The Social Dimension Thematic Jake Cohen
Introduction This project asks me to design an ‘alternative now’, focusing on a social context of how we might live and interact with small satellites in low-earth orbit. The outcome will explore the notion of personal and social storytelling in relation to this ‘alternative now’ in which small satellites are connect to life on Earth.
Synopsis The aim for this project is to design an alternative way of interacting with CubeSats in low-earth orbit, with the goal to discover an opportunity for an imaginative artefact, service, environment, experience or interaction. I will create an ‘alternative now’, where what we do today re-frames our current possibilities. This will be achieved though
the formulation of evidence of alternative scenarios with a design in response to these. The core aim for this project is to use CubeSats for a new social dimension though the development of social and personal dynamics, which will, in all likelihood, connect people to people, people to things, and things to things.
Individual project: 5 weeks Collaborator: Clyde Space
Elio Caccavale
Launch
01
Workshop
03
Research
05
Opportunities
10
Ideation
13
Development
17
Outcome
24
Feedback
31
Reflection
32
1U
2U
3U
What is a CubeSat? A CubeSat is a type of nanosatellite used for space research that is made up of multiples of 10x10x10 and have a mass no more than 1.33kg per unit.
communication
navigation
military
science
e.g. telephone, radio, broadband
e.g. satellite navigation, GPS
e.g. spying on countries, detecting nuclear attacks
e.g. monitoring climate change, atmospheric science, life science
interplanetary
resources
meteorology
tracking
e.g.
e.g. weather
e.g. space observation
Google Maps, disaster relief, oil spill monitoring
CubeSat possibilities Cost to launch (2017): ÂŁ100,000 Weight: 1.33kg per 1U CubeSat Global coverage: 200 CubeSats Orbit: Low-Earth Orbit Total orbit time: 1 hour and 20 minutes
e.g. GPS tracking, sea rescue, ship monitoring
Launch For this project, we have been asked to use CubeSat capabilities to design imaginative artefacts, services, environments, experiences and interactions between people and people, people and things, or things and things.
01 | CubeSats - The Social Dimension | Jake Cohen
Desk research Discovering societal insights To launch the project, we were asked to collect research as a group around the theme of CubeSats and to gather insights into emerging societal shifts. These insights were then to be translated into STEP cards to capture this desk research. We started by mindmapping research insights as a group. The key themes are shown below. employees will be monitored outside working hours
mobile apps will perform health checkups
vegetarians and carnivores dine together on synthetic meat by 2100, our bodies will be connected to the internet
future speculation
drones will protect endangered species homelessness urban sprawl global warming
deforestation
refugee crisis
environmental issues
global issues nuclear security
pollution
data security over-population
poverty
loneliness privacy depression
es personal issu
sexuality
cyber-bullying
Reflection Without a distinct theme for the research, it was initially difficult to start collecting insights. However, we decided as a group to come up with themes such as ‘future speculation’ and ‘global issues’, which helped to direct our research. Personally, I found the future speculations and social trends the most interesting, and so I chose to produce STEP cards around these areas of interest.
Presentation & Synthesis Discovering sub-themes and areas of interest With our STEP cards in place, as a group, we shared our insights with one another, then organised our cards into sub-themes which we could present to the class. public accessibility to satellite imagery
virtual realities
health and wellbeing
Sub-themes
experiencing space with technology
data tracking and security
science and education
Personal possessions treasuring the digital
Future healthcare a universal database?
Pushing boundaries using your mind to travel
Without walls tracking prisoners in public
Drones to assist/protect vulnerable animals/people
environmental conservation
core themes
Smart cities the future of driving
Virtual learning for developing countries
Security increase of movement Waste as identity tracking waste
Helping hands protecting vulnerable people in society
ty core opportuni
core step cards Presenting our STEP cards and sub-themes to the class helped us select the most interesting insights for design opportunities. With these filtered, each member of the group chose STEP cards that interested them. Mine are shown on the following page. 02
1
La Carmina in partnership with Radius VR shoot virtual reality travel videos with their specialised camera, which captures footage from all directions. This allows viewers to walk on the beach, explore the downtown of a city or sail on a boat in a fully immersed 360 degree environment. They can see, hear and experience a destination all from the comfort of their own home. 1. Virtual travel could be the next big thing as emerging technologies become more immersive. 2. Travel websites are beginning ‘try before you buy’ holidays with 360 degree videos.
2
No need to pack
Now
Virtual reality is allowing us to travel the world at home
2017
T
Older people are especially vulnerable to loneliness and social isolation – and it can have a serious effect on health. 1. Hundreds of thousands of elderly people are lonely and cut off from society in this country, especially those over the age of 75. 2. According to Age UK, more than 2 million people in England over the age of 75 live alone, and more than a million older people say they go for over a month without speaking to a friend, neighbour or family member.
3
An older, lonelier population
Now
People are living longer
2017
S
Increasingly, we are searching for places of privacy to share our most inner secrets and most private feelings. Our digital assistants, such as Siri, Alexa and Cortana, could soon be developing personal relationships and meaningful connections with us. Technology is advancing to create human-like relationships with artificial intelligence. 1. Technology in phones are using ‘digital assistants’ like Siri to help the end user. This is on the rise. 2. We are sharing more and more problems online, instead of with our friends and family.
Chatbots
Now
Artificial intelligence & digital assistants on the rise
2017
T
Workshop Cultureberg Using our STEP Card research, I next took part in a workshop that aimed deconstruct the current situation, and then reconstruct a new alternate scenario to formulate design opportunities
03 | CubeSats - The Social Dimension | Jake Cohen
Workshop Constructing a future scenario The aim for this workshop was to build a future scenario by analysing society from multiple deepening levels, deconstructing from the ‘tip of the iceberg’ in order to reconstruct new, future scenarios from the bottom up.
Theme: connecting For this workshop we were split into multiple groups, each with a different theme, ours being ‘connecting’. We mapped out all STEP cards regarding this theme, and began to deconstruct the ‘now’ and create the ‘next’, by identifying the litany, systemic causes, the stakeholders and the myths and metaphors.
