In this work, a flexible and extensive digital platform for Smart Homes is presented, exploiting the most advanced technologies of the Internet of Things, such as Radio Frequency Identification, wearable electronics, Wireless Sensor Networks, and Artificial Intelligence. Thus, the main novelty of the paper is the system-level description of the platform flexibility allowing the interoperability of different smart devices. This research was developed within the framework of the operative project HABITAT (Home Assistance Based on the Internet of Things for the Autonomy of Everybody), aiming at developing smart devices to support elderly people both in their own houses and in retirement homes, and embedding them in everyday life objects, thus reducing the expenses for healthcare due to the lower need for personal assistance, and providing a better life quality to the elderly users.
The Quality Function Deployment, was born in Japan around 1965 as a method to deploy functions forming quality and measurable parameters concerning products, service or processes based on user needs. QFD is normally used in business contexts by multidisciplinary teams that, after significant training, collaborate to compile and to interpret user requirements embedded in a matrix with characteristics and attributes. However, the design discipline is changing, along with methodologies, approaches, multidisciplinary teams and working practice. The rise of recent co-designed methodologies, flexible and holistic approaches in to design research lead to a decreased use of QFD among new designer generations. It has been noticed that when people are not adequately trained, and there is no opportunity to have face to face meetings, some methodological issues can arise while using QFD. The aim of this explorative work is to investigate the key factors that limit the use of QFD in the current multidisciplinary design research practice. A methodological literature review along with holistic experience fostered the development of a manifesto for a collaborative QFD methodology that stimulates collaborative multidisciplinary design research. This research impacts on developing a stimulating approach in to design research and practice, which shall be collaborative, inclusive, flexible, adaptable and open source, following the recent paradigms in cross-disciplines research practice.
Ageing is connected with increased chronic psychological and physical disabilities, which are today delayed to older ages than in the past. The constant growth in number of older people in our society creates a larger demand of goods and services related to home care, due to the willingness of the elderly to live at home remaining autonomous as long as possible. Using a Human Centred Design method, this research aims to support ageing in place and to extend independence of older people through appropriate technological strategies for families, reducing both costs and risk factors of caregiving. Quality Function Deployment tool and Co-Design technique are the main approaches that have led the design process, including older people in every decision-making step. The final result is an assistive IoT ecosystem, which provides at the same time a customizable healthcare service to the elderly and a home care management system to their caregivers.
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