TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT OF A

GADGET FOR THE AGED:

A CASE STUDY OF MY GRANDFATHER

1.INTRODUCTION
1.1. CHANGES IN TECHNOLOGY OVER THE
YEARS
Over time, technology has changed to allow people to
communicate more quickly and efficiently; it has become the
ultimate mode of convenience for people who wish to perform
tasks that would have taken a long time in the past. Technology
has gone from a means to make difficult tasks easier to a means
for making easy tasks easier.
Technology has always been a present force acting in the
world. It started out as simple things like tools that were created
by thr most primitive humans and evolved into other tools that
made life easier for the people who crated them. In the mid 20th
century, the technological advances began to boom. People
realized that computers were the way of the future and would
make life easier for anyone that used them. Scientists,
Engineers, and computer enthusiasts began to look for new ways
t make computers do tasks that would normally be done by
humans. This technology eventually led to the introduction of the
Internet and Wireless communication. Cell phones, laptops and
tablets are results of constant technological evolution. They are
the ultimate in communication and alow people stay connected
with friends and loved ones at all times;something that would be
impossible without technology.
Technology has evolved in three(3) stages:
i. Tools
ii. Machine
iii. Automation

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 The emergence of technology, made possible by the
development of the rational faculty, paved the way for the first
stage: The tool.

A Tool provides a mechanical advantage in accomplishing a

physical task, such as an arrow, plow, or hammer that augments
physical labour to more efficiently achieve this objective.Tools
allow one to do things impossible to accomplish with ones body
alone, such as seeing minute visual detail with a microscope,
manipulating heavy objects with a pulley and cart, or carrying
volumes of water in a bucket.

The second technological stage was the creation of the

machine. A machine is a tool that substitues the element of
human physical effort, and requires only to control its function.
Machines became widespread with the industrial revolution,
though windmills, a type of machine, are much older.

Examples of these include cars, trains, computers and lights.

Machines allow Humans to tremendously exceed the limitations
of their bodies. Putting a machine on the farm, a tractor for
example, increased food productivity at least tenfold over the
technology of the plow and the horse.

The third and final stage is the automation. The

automation is a machine that removes the element of human
control with an automatic algorithm. Examples of machines that
exhibit this characteristic are digital watches, automatic
telephone switches, pacemakers, and computer programs.

It is mportant to understand that the three stages outline

the introduction of the fundamental types of technology, and so
all three continue to be widely used today.

Technology has advanced with years and it has changed

the way we purchase products, the way we live, communicate,
travel, the way we learn and so many changes that has been
brought about by these continuous technological advancements.
As we age, and as peoples demands and lifestyles change, the
demand for advancing the type of technology we use is high.
Almost everything we use has been innovated to beter
standards, a good example is the mobile phone. The type of

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mobile phones we had in 1995 are no longer on demand in this
century, the demands of mobile phone users have changed
greatly, and this has resulted in the advancement of mobile
phone technologies.

These days, users of most gadgets demand simplicity and more

functionality. This has forced most gadget manufacturers to
develop computer minded smart gadgets which are easy to use,
but also come with more functionality compared to those used in
the past.

The effect of technological advancement are both positive and

negative.

Positively, technology advancement has simplified the way we do

things, it saves time, it increases on production, it has improved
health care and it has also improved our educational
environment.

Negatively, technology advancement has made humans lazy,

technology users are so dependent on new advance tech tools.
This laziness has resulted into less innovation. It has increased
on health risk because technology users exercise less. It has
affected the environment because the increase in pollution which
has affected the ozone layers which has resulted in global
warming. When it comes to education, students are more
dependent on computers and calculators to solve simple
equations; in this case they can not train their brains to solve a
simple task which makes them lame in class.

