Older Generation: Self-Powered IoTs, Home-Life and “Ageing Well”

Internet of Things (IoT) technology is found in many homes. These systems enable tasks to be done more effectively or efficiently – e.g., securing property, monitoring and adjusting resources, tracking behaviours for well-being, and so on. The system presented here was designed with older adults; the vast majority of home IoT systems marketed to this age group are not growth-oriented but rather decline-focused, monitoring and signalling well-being issues. In contrast to both “mainstream” and “older adult” IoT frameworks, then, we present a toolkit designed only to platform reflections, conversations and insights by occupants and visitors in regards to diverse user-defined meaningful home activities: hobbies, socialisation, fun, relaxation, and so on. Furthermore, mindful of the climate crisis and the battery recharge or replacement requirements in conventional IoT systems, the toolkit is predominantly self-powered. We detail the design process and home deployments, highlighting the value of alternative data presentations from the simplest to LLM-enabled.