How people view healthcare
Rise in loneliness
Relationships with places are changing
A shift in communication channels between generations
Generational divide due to cultural shifts
Split identity online vs. offline
Generation divide
“I wonder when the next person will visit me”
“I have so many FB friends and can’t really connect with any of them”
“I communicate through emoji’s”
Knowledge is power
Popularity = perceived happiness and success
Adults know best
Changing perceptions of experiences
Mistrust in information received & volume of information
“What can I post that will get the most likes?”
The elderly are irrelevant to society
deconstruction
Myth & metaphor
Worldview
Systemic causes
Litany
Here & now
Here & now
relies The individual ate di me on the im em st sy t or pp su for help
Family and friends support the individual mutually
“We understand what you are going through”
“I can express myself without being judged”
“We are honest and unbiased”
Myth & metaphor
Medical community and the individual work together
“My emotions are ever-changing” Emotional wellbeing is being interdependent
Don’t stereotype Stereotypes divide us
Your voice matt ers
reconstruction
Litany
Government & advertising firms deliver one message
Worldview
Safe spaces
Systemic causes
Government helps family infrastructure
rs Health tracke ical ys ph k ac tr Bringing together now of community al ion ot and em mutual connections Power wellbeing
Workshop insights What ideas emerged from the workshop? By deconstructing the ‘here and now’, we were able to build a ‘there and then’ based on our initial STEP cards. Our outcome for the workshop was a support system for individuals experiencing a personal disaster, quickly modeled with a toy diorama.
Future scenario A support system and safe spaces for those who feel vulnerable, with a community that supports one another
Cultural differences have created a generation divide
d f o r m othemes ving forwar
Communication channels have shifted between generations
Elders can be perceived negatively and can be cut off from society
Reflection This was a fast-paced workshop that resulted in broad range of insights and ideas. I felt it was particularly useful to break down the ‘here and now’ as it helped us create new, imaginative futures. Before entering this workshop, I had an interest in the area of elderly people and loneliness, and many useful thoughts came from this workshop that helped me to develop this theme further.
Research Elderly loneliness epidemic Following the Cultureberg workshop, the next stage saw me researching into my individual area of interest and producing iterative visual infographic maps that drill down into deeper insights.
05 | CubeSats - The Social Dimension | Jake Cohen
1 in 3 what is happening?
older people are affected by loneliness
Millions of elderly people in the UK are becoming cut off from society, resulting in loneliness and social isolation, and it is having a serious effect on health
370,000 people over 75 spend
0
People over the age of 75 can experience social isolation for a number of reasons:
hours with other people on a typical day
• Becoming older and weaker and living with disabilities or illnesses can result in a loss of mobility • The death of spouses or friends • Younger family members are often busy living their own lives, and loneliness can emerge as they no longer play a central role in the family • The emergence of technology and the internet has resulted in new ways of communicating among the younger generations, but people over the age of 65 have largely been excluded from this revolution and the benefits it brings
nearly
1/2 of all people aged over 75 live alone hours with other people on a typical day
of older people consider TV to be their main form of company
what do I want to do? I would like to use CubeSats to help create new and exciting moments of interaction for elderly individuals, which ultimately brings about a sense of companionship source: NHS, Age UK, ONS, Friends of the Elderly
1/2
the number of lonely older people in the UK in 2030 will be up by
40%
1 how can loneliness in elderly individuals be combated? I researched into the advice provided by the NHS to help combat the loneliness many elders can experience. From these, I decided to dig further into the issues with these suggestions, and what else might be done to help combat loneliness Growing up without technology: unaccustomed to the designed user experience Receptors start to weaken at old age and the brain takes more time in process things
Not all communities have inviting opportunities
Lack of incentives and prompts Non-meaningful ‘small talk’
Immobility
The majority of elderly people are lonely because they are immobile Places closer to home may be uninteresting or seen too often
ISSUES
learn how to use technology
start a conversation with someone new
help others by giving back to the community
get out and see new people and places
SOLUTIONS
Simple technology with a minimal interface, allowing the user to communicate simply with others
Design to provoke meaningful conversations
Opportunities to A greater focus on contribute to the experiencing and meeting community from home people and seeing new places at home
Design to connect elders with like-minded people with shared interests
source: NHS
Opportunities to venture beyond the ‘everyday’
Not all community events are appealing and some are infrequent
The feeling of bothering other people’s busy lives
Many people will lack mobility or physical strength
The feeling of bothering other people’s busy lives and rejected offers
Not everyone will have many things to plan
ISSUES
make regular phone calls to a friend or relative
get involved with community activities
invite friends and family over for tea, coffee or a meal
fill up your diary or journal
SOLUTIONS
Emotive human-like conversations with an artificial intelligence
Establishing digital community activities
A system bringing elderly people together for social meals and catch-ups Technology to enjoy meals and a catch up with friends and family without being in the same room
A digital diary/scrapbook that relives happy moments of the past
2
what is being done to combat loneliness in elderly individuals Next, I decided to look into existing projects which are tackling issues of loneliness in elderly individuals. These projects primary revolve around a service which bring companionship to those experiencing loneliness. Although effective, the benefits can be short-lived as they require volunteers and charity-based expenses
U3A
Meal Makers
The Silver Line
Brings together those who love to cook and share food, with a local older neighbour
A confidential helpline offering telephone and letter friendship schemes
Paro
Age UK Brefriending service
Pets for the elderly
A volunteer visits an older person once a week in their own home for a chat
A public charity whose mission is to provide companionship to elders through pet ownership
A “healing pet� designed to be used for animal therapy without needing actual animals that require special attention
An organisation which provides life-enhancing opportunities for retired and semi-retired people
3
what are the stories of elderly individuals who often experience loneliness? Next, I wanted to discover the stories of those elders who experience loneliness in order to reveal insights that could lead to design opportunities
Barbara, 85 “I used to walk around the garden, the house, with a thick fog around me, right the way down to my shoulders, and now that I reflect upon it, it was because I was so lonely. One of the first things I missed was the sound of a human voice. I used to carry my phone around with me, I knew there were no messages, but I used to press the button to hear the voice say ‘there a no new messages’”
Len, 92 92-year-old Len got in touch with his local Age UK to inquire about their befriending services and is now visited once a week by volunteer befriender. “I don’t have too many contacts, that’s what made me ask for a befriending service, to make friendships.”
