The main innovation potential of CAPTAIN lays in its multidisciplinary approach which leverages on a variety of state of the art technologies or methodologies such as artificial intelligence, projective interfaces, augmented reality, 3D sensing, deep learning, context and emotion detection, to name but a few.
CAPTAIN goes beyond usual participatory design and requirement elicitation techniques by applying agile requirements elicitation and development methodologies through participatory design throughout the lifecycle process of the development. The CAPTAIN Stakeholders’ community, consisting of those who will actively use CAPTAIN (older adults and their caregivers), and those who can give suggestions (service providers, nursing home management and patient associations), has been the only source of requirements throughout the project’s lifecycle, playing an important and substantial role of co-designers and co-creators. CAPTAIN's methodology (combination of Design Thinking, Lean Startup and a modified SCRUM agile framework) was specially designed to support the peculiarities of distributed and multidisciplinary teams. As this approach goes beyond the state of the art in similar projects, an evaluation tool has been designed to provide the value of this approach when applied in the H2020 funded CAPTAIN project.
Another domain where CAPTAIN brought innovation is the minimum intrusiveness of the technology. The main objective of CAPTAIN was to leave the environment as a cozy place for the older adults, without intervening too much, unless a coaching activity was required. Aligned with this, no wearable devices have been used, not even tablets or smartphones. The main monitoring device of CAPTAIN is a depth sensor (the CAPTAIN Satellite Detector) as well as the CAPTAIN Satellite Projector equipped with a camera, converting the indoor environment into a large tangible interface. The interaction with the system is delivered through projection systems (both of them designed and manufactured within the project's lifecycle).
The way the CAPTAIN system has been designed enabled its evolution into a system that the targeted user group will like to use. Focusing on nutrition, physical exercise and socialization, the CAPTAIN system is designed to support not only vulnerable older adults but also healthy ones. The consortium has managed to generate acceptance and trust, support the user-centered approach and the involvement of beneficiaries in its testing, even during a difficult pandemic emergence, which creates the conditions for up-taking the project results through exploitation of its achievements.