Below are few technological advancements which have changed

our lives over the years:

Technological Advancement In Medicine and

Healthcare
Technology has helped in saving lives. Human medicine
and health sciences have improved.Extensive research
over the years has resulted into the development of new
drugs, and treatments which have helped in curing most

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 challenging human diseases, saving lives and prolonging
the human lifespan.
Examples:
i. Ultrasound smart phone is a simple hand sized device
that can enable doctors in remote areas ti image a
patients kidney, liver, bladder, eyes, veins and arteries so
that infections can be detected easily.
ii. Nanocomposite Contact lenses used to treat diabetes
etc.
Technological Advancements in Communication
Communication technology has changed over the years.
Nowadays, two adults can enjoyed communication
technology in the form of moile phones, tablets and
watches. Live video calls are now possible due to the
advancement in technology.
Technological Advancement In Education
These days, technology has simplified the way teachers
reach out to their students and it has helped students
learn from anywhere at anytime i.e access information at
anytime from anywhere. Some of the most popular
technology advancements are:
Use of tablets and mobile computers in tye classroom, Use
of smart whiteboards for visual illustration, use of the
internet for long distance learning, use of social media to
connect students with teachers and other students.

1.2. WHO ARE DESIGNERS?

Design Technology entails the study, design, development,
application, implementation, support and management of
computer and non-computer based technologies for the express
purpose of communicating purpose design intent and
constructability. Design technology can also be applied to the
problems encountered in construction, operation and
maintenance of a product.

1.3. MARKET DIVISIONS OF INNOVATIVE

TECHNOLOGY
Technological advances can provide a powerful engine for the
advancement of economic growth and new opportunities. It

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 requires policy leadership that understands the immense
transformative power of technology and innovation.
Innovative Technology policy is then committed to advancing
comprehensive technology and innovative plans with market
divisions that will:
Lower health careby advancing health IT
Modernize public safety communications
Upgrade education to meet the needs of the 21 st
century
Develop new clean energy sources
Develop Next generation manufacturing
technologies

2.0. REVIEW OF ALL GADGETS DEVELOPED FOR THE

AGED
95% of people 75 and older want to stay in their homes indefinitely.
This desire for independence is perfectly natural. The Older ones tend to
get into troubles because they feel like they are losing their grip on
independence. Certain Technological advances have been aimed at
helping the aged hold on to their independence as they age. These
technologies also help the children of aging parents, who worry about the
welfare of their parents.
In order to tackle most of the problems the aged face, certain
technological innovations were embarked upon of which include:
WORRY: My parents wont be able to reach me in an
emergency
TECH SOLUTION: BIG-BUTTON CELL PHONE

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 According to research, many aged people wont use a cell-phone in an
emergency. They find them too complex, cant manage the tiny
buttons, or cant read the screens. A big button phone like the
Jitterbug, designed mainly for the aged, could give you and your
parents peace of mind. Its an easy open clam-shell with extra loud
speakers, big backlit buttons, a bright screen with easy-to-read
numbers, and a straight forward service contact. The features include:
One-Touch, three big, impossible-to-miss buttons with one specifically
for emergency(112/911); one for the operator, who will connect your
parents to anyone he/she wants to reach; and one programmed to
connect your parents to you or another member.
WORRY: My parents cant clean the house
TECH SOLUTION: HOUSE-CLEANING ROBOTS
Although one can employ/hire someone o do the house-keeping and
cleaning, research points that being to vacuum on their own in
between visits from the cleaner goes a long way towards restoring your
parents sense of dignity and control. For example, if a ceral spills, they
can effectively use an effective iRobot to handle the situation with the
help of the push of a button. The scooba which washes the floor on its
own, can prevent the aged from slipping and falling while trying to
keep them clean.
WORRY: Shower getting too hot
TECH SOLUTION: TEMPERATURE-ACTIVATED FLOW
REDUCER
This gadget has a screw-on faucet attachment that prevents burns by
shutting of the water form a sink or shower if it gets too hot.
WORRY: The Aged remebering their medication/taking
the wrong pills
TECH SOLUTION: AUTOMATIC PILL REMINDERS
Research has proven that as a person reaches age 70, he/she is
already taking about 12 medications. The inability to take them
unsupervised accounts for up to 40 percent of nursing home
admissions. Fortunately, many devices available now can remind your
parentsto take their pills and keep them from getting their
prescriptions scrambled. These ranges from pillboxes with alarms and
timers to services that will send your parents medication reminders by
phone, e-mail, or pager. MD.2, for example is a monitored dispenser
that you or a caregiver can load and refill, and your parents can
dispense all their pills right on time, with one touch of a button. Rescue

