Project BUMP: Developing Communication Tools for the Older Adult Population

Abstract

This paper describes the process of designing and developing robotic technologies as prosthetics for the home space to respond to the needs and advance the quality of life of older adults. The trend demographics report a significant increase of the number of older adults in the next decade in the United States, which would generate the most significant social transformations of the 21st century. Supporting older adult to age in place gracefully is a critical need. Even though there are a number of technologies that have been designed to support older adult, there are still challenges in their implementation and use, especially in products related to enabling communication. This project aims at exploring opportunities to expand the capabilities of existing homes and assist older adults in activities of daily life in their home. The project BUMP portrays a supportive human environment and how to extend older adults’ home in other’s homes. The significance of this project is to share pragmatic examples on how to better design technologies that are more natural, embedded and embodied communication tool for the older adult population.