In Pilot 1 in Norway we followed three boys with Down syndrome and their families. They tested the different POSEIDON solutions over a period of four weeks. During that period we visited each family around 5-8 times, and we had phone and e-mail contact with them between the visits.
Learning the solutions
The first visit to the families was about explaining the parents how the different solutions worked and in the second visit the parents explained this to their sons. They also got the chance to try it out together with us. In that way we could explain and help them underway the first time they used the solutions.
Questionnaires, interviews and observations
We also conducted questionnaires and interviews to understand better how they experienced the first meeting with the different solutions and we used observation sheets to analyse afterwards how they interacted with the solutions. In that way we could easier learn how to improve the systems.
Diary forms
The parents got diary forms to fill out every time they used one of the systems when we were not around. That gave us useful feedback about how the solutions worked and what we needed to improve to next time.
Navigation routes
Before every visit the parents made a new personalised navigation route by using the Home Navigation app and their sons (users) practiced this route at home by using the same app. When we visited the families the users walked the navigation route by using the mobile app for users with Down syndrome. We made observations in order to see how they managed to follow the navigation route with the personalised instructions from their parents.
Calendar reminders
The parents used the web for carers to make personalised calendar events with instructions (by using images, text and sound recordings) to help their sons with daily activities.
Money Handling
Every time we visited the different families we brought the interactive tables so that the users could practice money handling.
Feedback from the families
All in all, the families liked the vision of the POSEIDON project and the ideas behind the POSEIDON solutions. The users with Down syndrome enjoyed using smartphones, PC and interactive table – especially when they mastered the tasks. The parents could imagine that the solutions can help people with Down’s syndrome to become more independent. However, for reaching this aim, the systems needed further development. They were eager to see how the results of the systems will be at the end of the project.
Read more about the pilot in Deliverable D6.3 Results of Pilot 1 and extended Pilot