Sentrality Progress Report.docx

DESIGN PROJECT 2AT&T PROJECTEDSGN 100HDr. Conrad Tucker

SENTRALITY HOME SYSTEM: GIVING SENIORS SAFE AUTONOMY IN THE HOMEMarisa BorusiewiczJasmine BowenKatie CzekalskiJohn DiDonatoWei Xie

May 4th, 2014

Sentrality

AbstractMore than 5 million Americans are living with dementia, a condition that places on caregivers the responsibility of protecting their loved ones from the perils of debilitating confusion and wandering, according to the Alzheimers Association. However, the staggering costs of assisted living facilities are daunting to caregivers, not to mention the challenge of confronting the emotional stigma of sending their parents to a nursing home. Sentrality has developed a system with the purpose of providing the elderly with dementia autonomy in their own homes while still ensuring their safety and the peace of mind of their caregivers.

The core issues being addressed by Sentralitys product are falling, wandering, and medication management. Sentralitys home network integrates wearable technology with an even broader scheme of machine to machine interactions to address these issues. Using Near Field Communication (NFC) technology as the systems backbone to be used at multiple checkpoints in the house, along with an NFC connected wristband, users will be able to navigate their home confidently without sacrificing the care they would otherwise receive in a nursing home.

1.0 Introduction

The AT&T Internet of Things sponsored project provided the team with the challenge of utilizing networked technology to work together and solve a problem in one of three areas: a home, a car, or a wearable. Sentrality was able to combine two of these into one product. Both the connected home and the wearable are important factors in this design project. Sentrality implemented the engineering design process with the goals of the project in mind in order to create a successful product. The organized system that was created established a strong confidence among group members and allowed everyone to work effectively together. The design team started by thoroughly defining the problem. Methods such as benchmarking, customer surveying, and cost approximations were utilized during the design process and proved to be very helpful during the course of the project as means of understanding the current market and the targeted customers. Due to the nature of the project and the limits of the technology Sentrality had available, the concepts that were generated were greatly understood better by patent searches and research. Brainstorming was organized into a morphological chart, and then the resultant concepts were cross compared using a Pugh chart. Sentrality selected and built a final design to fit the unique goals and vision of the team.

1.1 Initial Problem Statement

The objective of this design project was to create an innovative product that would create a safer environment in the home for elderly people. The focus was on generating an idea that would be both high priority in the healthcare field and user friendly in a home setting.

2.0 Customer Needs Assessment

As is the goal of any project, the most important aspect of this product is solving a problem in a way that also satisfies the customer. Sentrality was able to interact with focus groups using the questions in Appendix A and conduct individual interviews based on the project members relationships with the targeted customer. Because the overall product is aimed to be marketed for the elderly, team members needed to be resourceful in order to talk to that population while residing on a college campus. The questions used gave Sentrality a better view of the target market, in order to tailor a design to their needs. Each member combined for a total of 23 interviews, and the team, using this gathered knowledge, collaborated to determine the most common and important customer needs that should be attributed to this product. All of these interviews were done by telephone or e-mail, and the general consensus has been recorded below:

Table 1: Initial Customer Needs Statements Obtained From Individual Interviews

EffectivenessImplementationInteractionUser InputPracticalityCostFunctionalitySafetyPhysicalityFeasibilityFreedomEase of UseSizeAestheticsWeight

2.1 Weighting of Customer Needs

The customer needs and wants were taken into consideration during the length of the project. Obtaining them was the first step, but some customer needs are more important than others. To determine the exact order of these needs by importance, they were ranked according to the analytical hierarchy process (AHP). This is shown in Table 2 below, by using the categories obtained and listed in Table 1. See appendix for additional information regarding AHP ranking scale.

The customer need categories were then organized based on three overall categories: interaction, practicality, and physicality. The interaction category serves to represent all the customer needs that are based on a user interacting with the product. The practicality category serves to represent the customer needs that are based on the logical and technical aspects of the product. The cost and functionality of the product are examples of logical and technical aspects. The final main category is physicality, which serves to represent the customers concerns about the physical design of the device.