Joseph, 92 Joseph was referred to Age UK by a local community officer after his wife of 64 years died. Joseph felt he did not need any help and didn’t really like admitting that he was lonely - he's a proud man who fought in WW2. He now says that he was too embarrassed to admit he needed help and friends and is extremely grateful to Age UK Sandwell who ‘refused to give up on him’. source: Age UK
self-fulfillment needs
Self-actualisation
psychological needs
full potential and creativity
Esteem
prestige, accomplishment
Love and belonging basic needs
intimacy, friends, love
Safety
security, safety
Physiological needs
food, water, warmth, rest
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs In order to deeper explore the psychology of loneliness, I next researched into Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, placing it into the ‘Love and belonging’ category of psychological needs. From here, I decided to expand into what might be missing from an elderly individual’s life that may be contribution to this loneliness. This helped me to reveal what my project may address through the use of CubeSats, which may help tackle the issue of loneliness in many elders.
08
4
what might be missing to cause the feeling of loneliness? Loneliness stems from a lack of belonging. This sense of belonging can emerge from a number of components that may be missing from an elderly individual’s life, such as caring for others and friendship
Belonging Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Acceptance
Intimacy
Love
Trust
Affiliation
Giving & receiving
Friendship
Caring for others
Affection
5
what might motivate elderly individuals to engage? Since loneliness is a personal issue, there needs to be an incentive for the elderly to engage with any design or service attempting to tackle the issue. For this reason, I decided to look into what might motivate an elderly individual to engage with a new experience
Connecting
Like-minds
Friendships
establishing connections with family and friends in new ways can prompt motivation in elderly individuals
meeting people who are like minded can spark new friendships and hobbies
creating a new network of friends is something many lonely elderly individuals need most
New experiences
Support
Challenges
involvement in exciting new experiences can spark adrenaline and the imagination of elderly individuals
knowing someone is there for you if you need them is all the support an elderly individual may need
achievable challenges can spark interest and engage elderly individuals
Assistive devices
Hobbies
Goals
some elderly individuals lack motivation due to everyday tasks that they find challenging
sparking interest in hobbies that an elderly individual is interested in may prompt them to actively engage
setting achievable goals and plans gives elders something to aim for and can result in a sense of achievement
What if... What might the ‘alternative now’ look like? With a number of research maps produced, I next wanted to challenge what the ‘alternative now’ might be by forming ‘what if’ questions based on my current insights.
... CubeSats could share stories ... CubeSats could be used between elderly individuals store, share and relive and other generations? past memories? ... CubeSats were pets for compassion for elderly individuals?
... CubeSats connected families together in new ways ... CubeSats could connect elderly individuals to those who need someone to talk to?
what if...
w an ‘a lternative’ no
... CubeSats could bridge the generation gap?
... elders could travel the world with the movement of a CubeSat? ... CubeSats allowed the elderly to experience new places and things? ... CubeSats provided simple technology to allow elderly individuals to communicate? to communicate?
... CubeSats formed a closer relationship between elderly ... CubeSats could be used to let individuals and children? elderly individuals teach those that want to learn something new?
Reflection The research stage for this project pushed me out of my comfort zone as I was asked to move away from my sketchbook, instead producing infographic maps. This was a very different way of working for me, but doing so allowed me to pin up all my research and allowed me to make connections much more easily throughout the project as a whole.
Opportunities Following the research phase, I next began to explore with timed, quick and iterative sketch ideas that explored the possible uses for the CubeSats based on my theme of loneliness in elderly individuals
10 | CubeSats - The Social Dimension | Jake Cohen
Concept name: Key insight(s):
Group Collaborative p Visualise your idea here as if telling a story . . .
Pets provide unconditional love, company and comfort, but not all elderly individuals have the strength and mobility to care for them.
hi
hello! Intera ctions betw een CubeS ats resul t in intera ctions betw een owne rs?
What if question:
What if CubeSats were ‘pets’ with AI and compassion, responding to the ‘belonging’ needs of elders?
Concept description:
Lonely elders can own a space ‘pet’ which they feel compassion with. The individual can travel the world and meet new people with it.
Jim
Maggie
ark at, r Denm I’ m o v e ! It lo o k s g r e d o t o d a y ’t it ? W h a t n does ee? you s
A playg round for CubeS ats?
r? a r iv e
explo re the world with it care for it... it cares for you
Rationale for the idea:
Pets
The pet provides compassion and entertainment for the elder, keeping them busy and tackling loneliness.
play game s meet other owne rs
Concept name: Student: Key insight(s):
Older people love to share their stories, and enjoy just talking about things, and also have the knowledge/experience to give advice.
Group Collaborative Product Design
Visualise your idea here as if telling a story . . .
Story telling...
is tory m y s.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .
What if question:
What if CubeSats allowed elderly individuals to share and receive stories from across the world?
send and receive stories
Skill sharing...
new skill
companionsh ip
Concept description:
A service and artefact that connects to people who want to hear stories or get advice.
Rationale for the idea:
Elderly individuals gain a sense of purpose, meeting new people and making friends along the way.
Student:
Advice sharing... I’m so stressed, I need some emotional support
connecting to network Hello David, don’t stress. My advice is .................
app CubeSat
request
Product Design
Concept name: Key insight(s):
Just thinking about people you know, who care about you, may make you feel less isolated, and knowing someone is thinking about you can make you feel less lonely.
Group Collaborative p Visualise your idea here as if telling a story . . .
remote communication
‘connected’ objects CubeSats photo album jewelry
What if question:
grandchild or other family member
wallet photo
n da ug ht gr er an dc hild
grandma
So
What if CubeSats reminded elderly individuals and their family every time they thought about each other.
Concept description:
Everyday objects can be connected to satellites - when a family member interacts with this object, a radio signal can trigger a change in the other person’s object.
aww, James is thinking about me
Rationale for the idea:
An artefact will change state whenever a family member thinks about an elder in their family
anticipation
spectacle
Concept name: Student: Key insight(s):
1/2 of older people consider TV to be their main form of company.
collected memory
Group Collaborative Product Design
Visualise your idea here as if telling a story . . .
a connecting artefact...
watching TV together
nd m a is He y ! G ra w it h m e ! w a tc hi ng
What if question:
What if CubeSats could connect to TV’s to create a new method of simplified communication between friends and family. Concept description:
A TV, a familiar technology to elders, can connect to CubeSats to create a new way of communication.
