Development of a Support System for Remote Nursing considering Quality of Life (QOL)

本学年，我们就远程护理支援系统进行了以下研究和开发：该系统使我们能够了解老年人的日常行为节奏，并不断检测不规则的日常节奏和不可预见的事件，例如摔倒在地板上。我们建造了一个远程控制的机器人，它可以在发生上述异常事件时检查远处老年人的面部表情和呼吸。该机器人可以通过按压老人背部的压电元件来测量呼吸状态。我们阐述了扶手的作用，这有助于老人在家中独自走动。首先，我们开发了平行扶手和垂直扶手，可以设置在任何高度和位置。然后，通过对老年人的步行姿势和肢体肌电值的测量，对设置在走廊、起居室和入口处的沿着扶手进行分析比较，开发出利用虚拟现实（VR）的工作区设计辅助系统。该系统旨在帮助老年人进行日常活动，包括自己吃饭和睡觉。我们还应用虚拟现实开发了一个系统，该系统可以体验到在厨房做饭和保持床整洁等动作，以及评估老年人工作姿势的方法。上述系统使得能够确定适合于每个老年人的身体功能的厨房水槽和家具的尺寸和布局。

This academic year we conducted the following studies and development on a remote nursing support system.We developed a monitoring system for the aged. The system enabled us to learn a daily behavioral rhythm of the aged and to continually detect an irregular daily rhythm and unforeseen happenings, such as falling to the floor. We constructed a remote-controlled robot, which can check on the facial expression and breathing of the aged in the distance in the event of said unusual happenings. This robot can measure the state of breathing by pressing piezoelectric elements on the backs of the aged.We elucidated the effects of handrails, which help the aged move around at home single-handedly. First, we developed a parallel handrail and a vertical handrail, which can be set at any height and location. Then we made an analysis and a comparison of the handrails set along the passage, in the living room and at the entrance by the gauge of the walking postures of the aged and electromyographic values of their limbs.We developed a system for supporting the design of a work area, making use of virtual reality (VR). The system aims to help the aged carry out daily activities including having meals and going to bed, on their own. We also applied virtual reality for developing a system, which enables motions, such as cooking at the kitchen and keeping a bed neat, to be experienced, as well as a method of evaluating the working postures of the aged. The abovementioned system made it possible to determine the dimension and layout of a kitchen sink and furniture appropriate for the physical functions of each aged person.