Table 2: Hierarchical Customer Needs List Obtained from Individual Interviews 1. Interaction 1.1 Feasibility 1.2 Freedom 1.3 Ease of Use 1.4 User Input

2. Practicality 2.1 Cost 2.2 Functionality 2.3 Effectiveness 2.4 Implementation 2.5 Safety

3. Physicality 3.1 Size 3.2 Aesthetics 3.3 Weight

The following tables are formatted according to the Analytical Hierarchy Process. First, the three main categories are weighted against each other. This determines which set of customer needs is the most important, according to the customer. After the main categories are weighted, then the subcategories are weighted according to which main category they fall under. In each table, the categories and subcategories are compared to each other and given a score based on how much more weight should be emphasized on that particular category or subcategory. The totals are added up in each row, and then the total column is added together. To obtain the weight for each category or subcategory, the total in each row is divided by the overall total of the Total column.

Table 3: AHP Pairwise Comparison Chart to Determine Weighting for Main Objective CategoriesMain InteractionPracticalityPhysicalityTotalWeight

Interaction1.003.005.009.000.64

Practicality0.331.002.003.330.24

Physicality0.200.501.001.700.12

14.031.00

Figure 1: Representation of Main Categories in a Pie Chart

Table 4: AHP Pairwise Comparison Chart to Determine Weighting of Interaction Sub-ObjectivesInteractionFeasibilityFreedomEase of UseUser InputTotalWeight

Feasibility1.000.500.252.003.750.17

Freedom2.001.000.503.006.500.30

Ease of Use4.002.001.002.009.000.42

User Input0.500.330.501.002.330.11

21.581.00

Figure 2: Representation of Interaction Subcategories in a Pie Chart

Table 5: AHP Pairwise Comparison Chart to Determine Weighting of Practicality Sub-Objectives

PracticalityCostFunctionalityEffectivenessImplementationSafetyTotalWeight

Cost1.002.004.005.000.5012.50.32

Functionality0.501.002.003.000.206.700.17

Effectiveness0.250.501.004.000.332.480.06

Implementation0.200.330.251.000.171.950.05

Safety2.004.003.006.001.0016.00.40

39.631.00

Figure 3: Representation of Practicality Subcategories in a Pie Chart

Table 6: AHP Pairwise Comparison Chart to Determine Weighting of Physicality Sub-ObjectivesPhysicalitySizeAestheticsWeightTotalWeight

Size1.005.004.0010.00.60

Aesthetics0.201.000.251.450.09

Weight0.254.001.005.250.31

16.71.00

Figure 3: Representation of Physicality Subcategories in a Pie Chart

Table 7: Weighted Hierarchical Customer Needs List Obtained from Focus Groups and Individual Interviews 1. Interaction (0.64) 1.1 Feasibility (0.17) 1.2 Freedom (0.30) 1.3 Ease of Use (0.42) 1.4 User Input (0.11)

2. Practicality (0.24) 2.1 Cost (0.32) 2.2 Functionality (0.17) 2.3 Effectiveness (0.06) 2.4 Implementation (0.05) 2.5 Safety (0.40)

3. Physicality (0.12) 3.1 Size (0.60) 3.2 Aesthetics (0.09) 3.3 Weight (0.31)

3.0 Revised Problem Statement

From an early stage, Sentrality identified its market as the ever growing elderly population, especially seniors with dementia and those susceptible to failing, wandering, and losing track of medication schedules. The team found that as people grow older, they do not want to give up the autonomy of living on their own, yet families are hesitant to leave them without a caretaker. With the identification of this market, the focus of the project was limited down to the needs and lifestyle of this population. Utilizing the information collected by Sentrality from the customers, the initial problem statement was tailored to set a clear goal for the team. The revised objective for this project is to create an interconnected home system that efficiently allows the growing elderly population to live more independently by providing an easy to use, lightweight wearable product. During the customer needs assessment, many people voiced concerns about the high costs associated with assisted living. The team looked into the costs as well as the discomfort and distaste for living in an assisted living home. Additionally, the shortcoming of existing in home products were examined. This information in conjunction with the customer needs survey and the initial goals of the team allowed Sentrality to set out to create a product that would not only be a more cost effective way for the elderly to live safely in the home but would be easy to use and lightweight enough for it not to be a burden to the user.