Family home Edler’s home CubeSats for radio communicat ion Grandma is watching ____, would you like to watch together?
Rationale for the idea:
A ‘connected’ TV can create a new experience where the elder can be together with their family, even though this may not be physically.
Student:
connected living rooms?
Product Design
Concept name: Key insight(s):
Group Collaborative p Visualise your idea here as if telling a story . . .
One of the greatest remedies to loneliness in elderly individuals is hearing a child’s voice. Loneliness can derive from no longer playing a central role in the family.
remote signals
speaker
bracelet
What if question:
What if CubeSats could form closer, more intimate relationships between elders and children?
A day in the life of their grandchild Hello gran, can you help me with...
Concept description:
CubeSats can send radio signals between a child’s wristband and a grandparent’s speaker, transmitting audio voice snippets to them.
grandparent receives audio snippets of their grandchild’s day
remote communicat ion?
Hello John, of course sweetie
Other data? GPS
Rationale for the idea:
What if CubeSats allowed the elders to be a part of their grandchild’s everyday life?
Student:
playground?
conversatio ns?
where they have been
Heartbeat? what they’re doing
Findings: By sketching a series of quick iterative timed ideas, I was able to discover what elements I wanted to focus on in more detail and move forward with: • connecting elderly individuals to new people or things which helps combat loneliness • using CubeSats as a simple means to bridge the technology gap between generations and to allow elders to communicate with people • an emphasis on provoking new conversations and human interactions • bringing a sense of companionship to elders through meaningful connections
Reflection Although I had a variety of ideas based on my research insights, I found it difficult to find a specific and meaningful use for CubeSats. The ideas I were proposing mainly benefited from the use of the internet, and since the issue I was dealing with was entirely social, it was a struggle to find an idea that justified a new use for CubeSats. Next time, I would like to convince myself that I can move into a new direction if needed, rather than keeping my chosen area set in stone.
Product Design
interim review At this stage we were asked to present our current opportunity and moment in the form of a Peechy Keechy.
what if CubeSats could be used to bridge the technology communication gap?
what if CubeSats provided simple technology to allow elders to communicate with others around the world?
what if CubeSats allowed elders to form companionships through ‘love and belonging’?
the moment?
One half of elderly people consider TV to be their main form of entertainment and company, using it just to hear a human voice
People over the age of 65 may be the generation that tech forgot, but they know how to work a TV and the remote
Problem
Insight
elderly people can feel lonely as they have been left behind from the revolution of the digital age
elderly people love to tell others their stories, share their advice and pass on their knowledge
opportunity? What if CubeSats connected to televisions to allow elderly individuals to share their stories, give advice and pass on their knowledge to other people who need it across the globe?
remote communication Hello! My name is James. I was wondering if you could give me some advice on a big decision I have to make?
Hello James. I’m Irene, whats up? I can help you with some advice
CubeSat App
Feedback and reflection I was complemented on my thorough research into my chosen area of interest, but my presentation was said to have portrayed a stereotypical view of elderly individuals as I focused on a target audience of those who are confined to the living room and who struggle to use technology. I would argue against this negative portrayal as my research led me towards these insights and I wanted to focus on a niche user group. However, I decided to take a step back and look into new ideas focusing on companionship for elderly individuals and remote connectivity using CubeSats.
Television
Ideation For the next stage of the project, I wanted to take a step back and look back into my initial research in order to explore other ideas and moments for opportunities, with a more specific and appropriate use for CubeSats
13 | CubeSats - The Social Dimension | Jake Cohen
Exploring companionship How might elderly individuals sense people through CubeSats? Following my interim presentation, I wanted to step back and re-focus my concept area. To do this I began brainstorming ideas for companionship and forming new ‘what-if’ questions, before generating more ideas.
elderly + loneliness
knowing someone is looking out for you being together without physically being together?
perhaps focusing less on elderly individuals may make it less stereotypical? can people be ‘sensed’ through artificial intelligence? can the orbit of CubeSats be considered as a part of the design opportunity?
can CubeSats create companionship for elders by connecting them with another person’s life?
can there be a stronger sense of caring for each other? (Maslow’s HON)
companionship can there be a sense of companionship between new people?
shared interests?
can CubeSats be used to allow elderly individuals to play a closer role in the family?
Can CubeSats compliment existing technologies to bring about a new sense of companionship for people who experience loneliness?
Reflection I was still finding it difficult at this stage to find an appropriate use for the CubeSats as I had a tendency to think about the idea first, then how CubeSats might fit into it. At this stage, I began thinking about the CubeSat possibilities, then my context, then formed an idea. Next time, I will consider the technology before the idea, rather than putting it to one side, as this made things much harder for me.
Further ideation Exploring ideas for companionship Following my mindmaps into areas of companionship, I next wanted to produce some more quick iterative ideas that could involve CubeSats bringing this sense of companionship to elders and others who experience loneliness.
1
Jewelry for compassion - being reminded that you’re thought about feeling lonely
ring pulsates and illuminates to let the elder know someone they care about is thinking about them
remote comms
when the ring is touched, the elder is notified
2
Time for a chat - CubeSats to create incentives for chatting to new people ...ready to provide them with a tea and a chat with someone new
CubeSats can connect like-minds together...
ooh, the kettle is boiling, Someone wants to chat to me
by remotely boiling kettles of two people feeling lonely
3
CubeSat personas - a humanistic AI to chat to elders throughout the day ...and checks in with elder when passing over in orbit...
the elder is the CubeSat collects data assigned a CubeSat about the people the elder with a unique AI cares about...
4
hello, Jane !
and chats with them about what their family/friends have been doing and how they are
CubeSat companionships - new connections through CubeSats ...which connects them together through interactions between the CubeSats
elders experiencing loneliness can be part of a new CubeSat network
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hey!
hello there! hi!
