Life in the Home
Older people can only enjoy the independence that comes from living in their own homes if their environment matches their needs, capacities and limitations. SPARC research is investigating how people use their homes as they move through life, from the domestic routines of raising a family through to caring for themselves or a partner. It is assisting those whose homes have to be altered to make key decisions, so that the changes are beneficial and do not destroy the essential nature and meaning of their homes. Making homes safer and more secure is being investigated through developing the potential contribution of new and innovatory electronic technologies.
Design and the Home
Professor Paul Chamberlain, Sheffield Hallam University
12 months, £23,178
Poster: 'Living Rooms'
Executive Summary: When Designers Meet Older People
Keywords: Design, Home, Independence, Future Old
Our investigation aims to inform the design and construction of a physical Living room environment that can be utilised as a test lab in evaluating theories and conceptual designs in response to the ageing population and independent living. The study will aim to define the problems and barriers associated with maintaining independence, quality of life and care at home in later life. Many users are unable to define what their needs are and can find it difficult to articulate them. The research proposes that the use of objects and prototypes in user-centred design research may aid enquiry into user needs and provoke new scenarios for investigation. The enquiry suggests that user issues that may not be verbalised could be recognised through the use of prototypes and that new knowledge may be established through 'doing' rather than 'saying'. Requirements for future products may emerge out of direct experience of using concept prototypes.
Integrating the technological and social model of later life in the maintenance and adaptation of private housing: a feasibility study of knowledge management information and visualisation systems
Philip Astley, South Bank University
12 months, £30,500
Poster: Visualising Home
Executive Summary: Communication of with Older People in the Adaptation of the Home
Keywords: Housing for Older People, Computer-based Design, Construction Quality, Communication
Many people want to remain in their own homes despite quite disabling conditions. Often to achieve this their homes have to be altered, bathrooms enlarged, and ramps, rails and other equipment, such as stairlifts, installed. The experience of alteration work can be very traumatic and can lead to irredeemable changes to the “home”. In anticipation of much distress many older people decline the opportunity to improve their living conditions. This study will consider the use of modern information and visualisation technologies for improving the design and implementation of adaptations. Older people will be able to obtain a realistic view of a range of intended alterations and the impact on their homes, discuss these with designers and occupational therapists, and make certain that their priorities and preferences are fully understood.
Multimodal augmented reality to support ageing in place
Dr Shaun Lawson, University of Lincoln
12 months, £28,994
General Poster: Augmented Reality,
Scientific Poster
Executive Summary: Technology to Support Ageing in Place
Keywords: Human Computer Interaction (HCI), Smart Homes, Ubiquitous Computing, Persuasive Technology
Maintaining an independent life style is an integral social need of many older people and has direct cost benefits for the formal health care sector. Autonomous assistive systems which support decision-making for healthier and safer living have the potential for huge impacts on the lives of older people and their carers. This study will consider the prospect of exploiting the emerging and powerful interface technologies of augmented reality. These provide new ways of bringing together electronic devices and pervasive systems to support longer term, safer ageing in place.
SPARC Projects: Overview | Life in the Home | Streets, Buses and Cars | Care Systems | The Older Worker | Product and Interface Design | Cognition and Communication | Vision | Exercise and Diet | Chemical Biology of Ageing | Oxidative Stress and Ageing Mechanisms | SPARC Project downloads | SPARC Awards Background | Eligibility | Special Features | Resources | Review Process | FAQs about applications for SPARC Awards | Awards: Downloads | Funded Programmes |
