Anti-Tumble Slippers for the Elderly

UX · PRODUCT DESIGN · INTERACTION DESIGN

Anti-tumble slippers suitable for the elderly living alone. Predict obstacles and slippery objects, and give tips to the elderly. The system connects community centers and relatives through web pages and apps, giving health data feedback and accident notifications.

I conducted in-depth interviews and daily routine tracking with elderly individuals living alone, creating user journey maps and empathy maps to identify unmet needs in fall prevention. Based on these insights, I defined design priorities, evaluated feasibility, and developed prototypes of an app and device that provide predictive monitoring and proactive interventions. The design not only enhances the home safety of elderly living alone but also fosters community collaboration, building a more reliable support network for senior care.

SKILLSUser Interview
Journey Mapping
Empathy Mapping
Concept Development
Prototyping

TIMELINE
Dec 2019 - Jan 2020

BACKGROUND

China’s aging population is rapidly increasing, with the proportion of elderly living alone rising from 22% in 2000 to 65.5% in 2020. This group faces emotional loneliness and safety risks, making it a critical challenge for human-centered design.

KEY FINDINGS

LONELINESS
53.8% of elderly living alone feel lonely (25.1% always, 28.7% occasionally), often leading to anxiety and self-isolation.

ACCIDENT RISKS
41.2% of incidents go unnoticed. Major causes: falls (27.3%), sudden illness (12.4%), fire (1.5%).

CURRENT SOLUTIONS INADEQUATE

Nannies → costly, inconsistent quality.
Community centers → limited staff, not real-time.
Alarm devices → difficult in emergencies, cannot predict risks.

PAIN POINTS ACROSS DAILY JOURNEY

Elderly daily life is filled with small but cumulative risks: mobility challenges, unsafe environments (slippery floors, oil stains), lack of immediate help.

Emotional trajectory moves from Mild → Afraid → Weary → Irritable → Self-denial → Lonely, showing a progressive decline across the day.

KEY ISSUES
Health & safety risks, lack of medical support, social indifference, emotional loneliness.

FROM EMPATHY TO CONCEPT

Through empathy mapping and brainstorming, the research identified the pain points of elderly people living alone (loneliness, insecurity, lack of medical knowledge) and the opportunity points (safety monitoring, assistance services, social support).

Based on importance and feasibility evaluation, and guided by Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, the study ultimately focused on three specific design directions:

Safety
Social connection
Basic physiological support

CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

The design process explored multiple concepts—from smart slippers to interactive projections and wearable accessories—evaluated by security, usability, and acceptance. Through iteration, the smart slipper emerged as the most feasible solution, supported by 3D-printed sensors, rubber materials, and integrated technology.

APP & SERVICE SYSTEM

The app system integrates behavior tracking, health monitoring, and emergency alerts into a clear user flow, enabling real-time safety and care management for elderly users.

USER FLOW - HOW IT WORKS

Unlike traditional fall-detection devices that only react after an accident, this smart slipper provides early warnings of potential risks, preventing danger before it happens while still offering emergency alerts as backup.

PREVENTION BEFORE ACCIDENT
Detects water, obstacles, or slippery floors in advance, reminding the elderly before they fall.

REAL - TIME FEEDBACK
Provides vibration and light alerts directly through the slipper, ensuring immediate awareness.

EMERGENCY BACKUP
If an accident still occurs, the system automatically alerts community or ambulance centers.

DUAL PROTECTION
Combines proactive risk prevention with post-accident rescue, offering comprehensive safety.

RETROSPECTIVE

TRUST & ADOPTION
Some older adults may perceive smart devices as surveillance or unnecessary trouble, leading to reluctance or refusal to use them consistently.

USAGE BLIND SPOT
Monitoring only works when the shoes are worn, creating blind spots when the elderly are barefoot, lying down, or active at night.

COMMUNITY INTEGRATION
Linking alarms to community or medical institutions requires strong partnerships, but resources vary across regions, making cooperation difficult to standardize.

PRIVACY CONCERNS
Health data collection and sharing may raise worries about personal privacy being compromised, reducing willingness to adopt the system.

PHYSIOLOGICAL FACTORS
Reduced sensory perception and slower response may cause older users to miss or ignore subtle vibration or light alerts.

BEHAVIORAL HABITS
Forgetting to charge the device, reluctance to maintain it, or taking shoes off when inconvenient can disrupt continuous monitoring.

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