Empowering Independence
Aura represents a groundbreaking step in home health care technology. This AI-powered medication system is specifically engineered to revolutionize the daily lives of individuals with dementia, as well as the elderly living independently. Equipped with the intelligent AI assistant, named Aura, the device ensures timely and accurate medication dispensing. However, Aura’s capabilities extend far beyond managing prescriptions. It actively engages with users through daily check-ins, providing a comforting voice and answering queries related to their routines and well-being. Aura also facilitates seamless connection with family members, fostering a sense of community and belonging. By offering support with daily activities, Aura assists elderly individuals in maintaining their autonomy, whether they reside in their own home or a care facility.
User Testing
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Speech Interface
The initial phase targeted evaluating conversations between dementia patients and a customized ChatGPT AI. We assessed the AI's capability to clearly communicate medication instructions, engage with check-in questions, and facilitate natural daily companionship. The focus was on the AI's communication effectiveness, accuracy in support and information provision, and its companionship quality.
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User Interface
We refined our user interface by introducing an embodied character for patient interaction. This step focused on evaluating the UI's usability and effectiveness, ensuring intuitive navigation and meaningful engagement with the AI. Our aim was to assess the interface's design, feedback mechanisms, and the overall user experience with the character. The Importance was also to create a User Interface that isn’t distracting to the user.
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Physical Prototype
Our testing concluded with evaluating the physical prototype, focusing on its stability, ease of pill retrieval, and the optimal size for user comfort and practicality. The goal was to ensure ease of use, ergonomic design, and user satisfaction with the device's physical interaction in a real-world context. Additionally we tested how our users react to the shape of Aura and what they are feeling when seeing it.
Design
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Aura
Aura's shape draws inspiration from classic desk clocks and jukeboxes, giving a sense of familiarity. This is complemented by an organic design along the sides, which discreetly houses the speakers and microphones. Together, these elements give Aura a lifelike presence, further accentuated by its user interface representation.
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Aura Pin
In addition to the main Aura station, we've developed a companion drone. This adaptable device attaches to clothing with high tech Velcro, allowing users to place it wherever they find most convenient. The drone ensures that Aura's assistance is always at hand, ready to answer questions, provide comfort, or guide the user back to the main station.
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Exhibition
The exhibition of Aura, a pill dispenser with integrated AI, is pivotal for showcasing its innovative approach to elderly care, particularly for those with dementia. The opportunity for users to interact with Aura and its AI at the exhibition and experiencing Aura's functionality firsthand allowed users to appreciate its intuitive operation and the emotional support it provides.
Aura Paper.
While Developing Aura we had the opportunity to write our first Publication about the Project. This was really interesting moving away from the perspective of a Designer and focusing on the scientific part of the Project. The Paper was published as part of a Journal by HMKW.
Introducing Aura.
An Introduction Video I made for my university project Aura.
