Use of Information Technology for Falls Detection and Prevention in the Elderly

Bridging the Digital Divide for Rural Older Adults by Family Intergenerational Learning: A Classroom Case in a Rural Primary School in China

Rural older adults often feel disconnected from the ever-expanding digital world. To bridge the digital divide, researchers have investigated the effectiveness of formal education and training offered by various social institutions. However, existing research highlights a critical shortcoming in these approaches: a lack of attention paid to rural older adults’ individual needs and interests. Based on the theories of post-metaphorical culture, endogenous development, home-school cooperation, and technology adoption and acceptance, this study implements a family intergenerational learning (FIL) project. FIL characterizes learning between grandparents and grandchildren within the household, suggesting a more practical and individualized strategy to help rural older adults gain digital literacy. By conducting a three-month FIL Project in a rural primary school class in China, the study employs a qualitative method to analyze learning records and interviews from 10 sets of participating grandparents and grandchildren. The analysis renders two critical findings on the effectiveness of the FIL Project for rural older adults. First, FIL can help rural older adults adapt into the digital world by (1) gaining knowledge about digital society, (2) improving their digital skills, (3) changing their lifestyles, and (4) understanding the integration between technology and society. Second, among grandchildren, FIL can cultivate an awareness of lifelong learning and their moral obligations to their grandparents. By illustrating this specific case, this study puts forward a new approach to help the older adults overcome the digital divide in rural areas.

Design Thinking Applied to Smart Home Projects: A User-Centric and Sustainable Perspective

This paper aims to propose a conceptual model to create and select smart home conceptions from the user-centric and sustainable perspective, using the Design Thinking approach. Although considerable research has been devoted to smart homes in the last two decades, gaps are evident in current research concerning the creation and selection of smart home conceptions from both user-centric and sustainable perspectives. A systematic literature review covering the period 2000–2020 indicated that Design Thinking (DT) has rarely been exploited in smart home projects. The applicability of the proposed model could be demonstrated in the context of a smart home project in Brazil (NO.V.A. Project) conducted by an energy distribution player in this country in cooperation with two local universities and other institutional partners. The replication of this approach in smart home projects will allow decision-makers and project managers to place future residents at the center of the smart home design, creating and selecting the best conceptions that will meet users’ desires, expectations, and needs that can be transformed into reality.

An intelligent video-monitoring system to detect falls: a proof of concept

Purpose

To face the challenges raised by the high incidence of falls among older adults, the intelligent video-monitoring system (IVS), a fall detection system that respects privacy, was developed. Most fall detection systems are tested only in laboratories. The purpose of this paper is to test the IVS in a simulation context (apartment-laboratory), then at home.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is a proof of concept including two phases: a simulation study to test the IVS in an apartment-laboratory (29 scenarios of activities including falls); and a 28-day pre-test at home with two young occupants. The IVS’s sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), accuracy (A) and error rate (E) in the apartment-laboratory were calculated, and functioning at home was documented in a logbook.

Findings

For phase 1, results are: Se =91.67 per cent, Sp =99.02 per cent, A=98.25 per cent, E=1.75. For phase 2, the IVS triggered four false alarms and some technical dysfunctions appeared (e.g. computer screen never turning off) that are easily overcome.

Practical implications

Results show the IVS’s efficacy at automatically detecting falls at home. Potential issues related to future installation in older adults’ homes were identified. This proof of concept led to recommendations about the installation and calibration of a camera-based fall detection system.

Originality/value

This paper highlights the potentialities of a camera-based fall detection system in real-world contexts and supports the use of the IVS to help older adults age in place.