... and creates new companionship from home between like-minded people
CubeSat Personas I wanted to move forward with the idea of CubeSats having personas that elderly individuals could interact with due to the following key insights
core insights
Elderly individuals love conversations and to just
chat about things
Elderly individuals love having something to look forward to and have great
The Age UK befriending service and ‘A Call in Time’ are great, but these interactions only happen once a week, which can
but people can be busy and they may feel like they are bothering people
anticipation for future events
feel a long wait
Many elderly individuals can experience loneliness as they have
Many elderly individuals don’t like admitting to being lonely as it can be
Whilst many elders are becoming computer literate
no close friends
embarrassing
or immediate family members
and they can feel like a burden to others
almost 5 million people aged 65+ have never used the internet
what if? What if CubeSats were launched by Age UK to act as humanlike AI personas who can regularly chat to elderly individuals who experience loneliness and collect information about the people they care for to discuss within these conversations?
next steps With an opportunity in mind, I next wanted explore this concept by storyboarding what this experience might be, who might be involved and the role of the CubeSats
SUSAN
1
Susan is a 71 year old widow who lives alone. She has a son living in America - they have a phone call once a week. Even though she looks forward to this call, she wishes it lasted forever, as poor mobility means TV is her only company
3
Susan spends most of her time at home due to poor mobility
enry beSat H Ooh, Cu way for a ! is on his catchup
Hello Susan, how’re you? Your son has been ice-skating today with Zoe!
She uses the TV as a form of company as she feels lonely due to low human contact time.
5
4
She switches on the ‘conversation mode’ on her TV set
6
2
Susan continues to watch TV
As the CubeSat begins to pass over in orbit, the TV begins to become ‘disrupted’.
8
7
Has he! I love knowing that he is keeping happy and busy. I can’t wait until he visits this summer!
Yes, not long e now! What ar r your plans fo ? the weekend
Oh really? Is he up for a coffee? It’d be nice to get to know new people
I’ve ju be en chatting st to Len dow the road n
KATE
1
Kate is 21 and in her third year of university, and now lives on her own. Even though university life and her friend group keep her busy, she can’t help but feel lonely when she comes home to an empty apartment.
3
2
Kate spends a busy day working hard at university
After a long tiring day, she finally gets back to her apartment
5
4
bzzz
bbzz
(CubeSat is approaching) Kate begins to prepare her dinner
After having dinner, she begins to feel lonely as she doesn’t like living alone
7
6
Kate’s radio begins to Kate pours herself a coffee receive signals, and gets ready for a chat and the kettle Ooh! CubeSat Hannah must be getting ready begins to boil for a chat with me!
The CubeSat is getting closer!
8
Hello Hannah! Ugh, it was busy and I’ve been so stressed
Kate begins to feel less lonely as she has someone Hello Kate, how are to talk to was your day? She doesn’t feel like a burden as she knows she is not speaking to a real human
System mapping Exploring the before, during and after With a concept and some scenarios in mind, I next wanted to explore the potential of the idea by mapping out the pre-use, in-use and after-use, and how this might form a system with a central artefact as a core touchpoint.
initial engagement something to tune into
sign-up?
radio? a purchased artefact?
a hacked object?
discreet?
obvious?
anticipation gauging when it will be here? knowing it’s on the way for a chat?
building excitement maps
triggers
meeting
asks if they’d like to chat could this lead to meeting each other new friendships?
spontaneous visits? introduction to persona? “who will it be?”
changes
CubeSat introduces you to other people close by using the service talks about them
TV?
spectacle greeting conversations
a way to tell?
world news? family news? life events?
legacy
feelings or concerns?
anticipation for next visit “I’ll be back tomorrow for “The next sat, Henry, is on another chat if you’d like?” his way if you’d like to chat?”
Reflection This process was a helpful step as it forced me to think about different areas within the system and better realise the potential of the concept. Reflecting back, I now realise that this concept used CubeSats in a rather abstract way as I focused largely on the social context, and seeing how the CubeSats might fit in later. Next time, I will consider both factors at the same time to form relevant uses for the technology. 16
Prototyping & feedback I next explored what the artefact might be for my current concept by thinking through making. I made a radio and TV, two objects that elderly individuals are familiar with, which can be ‘tuned-into’ to receive this new service. I used these to communicate my current proposal in a tutorial and peer review. Feedback made me realise that my concept did not fully require the use of CubeSats and was out of the realm of what might be possible in the real world, although a meaningful idea. Reflecting back, I now believe that my theme of ‘loneliness in elderly individuals’ was particularly difficult as it is an entirely social issue, when the main benefits for CubeSats stem from monitoring the environment and tracking. For this reason, I chose to move away from loneliness, and towards using CubeSats to track elderly people who may be vulnerable.
Development Tracking vulnerable elders At this stage, I decided to move away from loneliness and towards tracking elderly people who may be vulnerable and require safeguarding. I started by researching into possible vulnerabilities of elders and opportunities that could stem from these that offer potential for the use of CubeSats.
17 | CubeSats - The Social Dimension | Jake Cohen
tracking elderly individuals who may be vulnerable Feedback from the prior tutorial suggested that I should move towards tracking elderly people who are vulnerable as it will make better use of the CubeSats. I began researching into what makes elderly people vulnerable, and the opportunities that may stem from these. However, as I had a large breadth of existing research, it was important for me to connect this back to my initial insights
There is a growing number of elderly people, and a falling amount of caregivers
1 in 3 elderly people find it hard to get where they want to go
It is important to remain active when older as it reduces rates of falls, obesity, heart disease and early deaths
what makes elders vulnerable? ?
?
loneliness
reduced mobility
living alone
cognitive impairments
dementia
?
disorientation
independence for the elder, reassurance for the carer
insight
opportunity
Many elders with vulnerabilities may lack the confidence to get out and about independently, and so may stay home too often as there is no one to look out for them all the time
A two-way experience that gives independence to vulnerable elders to get out and about and see new places and do new things, whilst reassuring their carers that they are safe source: NHS
Independence for the elder, Reassurance for the carer A product and service that helps vulnerable elderly individuals gain independence by safely and confidently guiding them to new and existing places of interest. An immediate carer or family member will also be reassured by tracking where the person they care for is going, and can locate them if they require assistance
elder
Who?
