The needs and abilities of people who are aging with progressive chronic conditions, such as MS, Parkinson's, ALS and Arthritis fluctuate from day to day. Yet, even when they have supportive AT, such as grab bars, to compensate for functional limitations, those features are fixed, only able to support some abilities, some of the time. The purpose of this project is to develop a SmartBathroom environment capable of assessing an individual's abilities at any point in time and spontaneously adjusting supportive environmental features to accommodate those abilities.
Generally, people spend a good amount of time in their home performing everyday activities like: sleeping, eating, cooking, relaxing, entertaining, and so on; thus, it comes as no surprise that the home plays a key role in our health, lifestyle, and well-being. The Aware Home Research Initiative (AHRI) at Georgia Institute of Technology is an interdisciplinary research endeavor aimed at addressing the fundamental technical, design, and social challenges for people in a home setting. Central to this research is the Aware Home, a 3-story, 5040 square foot facility designed to facilitate research, while providing an authentic home environment. Research domains include: 1. Health and Well-being, 2. Sustainability, 3. Entertainment, 4. Connected Living / Home Management.
