2. ďMental Health
⢠20% of individuals
over age 55 have
some type of mental
health concern
(CDC, 2008)
⢠Of any age
group, men aged
85+ have the highest
suicide rate
ďDepression
⢠Is the most prevalent
mental health
concern among
elderly population
⢠Is NOT a normal part
of getting older and
is treatable in 80% of
the cases
3. ďThe Problem:
⢠Physical and mental side
affects of loneliness in
the elderly
⢠Hardening of the
arteries
⢠High blood pressure
⢠Depression
⢠High cortisol levels
⢠Memory problems
(Gammon, 2012)
Loneliness
⢠18% of seniors live alone
and 43% report feeling
lonely on a regular basis
(Botek, 2012)
⢠Loneliness may lead to
depression and adverse
health consequences
4. ď Structure
⢠Artificial companion,
âmanâs best friendâ
⢠Softer texture, but
accepted as mechanical
ď Function
⢠Mental stimulation:
ď therapeutic, conversational,
& emotionally engaging
⢠Surveys for patientâs
healthcare provider
⢠Filling the gap âBuddyâ
5. Target Populations
⢠Elderly individuals who live
alone OR feel isolated living
in a group home
⢠Primary Health care
providers of elderly patients
6. ďBenefits to target populations
⢠Efficient
⢠Increased communication
⢠Mental stimulation
⢠Decreased loneliness
⢠Entertainment
⢠Overall increased mental and physical health
7. ďHardware
⢠Sensors
⢠Audio input & output
⢠Storage and memory
ďSoftware
⢠Use of applications
ďPersonnel
⢠Primary care providers
ď Training & Education
⢠On site
ď Purchase of Product
⢠Through Professionals
⢠Private sector
ď Continued
Maintenance
8. ď UTOPIA Project
⢠Facilitates health and
happiness in various ways
ď HOMIE
⢠Able to understand its
ownerâs emotions
ď COMPANIONS Project
⢠Pro-activity
Picture retrieved from: Kriglstein, S. &
Wallner, 2005
9. ďBarriers of âBuddyâ
⢠Gaining provider acceptance for installation and
distribution
⢠Costs for creation and for purchase
⢠Consumer acceptance
⢠Health conditions that make it difficult for patient
use
⢠Similarity to existing products may create
competition
10. ď Cost for making one
artificial companion
⢠Voice detection technology:
$8,000
⢠Training of provider: $1,000
⢠Touch Sensation technology:
$8,000
⢠Microphone and speakers:
$5,000
⢠Applications for survey
conduction: $4,000
⢠Application using natural
language user interface:
$10,000
⢠Extra materials: $500
⢠Total = $36,500
ď Total funding needed
⢠400 million dollars
11. ďGoals
⢠Lower rates of suicide
from depression
⢠Lower rates of
depression among
elderly who experience
loneliness
ďFuture additions
⢠Connection of audiobooks to
the artificial companion to
read stories
⢠Face recognition
⢠Enhanced provider
integration: to allow delivery
of cognitive therapy
techniques
⢠Improved user integration:
accommodations for blind or
deaf patients
12. ď Evaluation of âBuddyâ to ensure goals are met:
⢠Stage 1 of evaluation: general evaluation of product
acceptance
ď Pilot study of 50 users
⢠Stage 2 of evaluation: achievement of projected goals
ď Optional user agreement to share data
gathered from surveys by product
ď Improvement of health overall?
13. ď Why âBuddyâ?
⢠Hopes of launching our
product/service
⢠Companionship value,
but also adjunct to
treatment
⢠Benefits to target
populations, overall
improvement in health
ď Development Plan:
⢠Year One: Audiobooks
⢠Year Two: Facial
recognition
⢠Year Three: Enhanced
provider integration
14. ď Bickmore, T., Caruso, L., Clough-Gorr, K., & Heeren, T. (2005). âItâs just like you talk to
a friendâ relational agents for older adults. Interacting with Computers, 17(6), 711-
735.
ď Botek, A. (2012). The elder loneliness epidemic. Retrieved January 23, 2013, from
http://www.agingcare.com/Articles/loneliness-in-the-elderly-151549.htm
ď Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Association of Chronic
Disease Directors. The State of Mental Health and Aging in America Issue Brief 1:
What Do the Data Tell Us? Atlanta, GA: National Association of Chronic Disease
Directors; 2008.
ď Gammon, K. (2012). Why loneliness can be deadly. Retrieved January 23, 2012, from
http://www.livescience.com/18800-loneliness-health-problems.html
ď Kidd, C., Lee, C., Lesh, N., Rich, C., & Sidner, C. (2005). Explorations in engagement
for humans and robots. Artificial Intelligence, 166(1), 140-164.
ď Kriglstein, S. & Wallner, Gunter. (2005). HOMIE: an artificial companion for elderly
people. CHI â05 Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing, 2094-2098. doi:
10.1145/1056808.1057106
ď Mival, O., Cringean, S., & Benyon, D. (2004). Personification technologies: developing
artificial companions for older people. 1-8
http://web.media.mit.edu/~guy/lab/chi04/mival04.pdf
ď Peltu, M. & Wilks, Y. (2008). Close engagements with artificial companions: key social,
psychological, ethical, and design issues. Oxford Internet Institute, 14,1-33.
Editor's Notes
-Evaluation based on product reception from users in terms of emotional benefits and practicality-Further evaluation based on weekly surveys to note status of depression-Overall positive reception from individuals.-Potential to raise encouraging emotions-Individuals mentioned the benefits of reminders and personalization