carer It will also be for those who are caring for this elderly individual, whether it be a carer, their next of kin or another family member. It will give them a sense of reassurance and security for the elderly individual they care for
Something for elderly individuals who live alone and who may be vulnerable due to poor health. It is for those wanting to be more independent and get out and about, doing new things and seeing new people and places
What? A service which guides elderly individuals by finding the safest route to get somewhere. It will encourage the elder to be independent and see new places, take part in events and meet new people by getting out and about
The carer or next of kin will also be a part of this service, and will have an artefact that reassures them by letting them know if their elder is at home, if they are going somewhere, where they are going and when they get back
Why? Elders living alone may feel vulnerable and lonely, yet may want to be independent and get out and about. There are many places, events and people around them, but getting to these places can be difficult and unsafe
The carer, child or other family member may worry about the safety of the person they care for. By keeping them in the loop, they are reassured of their safety and independence, and have a closer connection to support them if they require any assistance
excessive traffic flow elevation
safest route
supporting infrastructure
primary flow of people
Mapping the safest route
Safer & easier routes: a data alogrithm To communicate how the safest route might be calculated, I explored the possibility by producing a map showing how the computer algorithm will work using data collected by the CubeSats. When the user plans a route, it won’t necessarily find the quickest route, but rather the route that will be easier and safer to take. For example, avoiding areas with high elevation differences and those with dense traffic, and finding routes with better infrastructure and more people for the support if needed.
ANDREA I want to go somewhere new
1
Andrea is 65, has dementia and lives alone. She wants to get out and about more but her son worries she might get lost or endanger herself. He buys her the artefact for a sense of security and so she can safely visit new places
3
2
Andrea decides she wants to go somewhere new as she feels bored and alone
what do you feel like doing today?
She uses her artefact to gain insights into where she might want to go
5
4 I’d like to go to a lake and see ducks
How about ........ The CubeSat helps choose the safest and easiest route
Through a discussion with the artefact, she finds somewhere she’d like to go
7
6
This is a lovely park!
It’s great. I come here everyday
Andrea gets to the park safely
9
The artefact guides her to her chosen location
8
She clicks the home button to see how to get back after a day out
10 What a great day, where will I go next?
Andrea arrives home safely
Andrea’s son is notified of her safe arrival home
STEVE
1
Steven is 76 years old and lives alone. He has multiple health issues which can sometimes makes getting about risky. His daughter, Sue, cares for him as often as she can, but she wants a sense of reassurance when he is on his own
3
2
I’m going for my weekly shop
Ok, I’ll let Sue know!
Steve lets his arefact know where he is heading for the reassurance of his daughter
Steve heads out for his weekly food shop
5
4 Steven is headin g to Asda
His daughter is notified that he is going to the shops
Looks like dad is off for his weekly shop Steve heads home after a tiring trip to the supermarket
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7
6
He takes a tumble on his way home. The artefact sends a signal to his daughter and the emergency services
Emergency services attend to help Steve Oh no! Looks like Dad has had a tumble
The artefact detects Steve’s tumble and sends signals through the CubeSat’s remote communication
His daughter can track his location via her app, and is alerted help is on the way to him
Iterative prototyping: exploring wearables With storyboards now in place, I next wanted to begin exploring with what the touchpoint artefact for my service will be. I began looking into wearables as I felt they were the most appropriate for my concept, as they are immediately accessible and easily visible. I used clay to begin exploring with possible forms as a starting point, testing wristbands, rings, handhelds and insoles.
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Iterative prototyping: exploring interfaces I decided to explore further with a wristband due to its easy accessibility, and explored the visual interface, and how it might guide the elderly individual in a simple non-map way. My aim was to make it easier for the individual to understand and follow the directions in comparison to existing, more technologically complex navigation methods, which many elders may be unaccustomed to. I also explored with an artefact for the carer’s side, and modeled a paper ring which would receive signals via CubeSats from the elderly individual’s artefact, subtly reminding them about their activity. Feedback on these models suggested that I look into more age-proof designs which are discreet, which do not put negative stigma on the elder. It was also suggested the carer should have a simple app rather than a dedicated artefact.
Inspiration moodboarding Existing devices for the elderly Based on my feedback, I began to look into existing products for elderly individuals in order to have visual research and to consider the semantics and interface design.
1
Age UK personal alarm The Age UK Personal Alarm Service gives users the freedom to live independently in their own home, safe in the knowledge that if there is an accident or they have a fall, they can get help quickly.
2
Lively Lively is a medical alert wrist worn wearable that keeps older adults independent and brings relief to family. It pairs with a hub, but only tracks the user at home and requires internet connectivity.
3
Proximity Proximity alerts the carer of an individual with dementia when this person wanders too far. The carer can instantly receive and react to the alerts wherever they are. This device does not track the individual.
4
QR Codes A Japanese city is keeping track of elderly people with dementia by attaching barcodes containing personal information to their fingers and toes. This allows the police to obtain details of a person along with contact numbers.
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Current products for vulnerable elders focus on the home and their safety within this context. However, independence can stem from getting out and about and doing things, rather than staying home all the time
Misfit Ray
Misfit Shine
discreet wearables Current products for vulnerable elders give the impression of the elder needing the device and can be quite patronising, especially so as they are not subtle and are obvious to others around them. For this reason, I wanted to push the idea of my aim artefact beingOur subtle and non-intrusive, and so conducted visual research on discreet wearables
Pocket watch
Wearsafe
Apple Watch
Iterative prototyping: exploring subtlety With visual research inspiring my thinking, I began to produce a series of different wearables that are more discreet, exploring how they might be worn in different ways. I also began thinking of audio aspects, and how the elderly individual might be guided through sound. However, I felt this made it less discreet and distracted from the experience, and so focused on a simple visual device to guide and track the individual. I also continued to explore with the visual interface and buttons and asked for feedback on its simplicity and ease of use from multiple possible users.
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Iterative prototyping: adaptability and accessibility Based on feedback, the above model was the most favoured as it could be adapted to how the user desired to wear it. However, although small in size, it was still suggested that it could be even more subtle by being smaller, more rounded and better hidden upon the person - something which does not give away that the elderly individual is vulnerable and needs the device. As my proposal uses a screen, it was important for me to explore and find the right balance between the size of the device, and the eligibility of the text and visuals on screen. From here, I further explored with the way the device could be attached to the user, and tested different methods of making the form and interaction with the device more discreet.
Iterative prototyping: hidden interfaces Feedback suggested that the screen may give away that the device is an aid for the elder, and so in my next prototype I explored options for making the screen more hidden and accessible only when needed. To do this, I reflected back on my visual research, and took the form from a traditional pocket watch, which allows the screen to be covered when not in use. I also decided to create two methods of wearing the device based on the more favoured options: on a chain, and as a watch.
