Francesca Tosi

Population around Europe is getting older; many older adults would like to live independently in their homes as long as possible. Personalized integrated care plan strategies envisage the possibility of home care services for those people at risk of frailty. In this context, the robot could empower people to live independently. In the presented work, 20 frail older adults were asked to live with a telepresence robot (i.e., Double Robot), through which the formal caregiver could remotely visit them. A total of 284 days of field-test trial was evaluated with a proposed framework that explores several domains, including system reliability, maintainability, system acceptance, user attitude, and user experiences. At the end of the experimentation, the system was used for 4241 mins accomplishing 151 telepresence services, and the results underline optimal system reliability and high user experience. Based on the collected feedback, the proposed telepresence robot can be exploited into integrated care services. The evaluation of a system should envisage a complex, multidisciplinary, and holistic approach that may influence the success or failure of the robot's purpose if not properly analyzed during the evaluation and design phase.

Introduction: Parkinson's Disease is a severe, debilitating neurodegenerative pathology characterized by a progressive and chronic disorder, mainly concerning - although not exclusively - motor symptoms such as bradykinesia, rigidity and tremor. These symptoms cause difficulties in movement and, more generally, in daily life, also negatively affecting the mental health as well as the quality of life of People with Parkinson (PwP) and their caregivers. The prolonged confinement imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic has got worse the difficulties of movement that PwP experience within their homes, highlighting how important it is to design domestic spaces suited to their needs in order to reduce the burden of their suffering and improve their quality of life. Scope: The aim of the research programme Home Care Design for Parkinson’s Disease, project supported by Fondazione Zoè, is the definition of guidelines for the design and implementation of an inclusive and accessible home environment for PwP. Methodology: 25 PwP (with varying gender, age and levels of symptomatology) and 18 informal and formal caregivers (with varying gender, age and experience) of Tuscany region, were involved in the study. Due to Covid-19 pandemic, the research methodology was modified. To receive qualitative data, 2 method of Human-Centred Design (HCD) approach (Stanton, 2014) were used. Consequently: semi-structured interview and virtual observation of the home via videocall (Skype and Zoom platform). Results: The results of the evaluation phase have been useful for the definition of common intervention areas. Overall, the major problems emerged as follows: (i) vertical and horizontal paths, (ii) spaces dimensions and (iii) assistive devices. Conclusion: The contribution of this article is to describe the application of methods of the HCD approach, in assessing the needs and defining the technical and technological requirements for the home environment to ben more inclusive and less invasive for PwP and their caregivers

Older people would like to live independently for as long as possible. However, seniors may experience cognitive and physical problems which could have a great impact on their autonomy and their quality of life. Over the last years, several national and European projects were founded to design, develop, and test reliable solutions to support the life of the older population. In this context, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), such as robots, could represent a valid solution to empower older people. Inspired by the current trends, this paper presents the design and the development of a telepresence and monitoring service to foster active aging. The proposed approach is based on a human-centered design which leads to the definitions of the services through the focus groups and the survey conducted within social cooperatives. Based on these results, a cloud system composed of environmental sensors and a telepresence robot was developed and tested in private homes and residential facilities without the presence of any external support. The results underline a positive attitude of the senior citizens such as the caregivers involved in the services. The telepresence robot demonstrates high reliability and it was used for more than 100 calls during the experimenta- tion phase. During this experience, we collected and grouped multidisciplinary guidelines and feedbacks which we report in this paper as guidelines for future researchers.

Nowadays society, increasingly oriented towards actions to enhance its urban contexts, tries to promote better lifestyles and increasingly inclusive social practices. The work proposed in this article presents the results of the research project: "Guidelines for the review of the park project aimed at social inclusion, sustainability and usability of the cultural and sporting activities of the Carpugnane area", funded by the Municipality of Calenzano and conducted by the Ergonomics & Design Laboratory of the University of Florence. The research used the methodological tools of Ergonomics for Design, Human-Centered Design and Inclusive Design and the collected data allowed the design of a people-centred park, suitable for citizens of all ages, which is sustainable and inclusive. The approach, adopted in this work, has provided an effective strategy in allowing the assessment and design of urban environments, ensuring safety, psycho-physical well-being and healthy lifestyles for all, taking into account human diversity and social inclusion factors.

This volume brings together the results of the Home Care Design for Parkinson's Disease research programme, which aimed to define good design practices to enhance the independence and quality of life of people with Parkinson's disease in the home environment. The programme, promoted and funded by the Zoé Foundation, was carried out by a multidisciplinary working group involving the University of Florence for design, the University of Turin for neurology, the Catholic University of Milan for sociology, and the Federal University of Minas Gerais (Brazil) for industrial production engineering – in collaboration with the Italian Parkinson's Confederation and the Limpe-Dismov Academy. The volume provides an introductory overview of Parkinson's disease from a medical and sociological perspective, analysing the main and most frequent areas of discomfort and/or difficulty experienced by people with Parkinson's disease in their daily lives and relationships.

The design approach is based on the principles of Design for Inclusion and on the theoretical and methodological approach of Human-Centred Design which, through the direct involvement of users, has made it possible to focus attention on the specific needs and expectations of people with Parkinson's disease and their families and to define the various design solutions.