WebDA - Web-based Services for Older People And Caregivers
Forgetfulness is one of the first symptoms hinting at a beginning decline of mental performance. Usually this starts with forgetting important appointments or misplacing things. In the next step many people develop dementia having in consequence that managing everyday life becomes impossible.
The research project WebDA funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) aims at supporting seniors in the area of Bonn/Rhein-Sieg to live at home independently as long as possible also when memory skills decline. Advanced web-based services developed within WebDA will unburden memory performance, provide structure to peoples’ everyday life, counteract restlessness as well as help to maintain social participation through training of communication skills. Since people affected by dementia often rely on support by relatives as caregivers, WebDA also provides services that assist them in fulfilling their caring tasks. An information and service system that can be tailored to the individual needs of the relatives aims at prohibiting feelings of being unable to accomplish the work load.
To realize the WebDA services new advancements in the area of Ubiquitious Web Applications (Internet of Things) are implemented. By employing user and device profiles the services are adapted according the users’ preferences. Among others a service to find misplaced objects will be developed. For this purpose Radio Frequency Technology (RFID) will be installed allowing to locate misplaced objects in a senior-friendly manner with as few employment of technology as possible.
WebDA is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) under the research program “Age-appropriate Assisting Systems for a Healthy and Independent Life – AAL“. The project duration is 2010-05-01 to 2013-04-30.
More information is available in German language at: