Situated buttons: A User Interface to Support Users with Complex Needs and Promote Independent Living

We present situated buttons, a highly personalized, affordable system to support users with complex needs such as people with learning disabilities and autism, dementia, etc., and promote independent living. The system addresses concerns many users with mental health issues have with accessing assistive services and technologies as a result of their health condition. The solution consists of a wireless push button that via a simple click can launch a video on a device such as a smartphone or a tablet. A trusted person like a family member or carer can appear in the video to illustrate how to complete certain activities of interest to the end-user. The button can be placed anywhere where support is needed, e.g. on a washing machine or at the kitchen table. We conducted workshops and online discussions with social and healthcare organizations, potential end-users (people with learning disabilities and older adults), and their carers. The results show that our solution has the potential to support individuals with complex needs, improve independence, and increase their quality of life, by giving simple access to helpful instructions in their daily life.