4.0 External Search

Sentrality investigated existing technologies with purposes that vary from fitness tracking to emergency response communication to the techniques of wireless data transfer. Through thorough analysis of these products, Sentrality was able to identify the positive characteristics and drawbacks of each and implement those findings into the design of the new home healthcare system.

4.1 Literature Review

In order to establish justification for Sentralitys problem statement and purpose, a background investigation was conducted regarding social statistics, including evidence of an exponentially aging population and the prevalence of dementia cases. This information was primarily collected from government-conducted census results, the Population Reference Bureaus comprehensive 2011 Americas Aging Population report, and the Alzheimers Associations webpage. Most notable were the facts that 5 million people living in the United States have dementia and that 15.5 million caregivers provided an estimated 17.7 billion hours of unpaid care in 2013 (Alzheimers Facts). Additionally, the American Association for Justice revealed that 90% of U.S. nursing homes have staffing levels that are too low to provide adequate care (Nursing Home), giving us cause to develop a more effective home system that can bridge the transition to assisting living.

To determine the capabilities of wearable technologies today and to search for desirable functions that could be implemented into Sentralitys system, the Google search engine was employed to deliver results about existing products that include Life Alert, FitBit, AT&T Family Map, and CheckLight, later to be used for benchmarking purposes. The backbone of Sentrality is NFC technology, which will be used in the home for each component of the system, connecting the wearable device to the falling hotspot scanners to the door sensor checkpoint to the smart pillbox . In turn, this information will also be communicated via AT&Ts wireless network to caretakers with the Sentrality app.

Due to the centrality of Near Field Communication (NFC) technology in this home network, the concept is worth further explanation here. The following information has been collected from NearFieldCommunication.org (About Near Field) and HowStuffWorks (Chandler). While Bluetooth and Wi-Fi use radio transmissions for communication, NFC utilizes electromagnetic radio fields in this form of shorter-range contactless communication. Its strength lies in how fast and convenient it is to use, and it does not require the set up and installation process that Bluetooth and Wi-Fi do. Just as key is the fact that NFC technology is compatible with many kinds of devices. In addition, the fact that NFC is used in the realm of commercial payment processes is testimony to the fact that data transferred by NFC is secure.

A device utilizing NFC technology is known as a reader or active device, and it generates a radio frequency current that is able to communicate with another NFC-compatible device or NFC tag. In this manner, information can be both sent and received by both devices. A multitude of cell phones come with already integrated NFC capability, and NFC tags are cheap (typically 30 cents apiece when bought in bulk), efficient in its compact size, and easy to apply anywhere. NFC readers work at a range of about 4 inches from a tag, and this tag can transmit and store varying levels of information. Tags come in four types, with varying levels of storage space and working speed. The biggest and fastest Type 4 can store up to 32 KB of information and work at speeds of up to 424 Kbps. Anyone can buy blank NFC tags and write customized data to them, allowing them to each have special purposes and actions. The tags can also be encrypted so that the established data cannot be manipulated. NFC is a technology expected to grow, and companies like Google and PayPal have integrated its unique functions with success.

4.2 Patent Search

When designing a product, it is important to consider designs that have already been launched on the market. They may be under a patent. Sentrality did research on the technologies that were considered during the early stages of design, and then the results were formatted into an Art-Function Matrix. The technologies were compared to the different design functions, and if a patent existed, it was described in the column.

