Abstract
This paper reports on the interdisciplinary design, development, and implementation of a digital application and database called ‘Innova’ that serves as a platform to collect and analyse assistive technologies (AT) currently available for family/friend carers and consequently also care recipients. AT products/systems/services that support carers (directly or indirectly) in their everyday lives have the potential to serve as precedents to inform innovators to create new AT products/systems/services to better meet the needs of carers. These precedents become ‘materialised design knowledge’ that is a significant kit of information that acts as sources of inspiration for designers. The aim of Innova is to compile and examine information about AT precedents as a precedent-based design (PBD) tool for designers to improve and/or create new AT products/systems/services that better suit carers’ needs. Innova is a digital environment that includes an application and database that can be used on Android smartphones and tablets. The digital application and database have a user-centered survey, a user-interface, and feedback features to collect information about AT precedents.
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Notes
- 1.
AGE-WELL NCE (Aging Gracefully across Environments using Technology to Support Wellness, Engagement and Long Life NCE Inc.) is Canada’s technology and aging network, dedicated to the creation of technologies and services that benefit older adults and carers. Launched in 2015 through the federally-funded.
- 2.
Designers refer to product developers and engineers, industrial designers, graphic designers, and any other innovators who could benefit from PBD.
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Acknowledgements
The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial contributions of AGE-WELL NCE Ltd., Canada’s technology and aging network, through the core research project WP2.4 Assistive Technology that Cares for the Caregiver.
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Strickfaden, M., Fiorentino, C., Martin, M., Eales, J., Fast, J. (2020). ‘Innova’ Digital Application and Database for Designers to Innovate for Carers. In: Langdon, P., Lazar, J., Heylighen, A., Dong, H. (eds) Designing for Inclusion. CWUAAT 2020. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-43865-4_4
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