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 Alert will monitor your parents pillbox electronically and alert a
dispatcher if the lid isnt opened when it is supposed to be.
WORRY: The aged will burn themselves while cooking,
or leave the stove on and start a fire
TECH SOLUTION: THE SAFE T-ELEMENT COOKING
SYSTEM
This device consists of cover plates you can install over existing
stovetop burners that limit how hot they can get and automatically
shut off the stove if they reach a certain temperature.
WORRY: The Aged Falling and finding difficulty in
getting up
TECH SOLUTION:
Personal Emmergency Response System
WORRY: Problems of missing phone calls or leaving
visitors standing outside the door
TECH SOLUTION: DOORBELL-TELEPHONE FLASHING-
LIGHT SIGNAL
In a case where the aged have hearing issues, a device that enables a
ringing doorbell or phone to trigger a flashing light-including house
lamps lets them know when they have a call or visitors have arrived.
WORRY: Checking on the welfare of the aged who are
alone
MONITORING SYSTEMS
Examples of this systems are:
BeClose which places discreet sensorsthroughout the home to track
the daily routine of the aged and send you an e-mail any time there is
a disruption
E-Neighbor system is programmed to detect unusual activity in the
home. A shower left running or a fridge that goes unopened for a day
could trigger a phone call to you or a caregiver.
The Grandcare Como reprograms your parents television via the
internet to monitor their well-being and, unlike other systems, acts as a
two-way stret, creating a customized channel through which you can
send photos of grandchildrenand coordinate a calendar with
caregivers.
Other gadgets include: automated wheelchairs which the aged who
have mobility issues can move round the house on their own with, gps
wristbands which aid in tracking the movements of the aged especially
when they go on solo walks.

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3.0. THE DESIGN OF A MONITORING AND PERSONAL
EMERGENCY RESPONSE SERVICE WRISTBAND
(SAFEGUARD WEAR)
We all know that old people these days are not really familiar
with technology and most aged dont use a smartphone either. Hence,
the design of a portable and easier gadget that is easier to operate,
use and recommend.
SafeGuard wear is a device which is in the form of a
wristwatch/wristband. It is a voice-command supported gadget.
It has a gps (global positioning system) embedded in it which
helps give simple directions on how to get home, get to the closest
coffee shop, nearest barbing salon etc.
It reminds one when to take their medications. It also provides
one with on-call emergency assistance.
A button on the wristband is dedicated for this.
The voice activated assistance will connect you directly to an
operator who will confirm if emergency assistance should be
dispatched to the location.
SafeGuard wear also has a heart-beat/heart-rate monitor which
can aid in knowing the blood pressure of the user.
It has a touch screen which makes assess to other functions like:
alarms, music, messages etc easy
SafeGuard wear is composed of four(4) major elements:
A battery changing circuit
A vibrating motor for notifications and silent alert
A fully programmable Arduino-compatible core with power
regulation and Bluetooth LE support
An OLED display

The watchs face, back, logic frame holder, hardware padding,

connection port and starp brace were all created via a 3D-printer. The
gadget is compatible with the Android Operating system only.

All the functions have to be coordinated by the MCU (micro

control unit), which controls the various sensors and processing units.
The CPU, sensors, Bluetooth chipset, graphics processor, vibrator, GPS,
gyroscope and other functions are all managed by the MCU.

SafeGuard has the following hardware components:

LEDs

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 Microduino 8MHz
OLED screen
Programming cables
BLE 112
Voltage Regulator
Momentary push buttons
Vibrating motor
Battery etc.

Using Solid Works, the SafeGuard Wear was designed.

FIG 1.0

AN EXAMPLE OF THE PARTS OF A MONITORING SMART WATCH.

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3.1. ADVANTAGES OF SAFEGUARD WEARABLE
Highlighted below are the various advantages of SafeGuard
wearable:
I. Safety: SafeGuard is able to detect seizures and heart
attacks as well as falls and alarm signals get sent out to
medical response teams and caregivers.
II. It is a stress-free gadget which is easy to wear and easy to
operate.
III. It is not expensive and is durable.
IV. It acts as a companion for the aged at any point in time.
V. SafeGuard is also dust and water-resistant.

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