Home Orderliness Technologies

Unmet Need: Detection of hazards based on map of location for elderly and disabled

The user experience of care givers and home maintainers of seniors raised the need of designing a system to detect tripping hazards. They often face the issues of clutter, hoarding, fire hazards, tripping hazards, daily activity issues, and home usability when helping seniors care for themselves or help run large scale care facilities. A sensor source in the home is required to map out the shape of the space and/or vision processing technologies to determine the kinds, quantity, and placement of items around the home to determine the orderliness and features (tripping hazards, clutter placement) of the home. The objective is to design and implement an application that uses these assisting technologies to inspect and monitor a given space.

The Technology: Using HoloLens to capture the map of users’ location and warn about hazards

Since the concept for the orderliness sensing in the home was defined, there have been developments of a prototype using the Microsoft HoloLens as a sensor source to determine walkable space in the home, and the change of the walkable space over time. It identifies tripping hazards and how cluttered raised surfaces like tables and counter tops are. Virtual and augmented reality devices are used to achieve this goal. The application generates reports such that these environments are made safer for these individuals. The Microsoft HoloLens was chosen as the device on which this application will run. Not only does it support the functionality needed to perform the required tasks, but it is also easy to learn and make use of.

Applications:

• Determining walkable space in home.

• Help to maintain orderliness in homes for elderly.

• Avoiding hazards while walking for elderly and disabled.

Advantages:

• Microsoft HoloLens supports the functionality and is easy to learn and use.

• Ease of client server relationship using the application.