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GR1: Project Proposal and Analysis

Who We Are

  • Brian Chang
  • Sophia Cui
  • Viksit Arora
  • Sarah Han

Problem Statement

“One of the greatest challenges or losses that we face as older adults, frankly, is not about our health, but it’s actually about our social network deteriorating on us, because our friends get sick, our spouse passes away, friends pass away, or we move,” - Joseph F. Coughlin, director of the AgeLab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  • Members of the elderly community, who suffer from a diminishing social circle, would like to participate and contribute to society and connect with others
  • Technology for connecting seniors is too cryptic to use and not designed to meet their needs

Observations & Interviews

Members of the elderly community, suffer from a diminishing social circle, and would like to participate and contribute to society and connect with others.  One elder who recently moved into a nursing home was concerned about keeping in touch with his previous community and reminisces about his neighbors with whom he use to regularly chat with.  He misses being in the immediate vicinity of his grandchildren and tending to his garden.  

Another elder is a widower who misses the companionship of her deceased spouse.  She wishes she had someone to talk to about her loss and wants to find others who can relate.  She is also having trouble learning to live alone again.  

One elder was an retired doctor who misses the fulfillment of his job and now longs for a way to continue to help others.  He misses the social connections afforded to him through his profession and misses interacting with patients.  He struggles to redefine himself in this new retired state.  

User Class

General user class consists of seniors (65+), who are retired and desire to meaningfully connect with others and contribute to society. Some specific users include:

  • Aged widowers
  • Seniors with a diminishing social circle
  • Elderlies desiring to contribute to society
  • Old folks displaced from their original community
  • Lonely nursing home residents

User Needs and Goals

  • Find trusted peers with similar problems for support and advice
  • Establish meaningful relationships in a community
  • Keep from boredom and retain mental agility
  • Desire to be useful to others
  • Shine on a new stage
  • Discover new hobbies
  • Make new friends
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