Fun Technology for Older People Tahir Idris Assistive Technology Manager Diane Emmison Manager, Manor Gardens

Who Are We? One the country’s largest housing providers In-house team to deliver technological solutions for older/ disabled/ vulnerable people 10 + years history in AssistiveTechnologies Traditional Telecare/Telehealth- worthy but.. BEYOND that is where the fun is….!

Fun Technology Not obviously medical/ safety related Existing, proven technologies Applied differently What do they do? Funding

Music & Multimedia Photos Interactive Noticeboards

Talking Books Text converted to synthesised speech Photo Album format Flexible and Tailored Languages

Simplified Operation of PC No learning of PC protocols necessary One finger is sufficient

YouTube

Electronic Bingo Large Text Clear Voice Fun!

‘Video/Talk’ Box

Manor Gardens Background Technology infrastructure Additional Devices Tech support from staff

Digital Screens Learned from interactive screens Signage Newsletters/Notices Weather News Annoucements Activities

Tom Mr Hanson moved into Manor Gardens with limited computer knowledge & very keen to learn more With On Going learning & Support from other Staff & Other Customers with Computer Knowledge Mr Hanson uses video box & daily “Helped me get in contact with my Son who lives in Australia and contact 17 Cousins who I have never met ! This has increased my knowledge and increased my Communication to close family “ “ I have been writing my memoirs and I have now put them on disk – this is a great piece of history for my family”

Carol Mrs N uses the computer to watch Re- Runs of the Paul O’Grady Show. With Support from Activity Co-ordinator this has increased her social skills and enabled her to feel part of the community. “I love to Watch Paul O’Grady over and over it makes me feel happy”

Kathleen Mrs G suffers from Dementia and enjoys life to the full. She enjoys social life and enjoys to reminisce about the past Activity Co-ordinator introduced You Tube to Mrs G. The time spent watching “Clips from Old Films and Adverts” has encouraged Mrs G to talk more and remember past events.

Lessons Learned No technology should be off limits Better to make it accessible and easy/fun to use…. For all Potentially huge impact on lives Persist and Support Focus on what it does not the technology itself

Future..? Devices which integrate a number of the best features in one unit ‘Mainstreaming’ fun technology It will be expected from us Residents paying for the facilities?

THANK YOU