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Iterative prototyping: semantics and interfaces After making the interface more hidden, I began to further consider its ease of use and visibility when being used. I used guidelines for designing way-finding methods for elderly individuals to aid the development of the interface. I explored with high contrast colours to make the screen clearly visible, and bold icons with minimal text to keep the interface as simple and easy to understand as possible. I trialled different ways of interacting with the screen as a physical touchpoint and decided to make it gesutreless - the touch screen will be tap-only to keep things simple to understand for elderly individuals. I also began considering how these interfaces may construct a brand identity, and how they can be reflected in the mobile app which will be on the carer’s side of the interaction.
S S S
Outcome My outcome for this project is a new service to be launched by Age UK that supports elderly individuals who live alone. It aims to give independence and greater confidence, by guiding them to new places of interest and tracking their location for remote care with the use of CubeSats.
24 | CubeSats - The Social Dimension | Jake Cohen
Independence for you Reassurance for loved ones
What?
Out and About, named after the desire to keep active outside the home, aims to give independence to elderly individuals who live alone and to those who may be vulnerable, by helping them feel more confident through a greater sense of security. It intends to motivate them to go to new places, meet new people and do new things, keeping them an active member of their own life.
How?
A two-way experience - the elder wears a discreet device which connects to CubeSats to guide them in simple exploratory ways. This device will track them so that those who care for them have better reassurance that their elder is safe, letting them know that they are up and doing things and their location if assistance is needed.
Why?
With a rapidly ageing population and a falling amount of caregivers, there needs to be a new system which helps elders with vulnerabilities such as disorientation and weaker physicality become more independent to do their own things. There are many devices that help track this user group at home, but there is nothing that actively promotes them going out and doing new things outside the home, and staying inside can lead to loneliness, social isolation, and poor health.
NEW
invitation
pre-engagement a discussion between the carer and elder motivates them to join the service
system diagram
awareness
or initialisation the carer sets up the app and helps familiarise their elder with the device
engagement the elder begins to engage with the device, planning trips and being spontaneous
distribution
discovery
navigation embarking the elder embarks on their journey using the device to safely navigate them, whilst their carer can track them through the mobile app remote
!
assistance
re-anticipation with more journeys made, the elder and carer will have greater confidence and motivation to engage further
safeguards
legacy
elders and carers are alerted about the new scheme operated by Age UK
individuals can purchase the artefact and the service will be funded on charity donations
suggestions of new places and events will be provided with the assistance of advice charity, The Silver Line
a computer algorithm and service will map out the safest and easiest routes from A to B using data collected by CubeSats
the elder will be tracked in the event of an emergency or need of assistance, connecting to the NHS, carers and family
the service intends to improve independence and create new excitement, whilst reassuring the safety of the elder to their carer
weather
GPS
communication
mapping
radio
app
artefact
app
emergency
kin
elder
carer
Stakeholders & operations: The above diagram shows a simple overview of the communication between the stakeholders, existing services and CubeSats. The touchpoint the elderly individual engages with is the central artefact to this service, sending signals and communicating via CubeSats to other stakeholders. This service will be provided free of charge and supported via charity donations to Age UK and The Silver Line. An initial set-up cost will be required to purchase the artefact central to this service, but once bought, the service remains free of charge.
navigation
Touchpoint: watch and stopwatch The touchpoint for this service is available as two discreet wearables: a pocket watch and a wristwatch. These are designed to be subtle and non-intrusive, fitting into their lives without creating stereotypes or negative stigma, by disguising it as an everyday object. This device will help the elderly individual discover and get to new places, and will also be used to track their movements and location to provide reassurance to the carer or next of kin. The watch is also equipped with accelerometers and fall sensors which relay signals to the emergency services and the individual’s carers via CubeSat remote communication in the event of an accident or need of assistance.
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Touchpoint: discreet interaction By using the form and semantics of a traditional watch, the experience is designed to be more subtle and less obvious, and can hide the interface when not in use. The individual can check their device, named ‘Navigator’, at any time discreetly when needed, such as when following directions, asking for non-emergency assistance, and finding nearby facilities.
Touchpoint: interface The Navigator opens up into a simple, high contrast interface which opens up a new way of exploring for the individual. Whilst it will track their location for unplanned routes and typical trips, it is also designed to help motivate the elder to visit new places beyond the those known, and to do new things where new friendships may spark. This service of finding new places to visit and things to do will be assisted by The Silver Line, a charity which provides older people with information on what’s going on around them. The individual can make plans to look forward to, or can take spontaneous trips on the spot. Alongside being a simplified touch screen, the device will also speak to the individual as an assistant to offer suggestions, asking them what they feel like doing, where they feel like going, and how far they feel like traveling.
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Screenshots to communicate the key features of the interface (not to scale) Launch
Menu Find
Explore
My plans
Quiz Night Places to go
What do you feel like doing?
“ I want to see some ducks”
How far would you like to travel?
Events
Things to see
Book Club
Kitsch
Mitchell Library 24th Feb, 2017
Art exhibition, MoMa
I weekly meeting to discuss some of our most popular literature
An exhibition exploring tasteless objects & sentimentality
Add plan
Restroom
£ ATM
route set
Now Add plan
Calton Centre 28th Feb, 2017
calculating safest route ...
let’s go!
Added to
walk ahead
‘My plans’
150 metres
turn left
wait for bus
leave bus
use crossing
now
service 125
next stop
now
Touchpoint: navigation and assistance When the individual finds somewhere new to go, or if needing guidance on existing journeys (such as individuals who have trouble with remembering and who easily forget), the Navigator will guide them using a simple, non-map based user interface. The interface uses bright, high-contrast colours and simple signage that can be easily understood. By demphasising what is unimportant within navigation, greater emphasis can be put on what is important, making it much simpler for the elderly individual to understand and follow, alongside making it more discreet. The Navigator also has a ‘Help’ button, which can be used for assistance and emergencies. In the need for assistance, it will contact the individual’s carer or next of kin through remote communication via a mobile app, allowing a connection in even the most remote areas. The Navigator detects falls and other physical issues, but emergency services can also be contacted manually through the device if required. 28
Press again for assistance Hold for emergency
Help is on
SOS its way
Calling for assistance
...
