AI to support older people

Age UK North Tyneside Challenges University Students

Age UK North Tyneside has challenged interactive media design students at Northumbria University to come up with life enhancing ideas for older people.

Students aged in their 20’s studying Interactive Media Design and Animation will bring a younger person’s perspective to the positive aspects of ageing. Students has been tasked with delivering a project on the ways that artificial intelligence (AI) might support a 100 year life span ensuring a happy, meaningful and productive life.

Age UK North Tyneside’s mission is to ‘Help people make more of life’ and that will without doubt include the use of more technology in the future.

Professor Mark Blythe leading on the project for Northumbria University said “We are delighted to have input from Age UK North Tyneside and be working closely with older people. The charity will provide an excellent sounding board for students who can interface with customers, volunteers and staff to share potential life improving ideas for an ageing population".

Student Awards

The Student Design Awards, sponsored by Philips attracts a first prize of £2000, the judging panel may decide on more than one winner and will allocate the award accordingly.
Dawn McNally, Chief Executive said "Age UK North Tyneside is all about supporting people to make more of life and by working with our excellent higher education establishments in the region this will become a reality. We hope to cultivate a long term relationship with Northumbria University to support their students to consider later life in a positive mind set”.

The students met this week with Customer Service and Marketing Manager Sonya Roe to explore ideas and embark on their research with input from both EveryDay Care and Age UK North Tyneside. They were challenged to produce idea boards to present to an audience made up of volunteers and staff from Age UK North Tyneside in coming weeks.