Project Idea 1: Stretch for users with early stage dementia that live alone
Target User Group: For this project idea, the primary focus is for those with early-stage dementia/alzheimers who live alone.
Challenges and Tasks: People experiencing the early stages of dementia commonly have issues with their memory, speed of thought, and language/perception. This causes those with early-stage dementia who live alone to often have difficulty remembering where they placed things around their home. In fact, a common sign of early-stage dementia is “misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps”. The reason we chose to specify that the primary users are those with dementia that live alone is because this problem of misplacing their belongings can mostly be addressed with some sort of caretaker. However, according to the Alzheimer’s society, “many people at the early stage of dementia stay largely independent and only need a bit of assistance with daily living”. In this case, a stretch robot deployed in the users’ home could be an excellent solution!
Solution with Stretch: The tasks that the Stretch will support for these users would be being able to scan a room, detect/retrieve a misplaced object and return that object to the user. Some examples of realistic tasks that the stretch would be able to complete for this project would be retrieving/returning keys, important documents (through a newly designed end-effector), medicine, and phones. We believe that this proposed robot-based solution is appropriate as it is a solution where a misplaced object can not only be found, but it is also returned to the patient which greatly simplifies the process of retrieving misplaced objects for these patients.
User Engagement Plan: To engage users in each potential project, we could frequently request user feedback on the application’s interface and functionality. It would also be greatly beneficial if we had input from the user on what tasks/objects are the most realistic and relevant for them.
Project Idea 2: Stretch Manipulator for Stay-at-Home and High-Risk Pregnant Mothers
Target User Group: Our primary focus is on stay-at-home moms and single pregnant mothers who are at high risk and advised against engaging in activities involving bending and lifting. These restrictions are critical to ensure the safety of both the mother and the unborn child.
Challenges and Tasks: Daily activities such as laundry, cleaning, and cooking often require bending down or lifting objects, which can pose significant risks in these cases. Simple tasks like picking up toys, reaching for cooking utensils, or handling laundry can become daunting challenges.
Solution with Stretch: To address these challenges, we propose the development of the 'Stretch Manipulator' - a robotic aid designed to assist in these everyday tasks. This advanced tool can be programmed to perform various functions like picking up fallen items, tidying common areas, and managing laundry tasks. The goal is to enable safe and comfortable home management for our target users, especially during the critical gestation period.
User Engagement Plan: To ensure the effectiveness and relevance of our solution, we plan to actively engage with our target user group throughout the project. This will involve collecting feedback, conducting usability tests, and refining our design based on real-world use cases. By closely working with the users, we aim to develop a product that genuinely meets their needs and eases their daily lives. One of our team members has direct contact with a person in this user group.