Visual Project Summary
Leaving your home can be a very difficult process, but having dementia can make the process even worse. Not remembering current events, where you are or who is around you can make an individual feel very isolated, alone and anxious. Having something to remind you of home can make you feel more relaxed, comfortable and increase your happiness.
For my project, I decided to create a Hygge space for a senior with dementia that is living in a retirement home. This senior enjoyed watching the cruise ships and other boats go by from her living room window everyday in the spring and summer months . She was diagnosed with dementia that got progressively worse and had to leave her home and move into a nursing home. She could no longer enjoy watching the ships go by from her window. This program was created to allow her to regain that sense of enjoyment and comfort that she had when we had her own home.
For my project, I decided to create a Hygge space for a senior with dementia that is living in a retirement home. This senior enjoyed watching the cruise ships and other boats go by from her living room window everyday in the spring and summer months . She was diagnosed with dementia that got progressively worse and had to leave her home and move into a nursing home. She could no longer enjoy watching the ships go by from her window. This program was created to allow her to regain that sense of enjoyment and comfort that she had when we had her own home.
Using blender, I created candles of different sizes to use in order to add a hygge atmosphere to the room.
I also created a three pane window that my candles could sit on. This represented her window that she used to look out of at home and would allow her to interact with her memories through the window. Most windows in retirement homes do not look out onto such a beautiful place. Allowing her to feel like she is still at home with the view and the candles brings a sense of calming and coziness that helps to reduce anxiety and loneliness.
When the senior walks into her room the candles start to turn on. They turn on two at a time as the user gets closer and closer to the window. This helps to draw her attention to the window and makes her want to get even close to turn more candles on. I also added a sailboat that constantly moves in front of the window in order to help draw her attention to the window.
Lifting her left arm above her head starts a cruise ship moving from left to right in the window view.
Lifting both of her arms above her head starts a third cruise ship moving from right to left in the window view.
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Lifting her right arm above her head starts a cruise ship moving from right to left in the window view.
Once a ship has left the view from the window, doing any of these movements will restart the ship moving from the start.
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If she moves away from the window, the candle lights will go out and the ships will continue to move until she is out of view.
Things I learnt while completing this project:
1. Unity modeling, lighting and scripting
2. Blender modeling (making a window and candles)
3. Kinect gesture recognition and application
1. Unity modeling, lighting and scripting
2. Blender modeling (making a window and candles)
3. Kinect gesture recognition and application
Concept and Development Sketches
Concept Sketches
My concept sketches were based on trying to think of ideas relating to coziness, memories, togetherness and creating things with your hands. While creating my mood board on pinterest, these were the main ideas I came across that related to having a hygge experience. While researching what hygge is, I discovered that it seemed to be different for everyone. It seemed to be based on everyone's own state of mind and interests. Therefore, I found it hard to come up with a more generalized idea that could fit to everyone.
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Refinement Sketches
I decided to refine my sketches based on my 6th idea, which incorporated candles and yoga. Based on that concept sketch, I decided to add more features that incorporated togetherness and making memories with the people you are most close to. I also wanted to incorporate the cold winter nights that Hygge seemed to be centered around.
Detailed Sketches
After creating refinement sketches of my concept idea, I realized that there wasn't much of a story to those sketches. I wanted to refine the sketches even more, but came to a road block. I then decided to think of a design problem that I could solve with my system. That's when I came up with the idea of creating a hygge space for seniors who have dementia and are living in a retirement or nursing home. A lot of time these individuals have a hard time remembering recent events, people and places, but have a very good memory of the past. I thought creating a hygge space that reminds them of home would be a perfect way to reduce anxiety and keep them happy.
Interaction Sketches
I wanted to make sure I got the interaction right for this project, so I decided to create additional sketches to help me visualize how my interactions would work before implementing them.
Implemented Software Application
Source Code [516 MB]
Runnable Executable [108 KB]
Instructions:
To run the .exe file, click Runnable Executable and download the Project3EXE.zip file.
After downloading, please read the README_EXE file for instructions on running the executable.
To access the source code, click on Source Code and download the CPSC581Project3.zip file.
After downloading, please read the README_SOURCECODE file for instructions on viewing the source code.
Runnable Executable [108 KB]
Instructions:
To run the .exe file, click Runnable Executable and download the Project3EXE.zip file.
After downloading, please read the README_EXE file for instructions on running the executable.
To access the source code, click on Source Code and download the CPSC581Project3.zip file.
After downloading, please read the README_SOURCECODE file for instructions on viewing the source code.
Video of Final System
Credits
Flame Material: https://www.assetstore.unity3d.com/en/#!/content/73777
Blender Candles: Created by Me
Blender Window: Created by Me
Background Image Created by Me
Cruise Ship Images: Created by Me
Sailboat Image: https://pixabay.com/en/sailing-bay-san-francisco-409486/
Water: Unity Standard Assets. Assets -> Import Package -> Environment
I Followed this tutorial for measuring distance from the kinect:
https://pterneas.com/2016/08/11/measuring-distances-kinect/
I modified this code to move the ships:
if( timerIsRunning )
{
transform.position += Vector3.down * speed * Time.deltaTime;
}
from this website:
https://gamedev.stackexchange.com/questions/85853/move-the-object-in-y-axis-when-the-timer-increases
Blender Candles: Created by Me
Blender Window: Created by Me
Background Image Created by Me
Cruise Ship Images: Created by Me
Sailboat Image: https://pixabay.com/en/sailing-bay-san-francisco-409486/
Water: Unity Standard Assets. Assets -> Import Package -> Environment
I Followed this tutorial for measuring distance from the kinect:
https://pterneas.com/2016/08/11/measuring-distances-kinect/
I modified this code to move the ships:
if( timerIsRunning )
{
transform.position += Vector3.down * speed * Time.deltaTime;
}
from this website:
https://gamedev.stackexchange.com/questions/85853/move-the-object-in-y-axis-when-the-timer-increases