The SenseChair: the lounge chair as an intelligent assistive device for elders

摘要

The elder population is rising. In the United States, the number of those needing assistance far exceeds the number of care facilities available to help the aging population. This creates a great incentive to help elders remain independently in their homes.Our group is exploring how robotic technology, designed in forms as familiar as home appliances, might be used to assist elders and those who provide care. We have designed the SenseChair, an intelligent assistive lounge chair that brings assistive technology to elders in a comfortable and familiar fashion. The SenseChair takes information about a sitter's behavior and the environment and provides information ranging from ambient displays to explicit notification. It serves as a research platform to understand how we can help elders stay independently in their homes, and offer them physical, social, and emotional support.