Semester/year: Spring 2010
Supervisor: Steinar Killi External partner: Nordseterhjemmet
The starting point of the project was an explorative approach where the main goal was to explore and understand which segment in the society who had real needs for contribution, create a product that arises from the real needs of its user insted of being created to manufacture needs to the user.
After ethnographic fieldworking in several care facilities and day centers, stories were gathered and analyzed. I recognized a pattern that showed what could enrich ederly people`s positive experiences. Elderly people are engaged with their connection to their grandchildren but they feel limited regarding their knowledge and skills to operate modern comunication technology.
The project ended up creating Gerd, a device that can recieve text, picture, voice and video messages. By rotating the front part in the chosen direction it is easy to change between the different functions.
There are so much technology today that could enrich elderly people`s positive experiences and their beloved ones, but they are all designed for the younger generation and excluding the old people. I wanted to create a product that is easy to use and understand, give them a tool and opportunity to use technology of today without inconvenience and complecating their lives. A device they could use with proud and dignity.