"Aging is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength." Betty Friedan (1921-2006)

The world's older population is growing dramatically. 

As a society, there are many ways to demonstrate how we take care of our aging population. In most cases, programs such as healthcare and special assistance are provided to enhance the quality of life and well-being of senior citizens- however that is not always the case. In this studio, students will have the opportunity to create something special for the aging community.

We will take a deep dive into understanding the daily life and hurdles of the aging population and how societies perceive and interact with the elderly in their community. Through research and interviews, we will learn about encounters and issues that result from aging.

Imagine how you can create a device for writing that may help a former playwright with Parkinson's disease control their hand tremors. What does it mean to age and to grow old, what do we see in our future as we get older and older?

We will work in collaboration with students at Karam House (Turkey) and interview residents at Mt. Pleasant Home as a way to inform and shape our work.

Technology is everywhere and provides a significant utility that can help empower and solve people's problems, but a large portion of the world still lacks technological fluency. ezOS empowers the elderly to use a resource they couldn't before. It gives them the ability to communicate with friends or relatives and to find answers to questions or problems they have. If they struggle to write with pencil and paper, they can access a wide variety of peripheral devices to write with on the computer, or they can use a dictation software. A computer can reveal solutions they were unaware of.

Sadly, most older adults can't use computers efficiently because they aren't given the proper resources and don't have the same foundation as younger generations to understand how computers' systems and interfaces work. Most of the time technology for older adults is dumbed down to make it difficult for them to mess up, but they are still thrown into a complex system that often leads to frustration and failure. Instead, this mock operating system develops an understanding of the UI and systems from the basics. It introduces new concepts that always build upon old ones and eventually develops to give them the complexity of other systems they will encounter. At the start, it's very bare-bones, but as the user develops a better understanding of the UI and features they evolve basing every new element on the foundations from previous elements. 

 Mila - Older adults are frequently unable to perform tasks they used to enjoy. The Writing Glider is a writing assistive that is designed for older adults that allows the user's arm to write with a constant, fluid motion. The Writing Glider is slipped onto the forearm like a cuff bracelet, lightly applying pressure to the wrist. The device has padding on the inside to keep the wearer's arm comfortable and secure. On the bottom of the device pieces of felt are stacked together to create a smooth gliding motion. This will help wearer move as they write to maintain good control over their hands.

The Writing Glider focuses on giving older adults the ability to do the task they use to enjoy. Writing can be a form of storytelling, communication with family, or taking notes on new skills and abilities. This can be important for older adults as it keeps them stimulated with enjoyable occupations. The Writing Glider was designed for Alice, who has an auto-immune disease, carpal tunnel, and arthritis. The second client is  Bobby Joe, who suffers from Parkinson's Diseases. Their medical conditions impair their fine motor skills, so that they have difficulty writing, but the Writing Glider restores their ability to write. This device encourages designers to think of ways older adults be integrated into society in a functional and fulfilling way that can bring them enjoyment and is empowering. 

Lucy - Writing Glider: a writing assistive that helps the user freely move their forearm while writing. The assistive has different attachments to fit the needs of the user and to help the user write on different surfaces.

The Writing Glider was made to help a woman named Alice take notes in class. Alice loves school and wants to go back but she lost fine motor movement in her fingers making her handwriting uneligible. The Writing Glider enables her to write by moving her forearm. The writing glider consists of four parts: an armrest, a ball caster bottom (for rougher surfaces), a felt bottom for smoother surfaces, and a pencil holder that gives you more control over the pencil.

To use the user will insert the chosen bottom into the armrest and slip their arm between the strap and the armrest to tighten the strap they will pull the loose end away from their arm. They will insert a number two pencil into the pencil holder and proceed to write.

Julian Kennedy

ElectroMotion is a removable arm workout device that empowers older adults when using other electrical devices. It uses motors to generate electricity when the user does exercises similar to TheraBand workouts.

Many older adults are made to feel dependent and disenfranchised within society due to their need for electronic devices such as motorized wheelchairs and other medical devices. In addition, older adults' dependencies turn them into pariahs within society. Although some older adults do need to fully rely on their devices, many are very fully abled in particular ways. In fact, the majority of residents spoken with at the Mount Pleasant Home expressed their enjoyment with arm workouts such as TheraBand exercises. The ElectroMotion is a device that empowers the older adult population to generate their own electricity through arm exercises. In turn, it enables them to change the perception within society that they aren't independent.

The user of ElectroMotion will be able to bring the device with them and attach it to their arm at any time to exercise. The exercises that they do will turn a motor and generate electricity which will be stored. Whenever they want, they can plug their ElectroMotion into another device and use the electricity. The device is designed so that the user has control over what they use their electricity for: they could use it for a medical device, or just simply for some form of entertainment. The electricity is stored within two 5V capacitors which are charged by a bidirectional motor. The arm attachment is sleek and subtle which varies from other electronic workout devices which are bulky, non-discreet, and not portable. ElectroMotion will make older adults more independent and empowered within society, and, as a secondary benefit, make them more active. Hopefully, this will improve their roles and standing within society.

Ben Ferguson
An assistive device made to help older adults or others who have trouble standing get up more easily.

The Stand Assist provides support and independence for all people. It was created to help older people with weaker muscles who have a hard time standing and and help them feel more empowered. This will also allow older adults to do more activities by themselves. The device consists of an exoskeleton knee brace, gears, and a motor that when activated by a switch fully extends the brace to push the user from a sitting position to standing. Also when pressure is released off the thigh area it will activate the brace to work. Although a motor is being used there is no need to worry. The motor is very quiet and is small. The Stand Assist was inspired by a woman named Persilla. She has arthritis and walks with a walker. She has to use a lot of momentum to get up from her chair and bed and this assistive tool is designed to give her an extra push so she does not have to work as hard and risk hurting herself. She really likes things that look nice so this affected the design to make the device look sleek and pretty.

