University of Wisconsin–Madison Researchers Developing App to Access Homes for Aging-in-Place

University of Wisconsin–Madison researchers are using augmented reality to make the homes of older adults safer. The research team is developing the Augmented Reality Home Assessment Tool, or ARHAT. Currently in prototype form, it takes users through a step-by-step process that measures relevant parts of a living space and offers suggestions to make it more accessible.

Specifically, an ARHAT user is prompted to choose from 14 common functional limitations and then select the areas of the home to evaluate. Follow-up questions and prompts for measurements are tailored to the user’s answers, with the option to add notes and take photos. At the end of the assessment, a detailed report including a list of measured barriers, relevant Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines and suggested design solutions is generated.

The project team is led by Design Studies Department Chair and professor Jung-hye Shin; Design Studies professor Kevin Ponto, also a faculty member in the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery’s virtual environments group; and Beth Fields, an occupational therapist and associate professor in the kinesiology department. Read the full story here.