"A reportagem Os Filhos da Solidão, da jornalista Ana Catarina Santos e com sonoplastia de Mésicles Hélin, da TSF, foi galardoada com o Primeiro Prémio da 11ª edição do Prémio AMI - Jornalismo Contra a Indiferença."
Pode ouvir esta reportagem em: http://tsf.sapo.pt/PaginaInicial/Vida/Interior.aspx?content_id=1264651
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Gerhome website project
"The objective of GERHOME project is to develop, try out and certify technical solutions supporting the assistance services for enhancing independence of the elderly at home, by using intelligent technologies for house automations to ensure autonomy, comfort of life, security, monitoring and assistance to place of residence."
GERHOME project is very similar to our
Monday, April 13, 2009
FCT evaluation
The Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation had announced today, April 13th 2009, the jury and the date, for evaluation of the Architecture and Urban Planning R&D projects.
More information can be seen at:
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Contributos do Design
Enquadramento
Fazendo uso da “colagem cognitiva” sobre a Topografia da Investigação de Design da autoria de Elizabeth Sanders (2006) podemos dizer que o projecto HoF procura fazer uma abordagem que do ponto do vista da investigação em design procura conciliar duas culturas de investigação. Uma centrada no especialista, que projecta para as pessoas usando competências e conhecimento especializado que detém. Estamos no domínio do User-Centered Design em que temos os idosos como sujeitos ou utilizadores que são inquiridos ou sujeitos a algum tipo de estímulo e depois observados; e outra em que predomina a mentalidade participativa que suporta o chamado Participatory Design em que especialistas e utilizadores são parceiros/co-criadores no processo de Design, ou seja projecta-se com as pessoas.
O trabalho a ser desenvolvido no âmbito do User-Centered Design centra-se sobretudo em três áreas:
• Human factors/ergonomics— estudo de como se comportam os humanos em termos físicos e psicológicos relativamente a ambientes, produtos e serviços em particular – pressupõe contributos da fisiologia, psicologia e engenharia.
• Applied ethnography— a descrição qualitativa de culturas e práticas culturais baseada na investigação observacional (antropologia)
• Usability testing —i.e., medição de quão bem as pessoas usam algo que é feito para um determinado fim (apoia-se na psicologia cognitiva e na engenharia).
Se atentarmos ao mapa verificaremos que a Applied Ethnography se aproxima do território do Participatory Design sendo por isso uma das metodologias a privilegiar nesta investigação.
Fazendo uso da “colagem cognitiva” sobre a Topografia da Investigação de Design da autoria de Elizabeth Sanders (2006) podemos dizer que o projecto HoF procura fazer uma abordagem que do ponto do vista da investigação em design procura conciliar duas culturas de investigação. Uma centrada no especialista, que projecta para as pessoas usando competências e conhecimento especializado que detém. Estamos no domínio do User-Centered Design em que temos os idosos como sujeitos ou utilizadores que são inquiridos ou sujeitos a algum tipo de estímulo e depois observados; e outra em que predomina a mentalidade participativa que suporta o chamado Participatory Design em que especialistas e utilizadores são parceiros/co-criadores no processo de Design, ou seja projecta-se com as pessoas.
O trabalho a ser desenvolvido no âmbito do User-Centered Design centra-se sobretudo em três áreas:
• Human factors/ergonomics— estudo de como se comportam os humanos em termos físicos e psicológicos relativamente a ambientes, produtos e serviços em particular – pressupõe contributos da fisiologia, psicologia e engenharia.
• Applied ethnography— a descrição qualitativa de culturas e práticas culturais baseada na investigação observacional (antropologia)
• Usability testing —i.e., medição de quão bem as pessoas usam algo que é feito para um determinado fim (apoia-se na psicologia cognitiva e na engenharia).
Se atentarmos ao mapa verificaremos que a Applied Ethnography se aproxima do território do Participatory Design sendo por isso uma das metodologias a privilegiar nesta investigação.
Abstract
This project aims to define and propose solutions of “Assisted Living” to the Old Portuguese population so a healthier aging process can take place in domestic spaces. This can be achieved through:
approach to the problem’s understanding that will seek to define and propose integrated solutions. This work will also take into account the evaluation of the socioeconomics aspects of living at home or at a care assisted institution options.
