UD2014

Authors

Jiro Sagara, Rumi Tanemura, Kazue Noda and Toru Nagao

Session

D4. Designing with technology

Date and Time

2014-06-17, 14:25 - 14:45

Room

MA 6

Presentation PDF

Short oral presentation

Transcript of the talk

>> For our next presentation, here is Jiro Sagara, who is going to present about UD principles for home appliances and some talking devices to support independent life for dementia or MCI.

Very soon.

>> Good afternoon. My name is Jiro Sagara. Pronounced Jay in Japanese.
I’m in corporate product design division and the others — I’m sorry.

The others are at Corbett University. Today I mention these things.
Everyday technology means all kind of technologies we use in daily life. Not only in the home but also out of the home. Our daily life is supported by a lot of things, such as subway systems, ATM, and Smart Phone and microwave oven and so on.
Who lives in cities, like you, if we use these technologies, we use independence.
I’m sorry.

all of us become disabled. And Japanese is well known as most aged society around the world. Now, in Japan, about a quarter of elderlies have cognitive problems in daily life. In 2025, all baby boomers become 75 years old. And then 20% of Japanese are older. Elderlies in their old house can keep their life by technologies. Some can use the microwave oven for food. And the TV set gives information. A phone call, contact relatives and confirming safe.
Persons who have cognitive disorder tend to make mistake in their daily life. When? Cooking on the stove. Some phone calls. They stop cooking. He forgot the pot on the stove.
If this happens, his or her relatives may stop doing such daily things. This is loss in cognitive function. Dementia is a developing disease. Continuous use of the brain may keep the cognitive function. So we think that everyday technology should be designed to be able to be used by persons with mild cognitive impairment as Universal Design or inclusive design. And the assistive technologies which support cognitive ability should be produced more, the same as assistive technology for physical disability. Finally, we want to propose supportive paths for MCI to keep independent life as long as possible. A Smart House was focusing — focused on physical problems and cognitive ability by automated control. We surveyed elderlies who live alone or alone in daytime by using an everyday technology questionnaire developed by an institute in Sweden.

Subjects are asked that are still using or not everyday technologies. 93 items are listed, however, we arranged it for Japanese lifestyle.
Then the items become one. This is ongoing service, so we’re gathering more data, but today I imagine 91 subjects which are in our database already.
This shows stage, gender, age, the mental stage and examination points. The depression scale and the activity index of subjects. It’s use as an index of dementia. Higher points shows depression and lower FAI shows low activities. And this shows top 20ETsamong all subjects. Many of them quit using the iron, vacuum cleaner and rice cooker. Most are using TV set, however, some are facing trouble with the TV set. In case of dementia and MCI, more ETsare useless. Such as washing machine or gas stove. And dementia has difficulty in using the TV set. After digitized broadcasting. Elderlies tend to change their lifestyle, using their spouse. They tend to change their life more simple than when they are living with spouse.
This shows a type of microwave oven which is still by dementias. Only time to cook wise.
And the dementias still using rotary type controls rather than push button type one. It isn’t forgotten after setting value by controls.
The location and graphics are important. Change the meaning of the set or start button. Guidance is quite effective to keep using.
Some family member adapt additional use or max on ET, such as mobile phone. One has a cover to hide unnecessary things on the TV set. It works good for dementia, but sound elderlies felt time-consuming way to choose a channel.
The family developed and devised to support air conditioner in a similar way. We found out similar problems from dementias, such as listed here.
And this photo shows an example of Left Behind in appliances. Rice cooker and microwave oven, so we developed some devices which may solve these problems. And this shows something left behind after you warm it up in the microwave oven. This function may easily add to cause a commercial product. The second one is advising us which one when someone is at the front door.
You watch TV instead in such a time. The others can stop talking by a switch.
Unfortunately, in this first case, she moved to institutional care before this development. However, the next case had a chance to use this. This works quite good in this case. She went back when she heard. She started using this two months when her husband stayed in the hospital. She also needed institutional care. After she came back home, she remembers the voice. At some point to improve it listed by her husband, so we’re developing the next version following his advice.

This is not for dementia but for brain damaged lady.
When she left the toilet without flushing it. In this case she just liked to hear her mother’s voice as advice. So we choose her voice but she also dislike it. We are going to develop a similar device like this. It tells something going back, and the sensor can detect hydrogen sulphite called H2S, ammonia from foods. The battery is too short to use, so I’m redesigning.
In Japan comfortable elderlies died by heat stroke in hot and humid summer. Elderlies tend not to use air conditioner when the climate goes bad. And dementias tend to unplug the appliances when he was in, such as air conditioner or network appliances. And we found out these points in the interview. In this, number 6, continuity of accustomed appliances or interface is important for elderlies. And number 7, take a look at small retail shops of electric appliances is needed for single resident.
And this is discussion and it’s effective to cognitive impaired. That never orders something but just tells the situation and then support decision making for them. And both contents should be considered for effective device.
A real voice or synthesized voice. Somebody disliked to hear the voice and felt as disgusting or scolding. And this survey continues by supportive.
Thank you for your attention.

>> Thank you so much. It was very interesting presentation. Are there any questions?

No?

>> Not a question, but a comment that almost all examples you showed are lovely. So I have children who are 6 and 8 and they could all use a reminder of the flushing, that they forgot something in the microwave. I forget what else you said, but very universal solutions. I thought they were lovely, not obviously for anybody with dementia or anything else.
>> Thank you so much.
>> Is it possible to buy in a store today?
>> No. Not yet.
>> Is any of it possible to buy?
>> I think so. I hope so.
>> Thank you.
>> Thank you for the presentation. In Finland we have the same, and especially the Alzheimer’s, that’s a very serious condition because the brain needs exercise. So, so far those presenters have been assisting, but I think you have a very important point that you just announce what has happened and then you support the brain rehearsal to make the right decision, correct?
>> Yes
>> Because I think that is the way to continue, especially with Alzheimer’s.
>> Thank you.

>> Thank you for a very interesting lecture. You say that you cannot buy these appliances today, but are you working with the industry to have these facilities into mainstream products?
>> Yes, I’m a professor in university, but I work for some companies.
>> But does that mean that your goal is to have these specified into mainstream products?
>> Yes, I hope so. But now almost all makers does look at dementia of consumers.

>> Okay. No more questions?
Then thank you so much. We hope that we will see these products in production soon.

[Applause]

Note

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