Mobile App: reassuring the carer The elderly individual’s carer or next of kin can download a simple mobile app which connects to the physical touchpoint via remote communications of the CubeSat. The app is designed to be a simple reassurance tool, letting them know if the older person they care for is up and moving in the home or out and about doing things, and if they need any help. This will be the point of contact is the elderly individual requires assistance.
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home
out
the ‘alternative’ now The ‘alternative now’ for my designed experience is that vulnerable elders now have the confidence and independence to get out and about, to do new things, to meet new people and to go to new places. This alternative now is curated by my designed service and touchpoint, which makes it safer and more reassuring for both the elder and carer
a shared experience
elder
values
carer
opportunities
relationship
reassurance
having the opportunity to see new places and meet new people people that venture beyond the current
having a stronger supporting relationship through caring without the physical presence
knowing there is a instant support network for the elderly individual they care for
security
fulfillment
feeling a sense of security and confidence as the elder knows someone is watching over them
feeling more fulfilled that the elderly individual they care for is safe and happy
independence
optimism
greater independence may emerge through an improved support network and an amplified sense of security
greater optimism may emerge by knowing that the person they care for is keeping active and busy
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Feedback I presented my proposal in the form of a Peechy Keechy, where feedback was provided from tutors and Clyde Space. Here, I will attempt to address this feedback in order to better communicate and improve the outcome of my project
31 | CubeSats - The Social Dimension | Jake Cohen
Project feedback What elements remain unclear?
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“ Why Out & About instead of a mobile phone?” "There are some very tech-savvy older people around, but there is clearly a large cohort of people who feel excluded by technology. They find it a bit impenetrable.” Ian Hosking, University of Cambridge's engineering design centre
Throughout my initial research, I discovered that people over the age of 65 are referred to as the ‘generation that tech forgot’. People over this age are generally unaccustomed to the designed experience of smart phones, and brain receptors begin to weaken with age, making it hard to learn new things. There are specific phones designed for elders, but these can be patronising with their ‘age-proof’ semantics and are generally limited in features. Moreover, many elders choose not to carry mobile phones. Out and About is intended to be a simplified and subtle way of tracking vulnerable elders and navigating them with an instant support network, without the internet connectivity or the need for a complex smart-phone. Of course, younger generations may be more accustomed to technology when older, but my opportunity is for those who have been left behind from the current revolution it brings. source: BBC
2
“ What will be the difference between existing and new places?” The core aim for Out and About it to track a vulnerable elderly individual, and provide them with new opportunities to engage that keep them busy and independent. Of course, there will be times when the elderly individual is visiting the local shop, going to town, or visiting a friend - places they know how to get to. These routes do not need to be planned, but wearing the Navigator will still allow them to be tracked if they require any support or assistance.
3
“ Why use CubeSats to track the elderly individual?” The use of CubeSats will allow the elderly individual to be tracked in even the most remote location. Of course, smart phones can track people, but again, many elders are unaccustomed to the designed experience of using smart phones. Moreover, CubeSats will allow instant communication between multiple stakeholders through remote signals, providing an instant support network for the elderly individual when required.
Reflection A final reflection on the project as a whole.
32 | CubeSats - The Social Dimension | Jake Cohen
Overall reflection Overall, this has been a fast-paced and intensive project which has taught me a lot about alternative design processes. Throughout, this project has seen me produce work in different ways that are unfamiliar to my typical design process, such as producing infographics for research and consistently iterating my design up until the final hand-in. It felt like a completely different structured project to those typical to me, which, although challenging, was good as it means I am now adapted to different ways of working.
Whilst I am pleased with my outcome, I believe more time for this project would have resulted in a more refined proposal. It sometimes felt as though I had no time to sit back and think about what I was doing due to the quick time-scale of the project, and the other deadlines surrounding it. However, it is not always about the outcome, rather the journey of getting there, and the journey has definitely stretched my imagination and abilities as a designer.
Key learning
This project has been challenging to keep up with due to other deadlines within the project, but I feel I have produced a significant amount of work for the time allocated and have worked to the best of my ability throughout.
• How to adapt to different ways of working
Whilst my initial theme of loneliness in elderly individuals was a niche and interesting area to work with, I felt it limited me when bringing a meaningful use for the CubeSat into this entirely social context. To me, it appeared the key benefits for the CubeSats revolved around their ability to track our environments, whilst everything else could be done with the internet. This made it difficult for me to identify a meaningful use for the CubeSat, resulting in my move towards tracking the elderly instead. During my tutorials, it sometimes felt as though I was being ping-ponged into different directions, even as the deadline was close approaching. Whilst this was stressful, as I have never changed ideas and tried new things so close to the handin, it has stretched my way of thinking and doing within the design process.
• How to use thinking through making as a
and design processes over a short time.
• How to use service blueprints as a way
to carefully think about each stage and component of the system. technique to challenge an idea or concept.
Next time... • I would like to be able to take more time
out from the project to think about things indirectly. Throughout this project, I have worked non-stop, and not being able to take a step back and come back to it made things more difficult for me. • Throughout this project, if felt as though I
had no time to think due to the short time scale and the deliverables required. It felt as though I had to keep making and doing things, when it may have been more helpful to think more instead. This led to me getting stuck a few times, so next time I will dedicate more time to thinking carefully.
Image references Page
Source
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CubeSat divider photo
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Meal Makers
7
The Silver Line
7
University of the Third Age
7
Paro
7
Age UK Befriending
7
Pet for the elderly
7
Stories of loneliness in elderly individuals
https://themadspaceball.com/tag/cubesat/ https://www.mealmakers.org.uk https://www.thesilverline.org.uk http://www.u3a.org.uk http://www.parorobots.com http://www.ageuk.org.uk http://www.petsfortheelderly.org http://www.ageuk.org.uk/health-wellbeing/loneliness/your-loneliness-stories/
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Age UK personal alarm
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Lively
21
Proximity
21
QR Codes
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Misfit
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Wearsafe
http://www.ageuk.org.uk/products/mobility-and-independence-at-home/personal-alarms/ http://www.mylively.com/ http://www.proximitycare.co.uk http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-38247437 https://misfit.com http://wearsafe.com
Divider page photos under Creative Commons CC0 license.
PRODUCT DESIG N The Glasgow School of Art