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Reinturpritation of the brief

COMMUNICATION ESTABLISHES A NEW WAY OF WORKING.........
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our interpretation of the brief

Communication is essential for companies in the 21st century.
Through a familiar medium, teaching communication as a new way of working will be perfect preparation for reemployment.


breadandbutterdesign.

Company Values (02/01/09)

STRIVING FOR A SENSITIVE SOLUTION.

Novelty, one function products are rarely seen in your grandparent's home. By giving a new function to a familiar product we can sensitively network the older generation and give them a new way to communicate.


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. Core Value


LINKING GENERATIONS

For most of us, the way we communicate with our grandparents is by visiting them, a formal occasion where food is cooked, etc. Younger generations can communicate instantly and informally (for example text: 'hey, howz u?'). This is possible for the older generations. Our networked object should be used by the grandparent, their children, and their children's children to communicate simple, yet interesting information on a more instant, informal fashion.


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. Our product will give the elderly enough motivation to learn and enough interest to try.

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