N-light-N
Design of a wireless sensor nodes application for elderly people supporting their independence
Information
Author: Van Dijken, B.G.
Contributor: Geraedts, J.M.P., Van de Geer, S.
Faculty: Industrial Design Engineering
Department: Design Engineering
Programme: Master of Science Integrated Product Design
Type: Master thesis
Date: 16-5-2010
Keywords: Wireless sensor nodes | Elderly users | Independent living | Sleep enhancement | Light exposure | Product design
Abstract
The assignment was to design a product around CHESS' Wireless Sensor Network technology ‘MyriaNed’ that shows the potential of the WSN technology towards new clients for CHESS and supports independently living elderly people in their daily life. However, elderly people are not always open to new technologies. The challenge is to overcome this and tempt future elderly people to adopt a WSN-based product in their daily life in order to prolong the time they can live independently.
To live independently people need a certain level of physical and mental health. When people grow old, they get sleep disorders (insomnia) more often. To make elderly people accept a new technology it should fulfil a certain need. Improving elderly people’s night’s rest can contribute to their health and mood and through that to their independence.
Light exposure and physical activity are seen as suitable strategies to improve people’s night’s rest. This offers interesting opportunities for applying WSN technology, because the nodes can be combined with sensors measuring light and movement.
To show the potential of MyriaNed an usage case is proposed. In this case the user wears a WSN element that measures light and activity and provides feedback on these parameters, throughout the day. The element has to be worn visibly outdoors, but can be taken off indoors; then the MyriaNed estimates the amount of light the user receives. When the user is outside he gets a signal that another user is near. This is enabled by the MyriaNode in the product. Through this feature social communication between users is stimulated. The user gets basic information at the wearable part, in and outdoors, extensive feedback is provided externally.
This thesis results in the design of 'n-light-n' .It contains a MyriaNode, a light sensor, accelerometer and a display. It will be worn like a bracelet around the wrist, because the user is familiar with wearing a watch; the gesture of checking the feedback is similar to taking a look at a watch for the time. On the wristlet a tab sticks out that can turn around a pivot point. This provides a friendly interaction with the product. The light sensor is positioned on top of tab to measure light continuously. The top side also contains an 'attention light', which starts blinking when the user is close to another user outdoors. Flipping the tab reveals an interface of two buttons and a display. One of the buttons is dedicated to show information on light exposure, while the other button is dedicated to show information on activity. The display shows the amount of received light/activity on a LED bar. It provides advice whether the user needs more [+] the same [o] or less [-] light/activity to perform sleep enhancing behavior.
In the proposed usage case elderly people are supported in remaining independent by a MyriaNed application that stimulates the user to perform sleep enhancing behavior by measuring and giving feedback on the amount of received light and the performed physical activity. The potential of MyriaNed is emphasized in the case, because it enables wireless dynamic feedback and social communication between users. The proposed case fits in the living environment of future elderly people because they are health focused and willing to invest in products that support their independence. On the simple to use bracelet, the user can access the feedback while performing daily activities, without being forced to wear it all day at home. This makes the product fit in the user's daily life. As elderly people experience sleep disorders more often, they are motivated to accept n•light•n because it benefits to non-pharmacological sleep enhancement. Besides it enhances spontaneous, superficial contact between users.