Jakob Sperry

An assistive device to bring more independence to the elderly by helping them stand up from a sitting position with more ease and comfort.

Stand Assist intends to bring more independence, empowerment, and efficiency to elderly people who have a hard time doing things quickly and autonomously. Designed specifically with Prisilla in mind, this assistive device helps the user stand from a sitting position with more ease and comfort. Respecting Prisilla's strong personality and valuing of her appearance, this device is unobtrusive and attractive, with a sleek, prettily etched wooden frame, and is easily put on and taken off so it does not have to be worn when not in use. Before sitting down, Prisilla will attach the device to her legs. Then, when she wants to stand, she can begin her normal routine of rocking back and forth to build momentum. When she first attempts to stand, the Stand Assist will detect the effort with pressure sensors and kick in. The added torque of the motor will supplement her muscles and help her get up more efficiently. 

Maddie Johnson-Harwitz

An assistive device to bring more independence to the elderly by helping them stand up from a sitting position with more ease and comfort.

Modern society does not do enough to assist the elderly and care for their mental health, and much of the elderly population struggles with feelings of helplessness.The Stand Assist is designed to combat these issues and enable the elderly to feel empowered and independent.The Stand Assist was designed for a client named Prisilla, who was severely weakened by a coma that she was in for seven months. She also suffers from arthritis in both her hands. Due to her weakened muscles, she has extreme difficulty getting up from a chair.It can take her ten tries to fully stand up, by throwing her body forward and catching herself on her walker. The design of the device is minimalist and pretty to appeal to Prisilla, who is very proper and likes things to look nice, and reluctant at first to use an assistive device.

Although it was designed with Prisilla in mind, the Stand Assist is an assistive device that can empower many elderly people who struggle getting up. The Stand Assist fits as a knee brace, with a motor that, when activated by a pressure sensor, straightens the brace until it is fully extended and push the user from a sitting position to a standing position. The Stand Assist is designed for elderly people with weaker muscles who have a hard time getting up, leaving them feeling helpless and dependent on others; with the aid of the Stand Assist, they can stand up on their own. 

Oliver's Brief:

     The Table Walker challenges preconceived notions of walkers as purely medical devices. Walkers have been viewed as solely medical devices in the past, but this project changes that. The Table Walker is an organic-looking statement piece made out of MetaComb and Burlap composite materials with two sets of handles, one on top and one on the side, and some shelves, which are below its signature feature, the table. This hinged table folds down from of the top of the walker and uses locking supports to stay level. This table has an engraved chess board on the top so the user can play chess or checkers to interact with their friends. The Table Walker engages an issue that many older people face, which is that they can feel disconnected from the world around them. Using a walker does not help with this, as it forms a physical and mental barrier between older users and whoever they are talking to. The walker allows the user to initiate conversations since it looks so organic and futuristic. It also folds out to form a table, which lets the elderly user connect with others they invite to sit with them at the table. Our project helps the elderly person using the walker, as it allows them to connect with other people and is designed to not form a mental barrier. This walker will give the user a healthier view on life because of how they will be able to enjoy having a walker, not just as a medical device, but as an enjoyable device. This project raises the question of how people interact with the elderly, and if there is a way we can improve the lives of the elderly, leading to increased social interaction and community.

      The project is being designed for Priscilla, who feels cut off from the world by her walker, and she wants a walker that is functional as well as visually pleasing. Priscilla wants to be able to connect with other people and doesn’t feel like she can, especially with such an impersonal looking walker, like the one she currently has. It alienates her from the others at the retirement home, as none of them have a walker. Our project is a futuristic and organic looking walker with a table that folds out of it by using hinges and an axle. It also uses a folding brace to make sure it remains in the locked position. This also allows the user to eat and drink on the table without spilling anything. It also has another side that can fold out to double to the size of the table. It uses a new type of composite material inspired by MetaComb, which is cardboard stacked and glued together in a very specific way. It uses cardboard, epoxy/resin, and burlap, all laminated, to make the walker strong and light. The user tilts the walker onto its front wheels and rolls it forward a few inches. They then set it down, walk forward, and repeat until they get to where they need to go. They can then pull it up to a chair, pull the table up and push the other half over so it lies flat. This will let the user utilize the walker to its full potential.

PJ's Brief:

     A stylish walker with a fold-out table designed to help an older adult feel more socially integrated and confident despite her disability. The walker is meant to help Pricilla feel less alienated whenever she is in public, and adding in a functional use. Having a more attractive walker can make her feel much more confident. To execute this PJ and Oliver made a futuristic, curved walker that can be used as a style piece and also features a folding checkers board that can be used for tea and coffee.

     My project exists because elderly people often feel socially excluded because the things they carry with them seem so medical and ugly. It helps Pricilla and any other older adult that might want to use a more stylish walking aide. Having an attractive walker reintroduces the older generations into society in a new light. It raises the question of why did it take so long to accept these people for the disabilities they could not help. Hopefully this will start to trend and will become a standard in society for older adults to be more integrated. Pricilla will use it in her everyday life to get around the assisted living home and also whenever she chooses to enter the world. The patients name is Pricilla and she has trouble standing up. We are making the walker more stable and strong so that she can lean on it to stand up. She is somewhat self-conscious and likes to appear as a stylish person. The project has lots of rounded edges for style and a folding table that breaks in the middle for storage on the walker. It hangs on dowel between the main supports. It can be propped up to use as a tea/coffee table or also a chess board. This is innovative because previously not much medical equipment has had attractive features. By adding this,  I hope this design will help people will become comfortable with illnesses and the cycle of life.