Table 8: Art-Function MatrixFunctionDoorWearableSensorsPill Box

Voice RecorderEP 1553561 A1

Family Calendar Notification and TrackingUS 8521138 B2US 8521138 B2US 8521138 B2

Voice to TextUS 8521138 B2

Compact GPS TrackerUS 6198431 B1

Emergency Alert Device with mobile phoneUS 8249547 B1

System for automatic fall detection for elderly peopleUS 8179268 B2

Communication system providing near field communication (NFC) transaction features and related methodsUS 0120254031 A1US 20120254031 A1US 20120254031 A1US 20120254031 A1

Automated prescription reminder, dispenser, and monitorWO 2006071669 A3

4.3 Benchmarking

Sentrality compared its innovative integrated NFC wristband to five other products that possess some of the functions that NFC wristband has. The five products are Life Alert medical alert system, Fitbit FLEX wireless activity and sleep wristband, AT&T Family Map, Reebok CHECKLIGHT head impact indicator, and MC10S seamless sensing. The five products chosen are all the leading products in their own areas. Reebok CHECKLIGHT head impact indicator is designed for contact sports, with multiple sensors inside a soft skullcap to capture head impact data and emit a flash of light when there is severe impact. Fitbit FLEX wireless activity and sleep wristband is a fitness tracking device that can be used to track steps, distance, and calories burned. It can also be used to track sleeping quality. MC10S seamless sensing is a flexible electronic skin patch that can monitor peoples key health indicators such as blood pressure and heart rate. It can transmit this real time information to the users doctor if the patch is connected to a phone which enables the doctor to treat or alert patients remotely. Life Alert medical alert system is a system that can provide help to those in emergency upon the push of a button on a simple digital necklace. AT&T Family Map is a service that use GPS to locate someone for the sake of his or her safety. Through comparing these five products, team Sentrality was able to obtain a complete view of the actual performance of these existing products and thus able to formulate the final design target. Each product was ranked on a five point scale as follows: 1- strongly disagree, 2- disagree, 3- neutral 4- agree, 5- strongly agree.Life Alert medical alert system: from $29.95 to $59.95 monthly MC10S seamless sensing still in research development, so price not availableAT&T family map: $9.99/monthReebok CHECKLIGHT head impact indicator: $149.99Fitbit FLEX wireless activity and sleep wristband; $99.95

Table 9: Benchmarking of Five Products Feature or performanceLife Alert FitBitAT&T Family MapReebok CHECKLIGHT head impact indicatorMC10seamless sensing

Comfort34445

Aesthetics35444

Easy to use55445

Cost24524

Safety 44445

Real time health conditions monitoring11125

Emergency alert/calling51311

Impact detector11141

Real time information transmission14525

Location tracking11511

Heart rate and activity level tracking15115

4.5 Design Target

Using the information researched and gained through the literature review, the competitor benchmarking, and the patent search, Sentrality was able to configure the goals for designing and pitching a new product. From the information gathered during the literature and patent search, it is clear that there are devices currently utilizing technology within Sentralitys conceptual generation process. It is important to note what technology is patented so Sentrality understands the legal limit when generating concepts. However, this external search also revealed that there is not currently a product on the market that acts to accomplish multiple tasks using the same technology. While Life Alert provides a means of emergency communication, it is reactionary and limited to only emergency situations. Similarly, FitBit monitors health and sleep information, but does not apply this information elsewhere. This gap in the market provided ideas for how Sentrality could improve and expand upon current technology.

5.0 Concept Generation Sentrality generated different concepts for the wearable aspect of the product design. The more technical aspects of the project are explained beneath the morphological chart. This figure explains the type of energy that could provide power to the wearable, the type of material it is consisted of, and the interface with which the user interacts with the device. 5.1 Concept Generation

Table 10: Morphological Chart EnergyMaterialSignal

Lithium Ion Battery

Elastomers

Buttons

___Rubber

Voice Activation

___Stainless Steel

___

A morphological chart is a good representation for the wearable part of this project. Because Sentrality encompasses more than just a stand-alone device and incorporates networked technologies from the home and Internet, not all generated concepts can be represented within the chart. However, in the chart above, the concepts that were generated for the wearable aspect of the project are on display. The networked and Internet of Things aspect that accompanies the wearable for each generated idea is not easily displayed in the chart, so to account for all facets of the project, Sentrality will provide a detailed description of how each generated idea works with a varied version of the wearable that can be generated in the Morphological Chart above.

