Multimedia technologies and aids for seniors

Some time ago, ASPHI launched a few experimental projects related to life and care of fragile and not self-sufficient seniors. They found that these particular users are strongly motivated to explore the potential that multimedia technologies and aids can enable to improve the quality of their life and support their autonomies. These topics are addressing their research activities, awareness, experimentation, training and support.

The results show for example that the introduction of touchscreen tools connected to assistive technologies (assisted keyboards, magnifying and amplifying systems, ergonomic PC access solutions) can offer new chances to digital low-literated or illiterated seniors. These opportunities are partially unexplorated and are based on cognitive stimulation, social participation and conquest of everyday life autonomy.

Today, ASPHI is investing efforts in researching and experimenting software and hardware solutions to nurture:

• cognitive stimulation activities for people suffering with light or moderate dementia;
• social communication and participation;
• accessibility to information;
• support to caregivers’ duties and safety for fragile seniors;
• simplified and customised digital interactions (vocal assistants, nfc);
• support for autonomy (orthosis and physical aids design and rapid prototyping through 3d printing);

During this Tangible Morning and supported by ASPHI, we’ll get in touch with practical examples related to the above mentioned topics, with a narrower focus on the most promising digital tools and technologies.

Schedule

The following schedule might be subject to live adjustments.

09:30 - 11:30 am

• Brainstorming on: Design For All, Ageing (Fragility, Illness, Disability)
• An overview on Assistive Technology
• Frailties in the elderly population: general aspects
• Assistance and care services

11:30 - 11:45 am

• Remote coffee-break

11:45 - 1 pm

• ASPHI’s work for the elderly
• Projects and tests in the field of technology and third age
• Examples of technologies and tools
• What's next?

Related contents

Contents and files (available in Italian only)

• [Article] Interview with Nicola Gencarelli: Ageing population and technology: opportunity and developments
• [PDF] The slides of the first part of the meeting
• [PDF] The slides of the second part of the meeting
• [Tool] Our brainstorming on Design 4 All and Seniority on Jamboard

Videos shared throughout the meeting

• R&D for ASPHI Onlus:
  • Kinect for motor and cognitive rehab
  • New interfaces (NFC)
  • Accessible Spotify (NFC)
  • New interfaces (buttons)
  • Click4all (unboxing)
  • Click4all (use cases)
  • Videogames4all in Montecatone
  • ICT Rehab
  • Tele-rehab (HEAD project)
  • Disability Hackathon at School
• Brainstorming:
  • Design of the accessible interaction (pillows)
  • Switch Button with iPad
  • Family album
• Multimedia technologies and aids for seniors with fragilities:
  • [Communication] What's the CAA
  • [Communication] CAA (keyboard and speech synthesizer)
  • [Communication] CAA (tablet)
  • [Simulation: As if...] VideoCommunication
  • [Motor and cognitive training] Audiobooks
  • [Motor and cognitive training] Words - images matching
  • [Motor and cognitive training] Multimedia memory
  • [Motor and cognitive training] Standard keyboard?
  • [Motor and cognitive training] Playing videogames?
  • [Photographic memory and reminescence] LSW - Virtual Maps
  • [Photographic memory and reminescence] LSW - Life Story Work

Products or news mentioned in the meeting

• [Article] Andiamo , the IA and 3D printing platform for the orthotics industry and the 3D-printed orthosis for disabled children
• [Article] Diva , the project by Lorenzo Caggioni to enhance accessibility and multiply applications of Google Assistan
• [Video] The valves for life-saving machines, depleted during the COVID-19 emergency in the hospitals of Brescia, had been 3D-printed in 2 hours
• [Article] Medical engineers who 3D-printed valves for the hospitals in Brescia deny sue threats by the life-saving machine producer