The research will start with a preliminary analysis of: a) the needs and aspirations on the part of potential old users; b) the target population domestic ambient characteristics not only in terms of space but also of the equipments and objects. That will be done through: (i) the use of surveys, (ii) the application of evaluation scales to determine the degree of dependence/autonomy of the targeted population, (iii) analysis of similar case studies that finally will be confronted with (iv) the use of virtual and physical prototypes, (real scale ones to support ethnographic studies).
Domestic integrated solutions will be identified, having as a departure point the multidisciplinary concepts of AAL e AiP and integrating technology and knowledge from several technical scientific areas such as the information processing technologies, electronic computation, architecture, design, health with a special focus on non-intrusive solutions. The team will propose integrated solutions that will make possible to have:
The work will be developed during three years. On the first year it will be defined the universe of knowledge to integrate in the research as well as it will be done the definition of the target population and specific goals to be achieved by the different disciplinary areas that participate in this study. On the second year it will be detailed and initiated the development of the ambient system to be built as a laboratorial prototype. Finally on the third year the obtained results will be analyzed and used to structure all the acquired technical and scientific knowledge and recommendations will be formulated regarding further developments to be made in this domain.
We consider this project one of high interest and relevance in face of the population’s quick aging that leads to the necessity of creating to them conditions that will enable an autonomous, safe, comfortable and high quality domestic ambient. This can only be possible, through a multidisciplinary and transversal approach to the problems and knowledge areas involved integrating several dwelling facets in domestic spaces, benefiting from the synergies created along the process, vital to the exploitation of the house as a user’s prosthesis that we assume based upon the following premises:
- studying and testing of improvements and changes of the different houses components and its close surroundings;
- proposing for adaptation of domestic places and equipments allowing its users to experience the maximum of autonomy, well being and comfort, with non-intrusive solutions;
- revising upon similar and or complementary studies and research projects already undertaken, both at national and international levels, that were driven by the concepts of Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) and Aging-in-place (AiP).
approach to the problem’s understanding that will seek to define and propose integrated solutions. This work will also take into account the evaluation of the socioeconomics aspects of living at home or at a care assisted institution options.
The research will start with a preliminary analysis of: a) the needs and aspirations on the part of potential old users; b) the target population domestic ambient characteristics not only in terms of space but also of the equipments and objects. That will be done through: (i) the use of surveys, (ii) the application of evaluation scales to determine the degree of dependence/autonomy of the targeted population, (iii) analysis of similar case studies that finally will be confronted with (iv) the use of virtual and physical prototypes, (real scale ones to support ethnographic studies).
Domestic integrated solutions will be identified, having as a departure point the multidisciplinary concepts of AAL e AiP and integrating technology and knowledge from several technical scientific areas such as the information processing technologies, electronic computation, architecture, design, health with a special focus on non-intrusive solutions. The team will propose integrated solutions that will make possible to have:
- An ambient interaction technologies making use of users privacy non-intrusive methods such as distributed pervasive sensor networks;
- The acquisition, monitoring and management of parameters such as well-being, health and personal safety in the domestic ambient;
- The management and consequent rationalization of the energy consumption in these spaces;
- Innovation in surrounding spaces, objects and costumes.
The work will be developed during three years. On the first year it will be defined the universe of knowledge to integrate in the research as well as it will be done the definition of the target population and specific goals to be achieved by the different disciplinary areas that participate in this study. On the second year it will be detailed and initiated the development of the ambient system to be built as a laboratorial prototype. Finally on the third year the obtained results will be analyzed and used to structure all the acquired technical and scientific knowledge and recommendations will be formulated regarding further developments to be made in this domain.
We consider this project one of high interest and relevance in face of the population’s quick aging that leads to the necessity of creating to them conditions that will enable an autonomous, safe, comfortable and high quality domestic ambient. This can only be possible, through a multidisciplinary and transversal approach to the problems and knowledge areas involved integrating several dwelling facets in domestic spaces, benefiting from the synergies created along the process, vital to the exploitation of the house as a user’s prosthesis that we assume based upon the following premises:
- the house/living ambient will only be reformulated if and when necessary;
- the prosthesis or part of it (for example the technology) is only used as an user’s function and will be dissimulated in the space;
- any proposed solution (in its parts or as a whole) will be obligatorily scrutinised by this enlarged panel of experts.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
First things first
The team has submitted a proposal to the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) for funding in the past day on February 6, 2009. This project will run for three years.
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