Elderly

So let's start investigating 'the elderly.'

'Being old' is inevitably a time when you've seen a lot of things - good and bad - and when people you know may become ill, But the public view seems to focus on the sad side of elderly life.








Can we create a product that changes this public image? By designing a product that creates or even instills happiness in the elderly, that strengthens their bond with family and friends, and even create the desire to continue working past the retirement age of 65?


by Jack Chalkley

Brief

Here's a summary the brief we've been given:

New ways of working and your grandperson*...

Perhaps ‘new ways of working’ sounds like a young person’s issue, but important demographic changes are happening in Scotland, and elsewhere:

- people are living longer and often staying active long into their retirement years

- jobs tend to be less physical, and many people are even reluctant to retire...

- and employers are increasingly aware of the knowledge, experience and wisdom that is lost

when they do

- many older people are more independent but also wish to travel to visit remote family, both of

which require money...

- at the same time, there will be less younger people in work whose taxes etc. can support state

pensions

All of which suggests that we may end up needing to, or wanting to, carry on working beyond the current retirement age of 65. So ‘new ways of working’ is as relevant to your grandparents’ generation as it is to yours.

Your grandperson and networked objects

Your grandpeople may seem surprising potential users of networked objects. Networked objects become interesting because grandpeople may or may not have ever used a PC, and whilst many are learning how to, others may not be interested or be too intimidated by this: simpler objects

- networked objects - can make the amazing possibilities of computers, the Internet and interactive media electronic media accessible and engaging to older people. There is so much more we could be sharing across the generations, whether side-by-side or across the world. Technology could be helping us cooperate, rather than dividing us because you can’t write shorthand and your grandmother can’t use Automated Speech Recognition; you can’t tell the weather from the clouds and your grandfather can’t log on to a forecast website; you can’t use a compass and your older neighbour can’t use GPS, etc., etc. (these are certainly not the best examples – you will be proposing better ones!).


As you can see, lots of restraints but even more possibilities

Mondays meeting

Today we met as a company and began breaking down our research, creating insights and generating ideas.

We are now focusing in on the networking aspect of the object.

We were set a fast pace by our lecturer and forced to come up with numerous insights and ideas over the course of the day.

We certainly made progress...

Meeting yesterday

We met yesterday in the University's Air bar.
Good little discussion, kept us on track with plenty of tasks.
Lets keep in touch with our Grandparents!

Grandparents

Steven's Gran

Name: Mary
Age: Early 70's
Retired: Very early to look after grandchildren and focus on family.
Jobs: Shorthand typist, did the books for family business, full time gran (looking after grandchildren).
Hobbies: Walking, gardening, cooking and spending time with family.



Jack's Grandma



















4th from left is Grandma Gwen, Third from right is me! - Boxing Day 2008

Name: Gwen
Age: early 70's
Retired: 'a bit before retirement age'
Jobs: Worked in a bank (various roles), Lollipop lady, Social worker
Hobbies: Cross-stitch, Sudoku, Scouting



Malcolm's Grandad

Age: 85 :O
Jobs: miner/medic in the navy
Retired: ?
Hobbies: member of a miners club/various other clubs/has a dog/travels a lot around Spain to see family etc


Xiao's Grandma

Name: Yaying
Age: 82
Retired: Look after me(grandchildren)when I was little.
Jobs: teacher,politician.
Hobbies: calligraphy, pet，writing her story,reading etc

4 company values (to be constantly evolved)

STRIVING FOR A SIMPLISTIC SOLUTION.

A mobile phone is not just a phone, it's a camera, games console, torch, fax machine (and more) all in one. But does it do anything well? Our solution will be one of a single function, one purpose performed perfectly. A simple solution is not a simplified version of any other object or function. It was only ever intended to one task and that is exactly what it does.


MAKING TECHNOLOGY INSTINCTIVE.

A object that does not require a manual. That's' aesthetic, texture, sound and design tell the user what to do. It does not do the unexpected, for it is incapable of doing so. The user is instantly an expert and comfortable using it. When this is achieved, the object is successful and anything less is unacceptable. Core Value


LINKING GENERATIONS

If a child explained how to use his Christmas present to his grandparent, would they understand? If not, whose fault is that? The child's? The grandparent's? A product should be aimed at it's intended age group. Our intended age group is 1-100, and why not? An object that both young and old understand. Just because you have lost touch doesn't mean you are unable to keep up.


YOU CAN DO WHAT WE CAN

The elderly often share the view that things are beyond them because they ain't what they used to be. For a start 50 years more experience in learning should be a hefty head-start. Enough motivation to learn and enough interest to try.

Task List

Assign rough roles to company members:
100 ideas:
Get scrapbook:
Ask grandparents to record their daily life:
Finalise company logo:
... We can add to this as we go work our way through the project. Could be handy for quick reference.

First day

So our company was formed today and some group values established.

We've decided to ask our grandparents their weekly schedule to stay in contact and try and grasp some of their hobbies.

WE ARE BREAD AND BUTTER DESIGN

WE ARE BREAD AND BUTTER DESIGN