat ID

1. Send any message in the new group (e.g. "hello")
2. Open a web browser and go to:
   https://api.telegram.org/botYOUR_TOKEN/getUpdates
3. Look for "chat":{"id":-XXXXXXXXXX} in the response
4. The negative number (e.g. -4992655556) is your CHAT_ID

Adding More Family Members

1. Open the group chat in Telegram
2. Tap the group name at the top
3. Tap Add Members
4. Search for and select the person to add

Anyone in the group can send messages, photos, videos, and calendar commands to the device.

Sending Messages

Text Messages

Simply type a message in the Telegram group chat. It will appear on the device screen within 5 seconds and be read aloud.

Example: Hello Mum, hope you're well today x

Photos

Send any photo in the group chat. It will display on the left side of the screen.

Videos

Send a video in the group chat. It will be downloaded and played on the device.

Voice Messages

Record a voice message in Telegram. It will be sent to the device and played through the speaker.

Calendar & Appointments

Family members can manage appointments remotely via Telegram commands.

Adding an Appointment

Type cal followed by the date and description:

Date formats accepted:

Removing an Appointment

Type del followed by the date and a keyword:

The keyword just needs to partially match — del 30.4.26 Doc would also work.

Other Commands

Physical Buttons (Keypad)

The device has 4 active buttons on the keypad:

Recording a Voice Message

1. Press the Red button once — screen turns red and shows "RECORDING"
2. Speak your message clearly
3. Press the Red button again — message is sent to the Telegram group

Browsing Messages

• Press Green (BACK) to see older messages
• Press Yellow (NEXT) to see newer messages
• Press Blue (REPLAY) to hear the current message again

What's on the Screen

Here's what the device display looks like:

The screen shows:

• Top bar: Current date, time, and time-of-day period
• Greeting: Good Morning / Good Afternoon / Good Evening
• Stats: Number of messages, photos, and videos received today
• Message area (left): The current message with sender name, text, and timestamp
• Calendar (right): Upcoming appointments sorted by date
• Bottom bar: Colour-coded button labels and copyright

First Time WiFi Setup

When the device is first plugged in (or if the WiFi network changes), it needs to be connected to your home WiFi. No keyboard or mouse is needed — just a phone.

Step-by-Step WiFi Setup

1. Plug in the device (power cable + HDMI to TV)
2. Wait about 1 minute for the device to start up
3. On your phone, go to WiFi Settings
4. Look for a network called "HomeCare-Setup"
5. Connect to it using password: homecare1
6. Open your phone's web browser
7. Go to: http://10.42.0.1
8. You'll see the setup page
9. Select your home WiFi network from the list
10. Enter your WiFi password
11. Tap Connect
12. The device will connect and restart automatically
13. Disconnect your phone from "HomeCare-Setup" and reconnect to your normal WiFi

Remote Support

If you need technical support, the device can be accessed remotely by the support team.

AnyDesk Remote Access

The device has AnyDesk installed for remote support. If asked by support:

1. The device needs to be connected to WiFi (internet)
2. The support team will use the device's AnyDesk ID to connect
3. No action is needed from the user — it connects automatically

VNC (Local Network Access)

If you're on the same WiFi network as the device, you can view the device screen from your computer:

1. Download RealVNC Viewer on your computer or phone
2. Enter the device's IP address (e.g. 192.168.1.27)
3. Enter the VNC password when prompted

Important Notes

• Messages are stored on the device and survive reboots
• The device checks for new messages every 5 seconds
• New messages play a chime sound, then read the message aloud
• Messages automatically repeat twice (30 seconds apart) to ensure they're heard
• Calendar commands (cal, del, clearall, list) are NOT shown as messages on screen
• All commands are case-insensitive — CAL, cal, Cal all work the same
• Emojis sent in messages are automatically removed (the device screen can't display them)
• The dementia-friendly clock always shows current time, date, and day — it never turns off