CASTLE School pupils Kalina Djoukleva and Jared Johnn have been named runners-up in Amazon’s inaugural Alexa Young Innovator Challenge'.

They designed two Alexa Skills that aim to help people with Alzheimer’s to use voice command to perform everyday tasks such as checking the news, listening to music or playing a game.

Kalina’s Skill acts as a reminder for vulnerable people to take their medication at the right time, while Jared’s Skill helps people understand and plan their week so they don’t miss important events or family occasions.

They won a £500 Amazon voucher for their schools and each took home a £250 voucher themselves for their success in the 13-14 age group section of the competition.

Kalina said: “My Skill will especially benefit the elderly who suffer from dementia or Alzheimer’s who might forget to take medication, which could be detrimental to their health.

"I created different daily routines which means depending on the day of the week, Alexa will say that there either is or isn’t medication for that day, and offer other activities help support them.”

Jared said: “My Skill helps people with dementia or Alzheimer's to know what’s happening on a particular day.

"This will allow them to see what events they have taking place, and what events they could plan, like having a relative come over."

Lauren Kisser, technology director at Amazon and UK ambassador for Amazon Future Engineer, said: "We were blown away by the innovation and imaginative thinking that was evident in many of the entries we received for the Alexa Young Innovator Challenge.

“The challenge forms part of our Amazon Future Engineer programme, designed to upskill young people in Artificial Intelligence and computer science, and inspire them to consider a career in STEM.

"If more young people like Kalina and Jared play an active part imagining ways AI can be used to tackle social issues in their communities, just think of the good that technology could achieve in the future.”