What needs to be done to help elderly people stay active, healthy and independent?We addressed this question when we participated in the AAL Hackathon “Hack for Ageing Well” on September 25 and 26 in St. Gallen, Switzerland. Together with seven other teams, we spent two days (and a very short night) developing creative ideas for age-appropriate AAL solutions. During our Hackathon premiere, we developed, among other things, the cross-generation project “Permanent Memories” as well as the “Social Data” assistance platform. Both hacks impressed the jury, and we managed to secure first and second place.

As a next step, the most promising ideas were quickly tested using prototypes. Within the shortest possible time, we kneaded, folded and assembled models that helped us assess which ideas have the potential to be successful in St. Gallen.

Via a web app, the grandchildren can send digital photos to their grandparents, who can then print the pictures automatically at their homes as tangible picture postcards.
In order to visualize the idea, we not only developed the web app but also a corresponding printer. Any memories sent via the app are also collected on a web platform that serves the entire family as a “memory database”. The idea and the prototype convinced the jury of experts: “Permanent Memories” came in first, which meant that we qualified to present the idea in two sessions at the “AAL Forum” convention, which took place at the same time.