BIME Projects - Daily Living
NANA - Novel Assessment of Nutrition and Ageing
Current figures suggest that 1 in 4 older people are likely to be malnourished. This may be due to a range of factors including impaired physical function (such as problems with chewing and swallowing or reduced mobility); mental health factors (such as depression or social isolation); and cognitive factors (such as dementia or other neurological illnesses). It is difficult to examine the links between diet, physical health, mental health and cognitive factors due to inadequacies and unsuitability of currently available methods of measurement. Hence, there is a need for sensitively designed technology that can help us to simultaneously assess these factors. NANA is a project run by 4 of Britain's leading research institutions (University of Bath - Bath Institute of Medical Engineering (BIME) University of Reading - School of Systems Engineering (Cybernetics),University of Sheffield - Human Nutrition Unit , University of St. Andrews - School of Psychology ) to design a novel system that uses modern technology in the assessment of nutrition and ageing. It is aimed at improving the measurement of nutrition, physical health, mental health and cognitive function; and also improving our understanding of the interactions between these factors. This will be useful for informing strategies to prevent physical and mental decline in ageing, and for improvements in the medical treatment and social provision for older people. For more information, please visit http://www.nana.org.uk
COBALT - Challenging Obstacles and Barriers to Assistive Living Technologies
COBALT is a two-year project funded by the Technology Strategy Board to examine the obstacles to adoption of Assistive Living Technologies.
This is part of a wider initiative by the Technology Strategy Board called the Assisted Living Innovation Platform (ALIP) , which is seeking to improve people's quality of life through more intelligently designed technology.
A growing amount of technology is being developed to support older people but take up is low. There is a pressing need to understand why and find out how to change this. COBALT is working collaboratively with older people and care provider as experts who are using and supporting technology to identify what they perceive as problems in engagement and adoption.
Working in partnership we will create COBALT Pioneer Groups of older adults to develop materials to bridge the gaps between end users and the Assistive Living Technology (ALT) industry.
Pioneer Group comments are posted after each session.
Brian is blogging his experiences as a person with dementia learning how to use technology like the iPhone.
For more information see our Project Details
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