Concept #1: From Figure 9: Lithium battery with the elastomer casing using buttons as an interface/signal with the user and appropriate responders.

Using NFC technology, the wearable will be able to interact with different objects/devices within the home. Integrating this technology allows for several different functions. These include:1. Two buttons available for calling on the wristband. The wristband functions as a cell phone without the elements that may be perceived as complex by an elderly individual.2. The device has audio capturing and input technology that is used to send daily reminders to the individual wearing the bracelet. This data is received and sent via Internet through an application on a tablet or phone.3. Any door leading to the exterior of the home prompts the user wearing NFC wristband to state where he or she intends to go. This is saved as voice-to-text data and sent to a family member.4. Falling hotspots indicated by research, such as the shower and stairs, are swipe spots for NFC wristbands. The user swipes the band before and after use, and after a specific amount of time, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) or family may be notified.5. The same technology can be applied to an oven or stove, simply reminding the user that the cooking device is currently on.6. The last functionality the device and network coincide with is a medication container. To ensure reminders, prescriptions and other medications will be built into the reminder category in the wristband. The pill container is digitally connected to the network and uses the data to lock all days of the week in which medication is not supposed to be taken. The case is able to detect when pills for the day have been taken and at what time, and this information can be relayed to a caretaker via smartphone app.

Concept #2: From Figure 9: Lithium battery with the rubber casing using buttons as an interface/signal with the user and appropriate responders.

Using AT&T Family Map technology, the wristband functions as cell phone without the complexity that accompanies such a device for an elderly individual. Family map technology is a tracking type of system. It expands upon the current market and allows for appropriate EMS or family to know the current location of potentially wandering seniors.

Concept #3: From Figure 9: Lithium battery with the stainless steel casing using voice activation as an interface/signal with the user and appropriate responders.

The wearable for this concept will incorporate fitness and health care. The wristband acts as a medium to collect vital data such as pulse, temperature, hours of sleep, quality of sleep, and even the number of steps taken during the day. All of this data can then be transferred to a database in which a primary care physician can have access or EMS in the case of an emergency. This information can be used by healthcare providers in tracking health status and in order to become aware of trends that may require a physical appointment to be scheduled.

Concept #4: This concept does not include a wearable.

Using Reebok Checklight technology, sensors will be installed into the floor. These devices measure the severity of an impact and can be used to determine if a fall warrants EMS or a call to a family member. The sensors placed into the floor are installed manually and are within the vicinity of falling hotspots, such as a shower or a staircase.

A black box model which shows what the inputs and outputs of the system are is shown in Figure 4. This design process was used by the team to simplify the concepts by, for a moment, disregarding the mechanisms behind these systems. This allows there to be a focus on the basics of the inputs and outputs while ignoring the complexities of the system. This process allowed Sentrality to shorten its long list of concepts and create a solid foundation for the rest of the design.

Figure 4. Black Box Model

6.0 Concept Selection

In order choose a concept after generating multiple concepts, Sentrality created a Pugh Chart to weight different categories against a product similar to the generated concepts that is already on the market. In this case, the datum is Life Alert. Each criteria for the datum is scored at zero, thus serving as a benchmark for other generated concepts. Each concept is then considered individually in each category and scored with either a +, -, or zero. The positive or negative scoring can be in any multiple, based on the situation and what score would be appropriate. When totaling the scores, the weight of each category is considered. The concept with the highest overall total is the most logical choice for the prototyping phase.

