Robots at your Service Comes to Amsterdam as Central Event of European Robotics Week 2016. Amsterdam will be the health-tech centre of Europe when European Robotics Week – Europe’s largest robot event – will have its central event – Robots at Your Service – a free event, comes to the Marine Base in Amsterdam, Netherlands From November 18-22, 2016. 

THE CHALLENGE

Active & Healthy Ageing is one of the greatest social and economic challenges of the 21st century. 

The European Commission has identified active and healthy ageing as a major societal challenge common to all European countries.

According to the 2015 Ageing Report from the European Commission, the number of Europeans over 65 will double in the next 50 years, and the number of over-80-year olds will almost triple. While the costs for professional care are on the rise, the dependency ratio will increase over the next decades.

Needless to say, caring for those seniors – physically, emotionally and mentally – will be of paramount importance in order to tackle future society issues and exploit revenues deriving from the silver economy.

THE PURPOSE

The purpose of the event is to address the challenges that arise from the growing ageing population through the use of Internet of Things (IoT), Robotics & Artificial Intelligence (AI). To create (ro)bot solutions that prolong independent living and improve the care for older adults at home.

Think of solutions to increase the decline in cognition (i.e. memory, attention, perception, decision making), reducing loneliness/isolation, prolong independent living or generally to increase the quality of home care. 

"How can we enable [the chosen persona] to live independently at home for as long as possible and fulfilling their needs, wishes and aspirations?"

Participants may consider the following ways of addressing the issue at hand

1. Personalised prevention strategies
2. Promoting activity (both physical and mental)
3. Strengthening social bonds
4. Addressing insomnia and stress related issues
5. Remote health management
6. Making healthcare services more convenient, less complicated, less stressful
7. Medication adherence

THE HACKER PLAYGROUND

The Hacker Playground will consist of the following areas:

• The Hacker Space where the participants design, code and develop
• The Testing Ground / Scenario-based elderly rooms equipped with sensors, devices, robots, and where elderly are included to ensure that we end up with elderly-centric solutions.
• 3D modelling & printing areas where the hackers can rapidly create physical prototypes  

Through smart use of the IoT and Robots (IoRT), sensors will no longer only be passive informants, but play an active role in activating the Robots where they are present, which could lead to spaces that are sensitive and responsive to the living environment and health state of the elderly (Ambient Intelligent Care Homes).

WHO SHOULD JOIN?

The Playground is open to all the hackers who believe their skill is valuable in tackling this challenge! 

When we say 'hackers' we mean makers, coders, developers, designers, data scientists, engineers, researchers, students, neuroscientists, architects, entrepreneurs, caretakers, or ayone who believes they have the skills to come up with solutions to alleviate the challanges arising from the increasing ageing population. Are we describing you? Then you should apply for this event!

** Tickets are limited so be quick to secure your ticket and make sure that you that you enter your submission! **

THE SCHEDULE

Please see the Event page

$1,500 in prizes

Get yourself a ticket here: http://robotsatyourservice.com/tickets/

• Persona-driven
  The concept should be tailored to one of the persona provided by us at the beginning of the event.
• Connected
  Technology should be internet connected, have in-built data and transmission capability, make notifications or exchange information and demonstrate the potential to work with a variety of other products.
• Quality and Added Value
  Demonstrate how the concept will effectively meet older people’s aspirations. The concept should show that end users would be able to adopt it on a daily basis, even without high levels of digital literacy.
• Innovation
  Demonstrate a new or adaptive way of solving a problem or introducing a completely new approach to solving the problem. Or significantly different from solutions already available. New, aspirational, exciting, but practical.
• Usability / Ease of use
  Indicates both effectiveness and ease-of-use
• Prototype
  a working example of the idea or demonstrate the ability to develop one, would be a great bonus!