Clingy

What is aging? The Clingy team describes it as the inability to do what one could in their youth. In Korea, more than half of the elderly population is at risk of losing mobility, and in America, a third of elderly individuals will find themselves in a rural nursing home at some point in their lives.

Take, for example, a mother and daughter. The elderly mother is no longer able to engage in her daily routines, and the daughter can’t create new daily memories with her mother. They long for simple experiences, like taking a walk together, but this is no longer possible.

This is where Clingy, "the presence delegator," comes in. Clingy consists of a headgear and a puppet. Beyond just conveying vision, this monkey-shaped device delegates important “touch actions” through four vibration motors. By pressing the top area of the headgear, it can simulate actions like holding hands, hugging, and gentle poking. The patting interaction is triggered by scrubbing the side of the headgear.

With Clingy, users can connect emotionally through these interactions, providing comfort and a sense of presence. When decisions about where to go are needed, this device offers an efficient and intimate channel for communication.