More Autonomy and Quality of Life Through Smart Home Technologies: Sweet Home - Final Project Outcomes
Successful Completion of the Sweet Home Project!
We are delighted to announce the successful completion of the SWEET HOME project, which has pioneered the integration of smart home technologies to enhance the independence and quality of life of people with disabilities in their own homes.
SWEET HOME focused on equipping professionals, family members, and individuals with disabilities with the essential skills and knowledge to effectively use smart home technologies in their daily lives at home. The multilingual e-learning platform, developed with a customised range of training courses, was thoroughly tested in Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, and Greece. Participants gave positive feedback, with many reporting a great increase in knowledge of the wide range of possibilities and increased confidence in using technology to improve accessibility in the home and promote personal autonomy.
Project Research: A Basis for Target Group-Oriented Learning
The project began with an extensive field study (PR1) involving interviews, surveys, home observations and discussion groups with people with Down syndrome, visual impairments, muscular dystrophy, Alzheimer's disease, hearing impairments, kidney disease and cystic fibrosis, as well as their families and professionals. This analysis identified key problems and challenges for independent living, such as the lack of user-friendly modern household appliances for blind people. It highlighted the importance of tailored solutions for each disability type.
The results of these field studies were incorporated into our various PR1 research reports, which are aimed at the scientific community, the general public and industry representatives. These reports are freely available on the project website:
The results of the research were also directly incorporated into the development of multimedia training materials on the interactive SWEET HOME e-learning platform to ensure that they are tailored to the specific challenges of the target groups.
The Sweet Home E-learning Platform: Support for Professionals, Family Members and People With Disabilities
The SWEET HOME platform primarily offers our three courses: Introduction to, installation and use of smart home technologies. These courses are primarily designed to enable professionals – such as social workers, nurses and occupational therapists – to recommend, install and configure smart home solutions that improve the independence of people with disabilities in their own homes. However, the courses are also a valuable and helpful source of information for family members and, to some extent, for people with disabilities themselves.
Each course is divided into modules that focus on the seven disabilities considered in the project, so that the learning materials are tailored to the individual needs of people with Down syndrome, visual impairments, hearing impairments, muscular dystrophy, Alzheimer's disease and more.
Highlights from the Pilot Phase:
- Positive feedback: The results of the pilot phase showed a high level of satisfaction among professionals with the training materials. They found the content very appealing and applicable to their professional work.
- Smart Home Toolkits: Participants in the pilot phase also received free Smart Home Toolkits, which they could use to test some of the recommended application scenarios in their own four walls. Many felt inspired and found further areas of application!
- Improved digital skills: Professionals and caregivers reported improved digital skills and gained the confidence to use and recommend smart home technologies in their work.
A Platform for the Future: Continued Use and Expansion
The SWEET HOME platform is now available in multiple languages (English, German, Spanish, Italian, Greek, and French) and will continue to serve as an open resource for professionals and individuals interested in using smart home technology to improve independence and well-being in their own homes. Thanks to the continued commitment of the project partners, the platform will remain up-to-date and regularly enhanced.
Follow the link to our free e-learning platform on our project website today and set up a free user account!
Visit us!
For more information, visit our Website or follow us on our social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn and YouTube. Discover how smart home technology can transform lives and empower people with disabilities to gain greater autonomy!
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SWEET HOME – HOME, MY OWN SWEET (SMART) HOME
Project duration: 01.02.2022–31.07.2024
Project number: 2021-1-DE02-KA220-VET-00003305
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