Table 11: Pugh Chart

As evidenced by the Pugh Chart above, the first generated concept has the most positive total. This design will be taken to the prototyping phase and be chosen as the final selection for the engineering design process.

7.0 Final Design

The following model of the Sentrality Home System wristband was developed using Solidworks, taking into consideration the customer needs and design parameters established with our analytical hierarchy process. Comfort was of utmost importance when creating the design for the wristband, which is intended to be worn at all times by the user. The band is made of Neoprene rubber, a flexible, durable elastomer material which is hypoallergenic and latex-free. The wristband will be available in multiple sizes; however, the quality of the bands being open at the bottom and the flexible material allow for some added mobility and stretch. The dimensions of the band are similar to those of the FitBit Flex, which has an unobtrusive size that the team wishes to emulate. The standard size of the Sentrality wristband will be 0.6 x 0.4 x 8.2 inches.

The interface of the wristband was designed with simplicity in mind. Although the device itself has complex interactions with other elements of the home system, interaction between the user and the wristband must be as simple to understand as possible in times of distress. A push of the red button will call emergency medical services in the case of a fall or in case of any other medical threat. A push of the white button sends an alert to a family member who can get in contact with the person wearing the band. Although the other mechanisms of the Sentrality Home System incorporate fall detection without the necessity of an initiative from the wristband, it was critical for the wristband to also include these secondary functions in case of an emergency in an untargeted region in the house.

On the same surface as the two emergency buttons are three LED light indicators that notify the user of the wristbands battery status. When the battery is new, all three of the lights remain off. When the battery loses a significant amount of power, each of the LEDs lights up red consecutively to indicate the necessity of changing the battery. The reason why the LEDs light up only when the battery life begins to falter is so that when the battery is in new status, any additional lights do not wake up the user when they wear the band to sleep at night. This system follows the principle of negative reinforcement; when the battery is replaced, the lights are turned off, therefore removing that insistent reminder.

The reason why the Sentrality wristband utilizes battery power rather than a charging station or by other means is because the first priority is to make sure that the wearable always stays on the wrist of the user in case of any kind of emergency. Keeping the band at a charging station at night could be a drastic disadvantage in the case of a medical emergency at night, and consideration of solar power was also rejected because of the users presence in the home and outside the range of direct sunlight. The team has incorporated a simple battery changing system that complements the role of the LED light reminder strategy.The battery to be used in the wearable device is a compact lithium CR2025 coin battery. Battery replacement was designed in such a way that the user can replace the battery without needing to remove the wristband. The use presses into the battery tray, and the tray ejects from the band, revealing a space for the lithium battery. The user puts the battery on the tray and presses it shut. This mechanism works the way a CD drive works on a laptop.SolidWorks models of the final design for the wristband are located in Appendix C.

7.1 Parts List and Bill of Materials

The following table takes a more in-depth look into the product itself. Using the Subtract and Operating Procedure, Sentrality determined the value of each component of the design. A yes in the SOP effect column indicates that the product would function normally if the component was removed from the design. A no indicates that the product would not be able to function as described if the component were to be removed. The subsequent columns allow for a partial dissection of the designed product, indicating component mass, material, manufacturing process, and the dimensions. These are all subjective to be applicable to specific component. The final column indicates the cost for the component, contributing to the overall device cost.

Table 12: Parts List and Bill of MaterialsPart#Part NameQTYSOP EffectFunctionMass

MaterialManufacturing ProcessDimensionsCost

1.NFC modules3noReads/writestransmitted data to network home; used on on door, oven, and pillbox0.74 ozSemi-soft fiber FR4IC Module Embedding onto the PVC sheet3.35 in x 2.05 in x .43in$30.00

2.Speech Voice to Text Digital Recorder1yesRecords and stores voice data1.9 ozinternal stereo, speech to text software microphone, memoryN/A5.31 in x 5.31 in x 1.39 in$115.00

3.NFC TagsSensors3noSendsset data.3 ozSemi-soft fiber FR4IC Module Embedding onto the PVC sheet1 in X 1in 0.25 in$1.20

