As technology becomes an increasingly important part of life for people across the spectrum of age, a new mobile application being developed by researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison aims to add “augmented reality” to the tools for those seeking to age in place.
Augmented reality technology works by taking a real-time visual from something like a mobile device’s camera, scanning the area with estimated depth tracking, and inserting digital objects into a real-world image.
In more recent years, it has been used for gaming applications to make it appear like fantastical characters are appearing in a player’s physical space, or for shoppers on Amazon who want to see how a product might fit in their home.
But the university researchers are developing an app that can visualize someone’s home and make recommendations for certain renovations that would make it easier to remain in the home for longer.
The app, known as the Augmented Reality Home Assessment Tool (ARHAT), can offer an assessment of a dwelling to see what can be improved to make aging in place easier.
The app “takes users through a step-by-step process that measures relevant parts of a living space and offers suggestions to make it more accessible,” according to a blog post published by the institution. It is part of the “Home Is Where We Age” project and is funded by the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership and the UW-Madison Graduate School.
While using it, a user is prompted to select one of 14 limitations they may have — including visual impairment, mobility challenges or balance issues — and “then select the areas of the home to evaluate, such as the entryway, the kitchen and the bathroom,” the blog explained.
“Follow-up questions and prompts for measurements are tailored to the user’s answers, with the option to add notes and take photos.”
The app then employs a Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) scanner — a common feature on most modern smartphones — to measure a home’s elements and to visualize recommended changes or renovations.
“By superimposing visuals in the space as seen through the device’s camera, the tool will instantly let you know if something in the home is an accessibility barrier,” the post said.
The assessment then creates a detailed report listing identified barriers and potential issues with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance, and makes recommendations on how to best address them.
The research team’s work has suggested that using ARHAT is faster and more accurate than traditional, manual measurements.
“The fact that you can use your phone and do all of those measurements digitally versus manually will be such a time saver, and a cost saver for health care agencies and systems, because you’re going to be able to be more efficient,” said Beth Fields, an occupational therapist and associate professor in the kinesiology department at UW-Madison.
