Living-Lab Projects

SECURE AT HOME - LIVING LAB

Living lab — Secure at home is a VINNOVA funded research project (1.600 KSEK) exploring the possibilities with a living lab approach. The project primarily focuses on methods for user involvement in the innovation process. The context of the living lab is ICT services and products aimed at supporting and empowering elderly people.

The overall research question within this project is: In what way does user participation affects the innovation process in a Living Lab approach?

The results from the project will be divided into three categories:
1. Evaluation and development of methods for user participation in the innovation process.

2. Establish a long-lasting living lab at Halmstad University. To be able to do this, we need to: a) generate knowledge about suitable models and methods for a user centric innovation system,
b) bring together relevant and needed partners, c) establish a user database.

3. Support our partners development processes of new products and services aimed at empowering the elderly.

SeCURE AT HOME - SMART LOCKS

Secure at Home — Smart Locks is a VINNOVA funded project (1.500 KSEK) where two technology companies are cooperating with researchers and end-users in the development process of an IT-demonstrator. The idea to the demonstrator was generated by users in previous Living Lab activities. The IT-demonstrator aims to mitigate the problems connected to safety and security for elderly people living alone at home. Furthermore it will also provide enhanced communication possibilities between for example a caretaker, a caregiver and next of kin to the elderly.

The results from the project will be threefold:

1. The evaluation of the IT-demonstrator will provide solid results concerning what benefits and values the IT-demonstrator brings into this context.

2. The planned approach will enable the researchers to learn more about how user participation influences an IT-innovation process as well as the IT-innovation.

3. Furthermore, this approach will increase the companies competence regarding methods for user involvement in IT-innovation processes.

Social IT-PLATFORMS FOR ELDERLY

Social IT-platforms for elderly is a pilot study funded by PRODEA (30 KSEK) regarding the potential of using ICT to stimulate social activities among elderly.
This project involves a literature study and a series of workshops with elderly and LBS Science Park.