Leveraging IoT and AI to Enhance Independence, Safety, and Well-Being
The world is witnessing a rapidly aging population, presenting both challenges and opportunities. As the number of older adults seeking to maintain their independence grows, innovative technological solutions have emerged as a promising avenue to address their unique needs. The Internet of Things (IoT), coupled with the power of artificial intelligence (AI), offers exciting possibilities for supporting older adults in living independently and safely within their own homes.
Addressing the Needs of an Aging Population
Population aging is a remarkable success story, a testament to advancements in public health and improved quality of life. However, this demographic shift also presents a grand challenge – ensuring that older adults receive the individualized care and support they need to maintain their health, well-being, and safety while living independently.
Globally, healthcare policies are focusing on extending the ability of older people to continue living at home, often referred to as “aging in place.” This approach not only preserves the independence and quality of life for older adults but also helps to reduce the costs associated with institutional care. Achieving this goal requires innovative solutions that can effectively monitor the health and daily activities of older adults, while also addressing the risk factors that can threaten their independent living.
The Potential of IoT and AI
The integration of IoT and AI presents a promising avenue for supporting older adults in living independently. IoT refers to a network of interconnected devices that can communicate and exchange data, while AI-powered systems utilize advanced algorithms and machine learning to process and analyze this data.
Wearable IoT devices, such as smartwatches and fitness trackers, can monitor vital signs like heart rate, blood pressure, and blood glucose levels, providing valuable health data to healthcare providers. Smart home devices and AI-powered digital assistants can also play a crucial role in mitigating risks, detecting hazards like fires or intruders, and managing chronic conditions. By unobtrusively monitoring changes in an older adult’s daily routine, these systems can alert caregivers to potential issues, enabling prompt intervention and support.
However, the deployment of these technologies is not without its challenges. Concerns around privacy and security, as well as the potential for older adults to feel overwhelmed by complex technological solutions, must be addressed to ensure the safe and accepted use of IoT technologies in this population.
The Co-design Approach to Developing the NEX System
The NEX project, led by a team of researchers and industry partners, has taken a comprehensive co-design approach to developing an IoT-based system specifically tailored to support independent living for older adults. The co-design process involved engaging a diverse array of stakeholders, including older adults, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and home care workers, to ensure that the system addresses the real-world needs and preferences of its end-users.
The development of the NEX system was carried out in three key phases:
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Predesign Exploratory Phase: This initial phase recruited 17 stakeholders, including older adults and family caregivers, to explore their perceptions of independent living and technology solutions through the use of fictitious personas and scenarios.
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Co-design and Testing Phase: This expanded the research to include a comprehensive web-based survey completed by 380 stakeholders, encompassing older adults, family caregivers, healthcare professionals, and home care support staff. This phase also included prototype testing at home by 7 older adults to assess the technology’s needs, requirements, and initial acceptability.
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Postdesign Phase: In this final phase, workshops were held between academic and industry partners to analyze the data collected from the earlier stages and discuss recommendations for the future development of the system.
The co-design approach ensured that the NEX system was developed with a deep understanding of the specific needs and preferences of its target users. By involving stakeholders throughout the design process, the project team was able to iteratively refine the system, addressing concerns around privacy, security, and user-friendliness.
Key Insights and Lessons Learned
The comprehensive co-design process employed in the development of the NEX system yielded several valuable insights and lessons that can inform the development of future technology-based solutions for supporting independent living among older adults.
Addressing Knowledge Gaps and Expectations
One of the key challenges identified in the co-design process was the need to bridge the knowledge gap between participants and the proposed technological solutions. Many older adults and other stakeholders were not familiar with the capabilities and benefits of smart devices, which could lead to unrealistic expectations or misconceptions during the design process.
To overcome this, the research team employed various strategies, such as providing detailed descriptions, images, and demonstration videos to showcase the functionality of the proposed technologies. This approach helped to ensure that participants could make informed decisions and provide meaningful feedback throughout the co-design stages.
Prioritizing Acceptability and Usability
The prototype testing phase of the NEX system revealed that the acceptability and usability of the various technology components varied significantly among the participants. While ambient sensors and voice-activated assistants were widely accepted, the smartwatch features were less well-received due to issues with aesthetics and technical performance.
These findings underscored the importance of prioritizing the acceptability and usability of the technologies from the end-user’s perspective. The research team recognized that merely developing feature-rich solutions was not enough – the technologies needed to seamlessly integrate into the daily lives of older adults and address their specific needs and preferences.
Enhancing Engagement and Long-Term Adherence
The prototype testing also highlighted the challenge of maintaining long-term engagement and adherence to the technology-based solutions. While participants initially demonstrated high levels of engagement, their interest and usage tended to wane over time.
To address this, the research team explored the use of the Theoretical Domains Framework to better understand the intentions of older adults to adopt and use smart home technologies. This work emphasized the need to consider intrinsic motivational factors in the design of such systems, as well as the importance of providing ongoing training and support to foster continued engagement and adoption.
Iterative Development and Continuous Refinement
The postdesign phase of the NEX project underscored the iterative nature of technology development in the context of IoT systems for older adults. The feedback and data collected from the prototype testing highlighted the need for continuous refinement and user-centered design to address practical challenges effectively.
For example, the recommendation to include professional installation of the system, rather than relying on self-installation, was a direct response to the challenges encountered during the prototype testing. Similarly, the need for improved accuracy in detecting activities of daily living (ADLs) was identified as a crucial area for future development, highlighting the importance of an ongoing commitment to enhancing the system’s precision and effectiveness.
Conclusion: A Holistic Approach to Supporting Independent Living
The co-design process employed in the development of the NEX system has demonstrated the significance of incorporating diverse stakeholder perspectives when designing solutions to support independent living for older adults. By actively engaging with end-users, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and industry partners, the research team was able to develop a comprehensive understanding of the real-world needs and challenges faced by this population.
The insights gained through this co-design approach have been instrumental in shaping the design and functionality of the NEX system, ensuring that it addresses the specific requirements of older adults while also addressing concerns around privacy, security, and user-friendliness. Moreover, the emphasis on iterative development and continuous refinement has underscored the importance of a holistic, user-centered approach to technology-based solutions for supporting independent living.
As the global population continues to age, the need for innovative, evidence-based solutions to support older adults in living independently has never been more pressing. The lessons learned from the NEX project serve as a valuable blueprint for researchers, practitioners, and digital health organizations seeking to develop technology-based solutions that truly meet the needs and preferences of this growing demographic.
By embracing a co-design approach and prioritizing the user experience, the NEX project has demonstrated the potential of IoT and AI to enhance the independence, safety, and overall well-being of older adults, empowering them to live fulfilling and autonomous lives within the comfort of their own homes.
Acknowledgments
This project was funded under the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund administered by Enterprise Ireland (project grant DT-2018-0258). The authors are grateful to all participants for their involvement in this research and support of the DCU’s Age Friendly University initiative and local council Age Friendly networks.
