Transformative Innovation in the delivery of Assisted Living Products and Services (TIDAL)

TIDAL stands for Transformative Innovation in the Delivery of Assisted Living products and services.

TIDAL N + was an EPSRC funded Healthcare Technologies New Challenges Network Plus (EP/W000717/1) which launched in January 2022 and finished at the end of December 2024.

TIDAL N+ was a collaboration between UCL’s GDI Hub, Strathclyde, Salford, Nottingham Trent and Loughborough Universities led by Prof Cathy Holloway, Academic Director of GDI Hub and Professor at UCL. The research team included Prof Laurence Kenney (Salford University), Prof Richard Bibb (Nottingham Trent University), Prof Mikko Koria (Loughborough University) and Dr Arjan Buis (Strathclyde University). 

The need for more and better AT

The need for Assistive Technologies (AT) is massive, largely unmet and rising rapidly. It is estimated that by 2050 the number of people needing AT will have doubled from 1 billion to 2 billion. Only 10% of AT need is currently met and it is unclear how many individuals have AT that is well matched to their needs. Engineering and physical sciences research in AT has led to some major advances, but the cost of current devices remains too high and delivery of services frequently requires physical access to scarce, centralised, facilities, expert knowledge and skills.

The opportunity

The UK plays an increasingly important role in AT globally. The EPSRC funded CDT in Prosthetics & Orthotics is a global first for the sector; the AT2030 programme (www.at2030.org) led by GDI Hub has positioned the UK as a leader in the WHO Gate initiative, has mapped the technical and market challenges for AT globally and is trialling innovations. There is a growing international AT market which the UK can continue to lead - this market is estimated to be worth £110bn in China, and in the UK, is expected to grow from £2.5 billion to £6 billion by 2025.

Despite the volume of AT research, serious challenges remain in getting the right AT to the right people and supporting individuals to continue to use these technologies over the long term, without interruption, thereby addressing the disconnect between the high-end research and the daily reality of many people in need of fit-for-purpose AT.

The solution

Transformative innovation in the Delivery of Assisted Living products and services.

AIM

The aim of the project was to create novel, innovative solutions that will lead to better AT.

VISION

Innovative, sustainable and equitable AT, both physical and digital. 

PURPOSE

To improve the quality of assisted living technologies and hence the lives of the people who use them, their families, carers and communities. 

Responsible engineering

Responsible engineering is about combining sustainability and care of the planet with development of next generation AT. We need to reconsider how we develop assistive technologies and design services to reduce abandonment, waste, and carbon emissions, while at the same time increasing usability and affordability. How can we use design thinking and enable reuse, recycling and reprocessing of products and materials to achieve these goals?

DMS (Digital Design and Manufacturing Systems) and Physical Devices

DMS and Physical Devices is about investigating novel ways to exploit the potentials and advantages of digital design and manufacturing, sometimes referred to as the 4th industrial revolution or Industry 4.0.

Sensors, Data Science and Communication Aids

This theme is about how we can use ubiquitous sensing and data science to better inform the design, provision, and use of assistive technology devices such as hearing aids, sign-language interpretation and augmented and alternative communication (AAC) devices, and assisted living decision-making within healthcare.

The project set out to:

• Drive problem understanding

• Identify new research challenges

• Co-ordinate, inspire and support underpinning research leading to the development of technologies and services that harness advances in our thematic areas

The specific objectives were to:

1. Develop and sustain the TIDAL community: establishing the Network and bringing people together through workshops, seminars and Doctoral Colloquiums.
2. Map the innovation landscape, including analysis of barriers and drivers, and case studies of success: a series of short, focused, ‘rapid review’ research projects.
3. Initiate small research projects in each of our thematic areas: funding for 9 feasibility research projects of around £60k each for interdisciplinary teams with an excellent research hypothesis for solving a clear unmet need.
4. Education, knowledge sharing and dissemination: support the TIDAL community, share relevant research and outputs, and promote knowledge sharing through activities such as webinars, in person seminars and educational activities to raise awareness of TIDAL themes, disseminate our work and advance the aims of TIDAL N+

Objective 1: how we developed and sustained the TIDAL community

Objective 2: how we mapped the innovation landscape: TIDAL rapid research reviews

Objective 3: research that we funded: TIDAL feasibility projects

Objective 4: our education, knowledge-sharing and dissemination activities