4.Router1noAllows for the sharing of data between different network devices5.12 ozinternal smart antennasN/A1.39 in x 5.47 in x 5.5 in$30.00

5.AT&T Home InternetService1noProvides internet service in the homeN/AN/AN/AN/A$30.00/month

6.Smart Pillbox1yesOpens only when medication is appropriate to take9 ozpolyethylene plasticinjection molding8 in x 2.2 in x2.5 in$60.00

7.AT&T Family Plan1yesAllows for contact of user outside homeN/AN/AN/AN/A$120.00/month

8.Network Processing Hub1 no central computer which processes system dataN/ARAM memory, cpu, ethernet portcomponent assembly3.38 in x 2.12 in x 0.58 in$35.00

9.Wristband1NoConnects to user in order to utilize functions1.2 ozpolyethylene plasticinjection molding8.5 in$100.0

10.Lithium Ion Battery1NoPowers wristband0.225 ozlithiumN/A0.96 in x .2 in$3.00

7.2 Cost Comparison

Below are a few facts and figures that represent the current cost for senior living services. As evidenced by the tables, it is extremely expensive to pay for these amenities. One of Sentralitys goals is to greatly reduce the cost that is associated with senior care by implementing our home system.

Table 13: Senior Care CostsCostCare:

$205 per day or $6,235 per monthSemi-private room in a nursing home

$229 per day or $6,965 per monthPrivate room in a nursing home

$3,293 per month Care in an assisted living facility (for a one-bedroom unit)

$21 per hour Home health aide

$19 per hour

For homemaker services

$67 per dayServices in an adult day health care center

Table 14: Senior Care Costs in PennsylvaniaStateMinimum (per month)Median (per month)Maximum(per month)

Pennsylvania$1,000$3,175$7,800

According to the 2013 Cost of Care Survey conducted by Genworth Financial, assisted living showed the largest rate increase since 2012 among all categories of senior care, rising 4.55%. Residents of assisted living communities can typically expect a 3-5% annual increase in their base rate (Senior Homes).

Not only is care expensive, but the cost is on the rise. To combat this issue, Sentrality has optimized material and our product in order to minimize the cost of production and implementation.

As evidenced by the bill of materials, the cost for one month of service from Sentrality Home Systems including all initial costs and fees is $524.20. Recurring costs per month will be $153 per month. That is 85% less than the minimum price per month for Pennsylvania residents. Sentrality has succeeded in greatly reducing the cost for senior care, without sacrificing the comfort and safety of the user.

7.3 How does it work? Sentrality has identified the challenges of cognitive and physical deterioration associated with aging and mental illness. Through the design process, the team discovered the effectiveness of reminders in preventing an individual from putting themselves in danger and the efficiency of an interconnected home system. Although confronting many problems, the system is centered on Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. NFC tags are placed in strategic locations, each encoded with specific information, providing comprehensive information to a central home database. Tags would be placed in areas of high risk for falling in the home including the stairs and showers. In response to these threats, Sentrality has integrated NFC technology into a wristband worn by the user that provides a constant presence and outlet for help in case of emergency. Upon first encounter with the wristband, these tags are encoded with information to begin a timer and catalog location. With a second encounter, the timer is stopped and location is cataloged again. If the timer is not stopped, the database is programed to export a notification via text to a recipient of choice. The team has developed functions within the wearable wristband that have the capability of deterring an individual who is likely to wander from leaving the home. A NFC tag located on the doors of the house cause the database to recognize that the wearer is going to leave the house. The wristband sends the data encoded in the tag to the database which time stamps this interaction. Then the database transfers back a message to prompt the wearer with the verbal question Where are you headed? The wearer can respond directly into a small microphone in the wristband. The verbal response is recorded and stored in the central home system. Converted to text, this information is sent to an individual of choice. The interaction with the tag on the door also activates the AT&T Family Map technology stored on the wristband. So, when the user does leave the home, a ping - type signal function integrated with the existing Family Map technology will alert family members to location information in case they get lost. Another issue considered by the Sentrality team was that many elderly individuals, and those with dementia, take medications regularly, especially cholinesterase inhibitors, and it is crucial that this medicine be taken regularly and in the correct time intervals and doses. To facilitate this necessity, Sentrality has developed a specially-tailored pill box that is able to remind the user to take their medication and ensure that the medication is taken properly. The central home system is wired with a digital calendar, accessible online on an AT&T account. This calendar can be set up to include time to take medication, among other options such as meal times and special events. When the event time occurs, an audible notification will be emitted from the wristband and a light will be emitted from the pill box. Additionally, the smart pill box has an NFC tag associated with it. This tag hold the information about the timing of the medication that is to be taken. If the wristband is brought close to the box in the time frame allotted, the box will receive information about the time and unlock the correct compartment. If the time information does not match the time frame assigned form medication, the box will not open and a negative signal will be sent from the wristband to the central system. This system will identify the next time that medication can be taken and send a signal for the wristband to audible announce the time of next dosage. Incorporated within these three components of the Sentrality home system is thorough communication with the caregiver, who is able to receive intelligent system updates via their electronic devices using AT&Ts speedy and reliable network.

