ELDERLIES’ ESSENTIALS

A Multi-Function Device for the Elderlies

Partner: Keyi Fu

2023 | 03/30 - 04/06 (wip)

Introduction

In this project, we are asked to research, design, and develop an Interactive Device for a specific group or community by up-cycling an old android Google pixel 3.

There are a few constraints:

  • Establish 2 constraints for the final device (waterproof, solar-powered, 100% recyclable, wearable, kinetic, ...)

  • Choose a minimal of 5 limitations.

  • The final device should not indicate the presence of the original phone.

  • The device cannot use bluetooth or BLE.

Our idea is to make a multi-function device for the elderly, especially the ones who dance a lot — the square dancing, which is one of the most popular activities for the elderly in China. Square dancing became the most important and fun social life for a large number of old people in China, especially the retired ones. They spend time dancing, chatting, enjoying their time and sometimes they forget about time because of this intensive social activity.

Research

Besides square dancing, we also want to focus on the health aspect of old people. For example, as we get old, our eyes get worse, so we might need a magnifier and more light when reading or looking at the screens. Our memory also gets worse as the age goes up, so sometimes we forget to take pills or vitamins — these are especially important for old people because of their relatively fragile body type.

We did some research about some general essentials for the elderly and we want to integrate some of what we found which can increase the daily life easiness for the elderly.

For most seniors, part of their daily life was to listen to the radios. They spent a lot of time with the radios so our initial idea is to make this device look lika a retro style ratio.

Idealization

There will be mainly be five parts of this device:

  1. speaker.

    • for playing music in the activity of square dancing.

    • for listening to radio or tv shows when one is alone.

  2. light (preferably incandescent).

    • to aid walking at night after the square dancing.

    • can become a bedside lamp.

    • can become emergency light during power outage at home.

  3. pill box and a pill reminder.

  4. handheld magnifier with an integrated LED light. this will be removable from the device. it acts as an accessory of the device.

  5. one to two drawers to store small items like keys or coins.