Full disclosure – this is not a project I have worked on, but one that I want to develop something similar towards as I work on my master’s thesis.
Loneliness is an epidemic around the world. As much as 40% of the population is estimated to experience loneliness as some point in their lives. It can impact all ages, ranging from small children, who, for medical reasons, cannot attend school, to the elderly who no longer live with anyone. Of those over 75 who live alone, an estimated 25% have no human contact for days at a time. Even though it is mental, it can manifest physically, even causing heart problems. [1] To start to understand and address some of these issues the UK has even hired a Minister of Loneliness.
The solution developed by the Norwegian company No Isolation to work towards loneliness in the elderly is called KOMP. It’s a simplified skype-like system for them to connect with their younger family members. No Isolation’s heartwarming promotional video shows a lonely older man eating breakfast in his kitchen while his granddaughter is far away struggling to build a birdhouse. She calls her grandfather over KOMP and they are able to connect while he gives her tips to assemble the birdhouse. In addition to video calling, KOMP allows family members to send photos and videos to their elders, for them to view at their convenience, making the isolated people feel more present in their family members lives.
The design of the system is an important aspect to its success. The simplified interface, with just one button, makes it easy for those not well adapted to modern technology to operate. Many elderly even have trouble physically operating something like an iPad because the dryness of their fingertips makes it impossible for the touchscreen to recognize their finger’s presence.
Benefits of the KOMP system include making elderly or isolated family members feel more connected with those in their family. This is particularly important when either families live so far apart, as is often the case in the United States, or when a family member has been isolated, when, for example, they had to be hospitalized for medical reasons. As many elderly go days without human contact, KOMP starts to address that issue by making it easier for the tech-savvy family members to connect with the less-than-tech-savvy ones.
Potential downsides include that this is a virtual solution. It’s possible actual physical face-to-face interaction is more beneficial than virtual ones. Additionally, as the system needs to be operated with the push of a button, it’s possible that even if isolated family members love the device, their health could decline so much that they can no longer operate the device. As a result, the elderly is a challenging demographic to design for. Both due to physical limitations in operating a device and mental limitations understanding how the device works. However, it seems that KOMP is a promising step towards making loved ones feel more connected.
[1] Trapped in a bubble: an investigation into triggers for loneliness in the UK. Co-operatives UK, Red Cross. 2016.