8.0 Conclusions

The Sentrality Home System is the first to integrate a wearable emergency device with other appliances and features in the home with which users come into contact daily. When designing for an older population, it was essential to follow the credo of simplicity, which hides underneath it the complex interactions and communications of a machine to machine system. The ability of the Sentrality Home System to have multiple functions without the user needing to worry about constant input makes the wearable device easy to adopt and accept after the initial home setup. This system addresses the unique forgetfulness concerns of people with dementia, but it can also be used for seniors in general, its functions being beneficial for any individual needing living assistance but without the cost of an assisted living facility.

References "About Near Field Communication." About Near Field Communication. NearFieldCommunication.org. Web. 16 Apr. 2014."Alzheimer's Facts and Figures." Alz.org. Alzheimer's Association. Web. 14 Apr. 2014.Chandler, Nathan. "What's an NFC Tag?" HowStuffWorks. Web. 16 Apr. 2014."Medications for Memory Loss." Alz.org. Alzheimer's Association. Web. 14 Apr. 2014."Nursing Home Statistics." American Association for Justice. Web. 16 Apr. 2014. Shelton, Sara. "Assisted Living Costs: Facts & Figures." SeniorHomes.com. Moseo Corp, n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2014.U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. "Costs of Care." - Long-Term Care Information. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2014.

Appendix A: Customer Needs Survey

1.) What is the largest problem seniors have living in the home?2.) How much would you be willing to pay for assisted living or an assisted living system? 3.) What do you consider to be a good size for wearable technology?4.) What aspects are most important to you in regards to wearable technology?5.) How simplistic does technology designed for seniors need to be? 6.) Are there any other aspects you would want a developer to consider when creating a home system?7.) Do you know/are you related to seniors who need assisted living?8.) How independent is this senior?

Appendix B: AHP Ranking Scale

ImportanceDefinitionExplanation

1Equal Importance Two activities contribute equally to the objective

2Weak or slight--

3Moderate importance Experience and judgement slightly favour one activity over another

4Moderate plus --

5Strong importanceExperience and judgement strongly favour one activity over another

6Strong plus--

7Very strong or demonstrated importance An activity is favoured very strongly over another; its dominance demonstrated in practice

8Very, very strong --

9Extreme importanceThe evidence favouring one activity over another is of the highest possible order of affirmation

Reciprocals If activity i has one of the above non-zero numbers assigned to it when compared with activity j, then j has the reciprocal value when compared with i

--

Table 15: AHP Ranking Scale

Appendix C: Final Design DrawingsC1.

Figure 5. SolidWorks model of Sentrality wristbandC2.

Figure 6. SolidWorks drawings of Sentrality wristband