Design For all case study: A navigation aid for elderly persons

This study presents a body worn laser device as an appropriate navigation aid for the people suffering from dementia. The study is based on award-winning “Smart Navigation for Seniour Citizen” concept that was presented at Design For All Foundation 2012 International competition. The wearable mobile system which consists of a camera and a laser pointer is a chest worn device equipped with laser projection-based arrows to guide the people suffering from dementia in indoor/outdoor mobility. This device is able to provide navigation aid to the people suffering from dementia in complex and unknown areas; it also helps the user to identify the real objects. A remote caregiver can easily get the scene where the demented person seeing and can guide the directions with laser projected arrows and directly pointing at the real objects with a laser pointer. In this paper we will explain the usability of chest-worn system in indoor/outdoor environments. The results of an indoor field test conducted with real end users are presented. Results reveal the validity and effectiveness of the chest-worn system in the complex and unknown areas.