At IDEA lab, we connect health system planners, researchers, patients, and students to create innovative solutions:

Project Highlights

Paro: A Social Robot
Interaction with PARO, a robotic pet seal, can have positive psychological, physiological, and social effects on users. Our research aims to investigate how PARO can be used meaningfully and effectively in hospitals for patients with dementia and delirium.
Telepresence Robot Project
Social isolation is a significant issue in aged care settings such as long-term care (LTC) and hospitals and is associated with adverse outcomes such as reduced well-being and loneliness. Mobile Telepresence Robots such as the Double 3 robot, may help address social isolation and loneliness among older adults in LTC homes.
The Ventilator Project
Our project team is working together to discuss the development of an innovative 3D printed origami portable ventilator. This project is a collaboration between the UBC IDEA Lab, healthcare clinicians at the Vancouver General Hospital (VGH), and Dr. Woo Soo Kim’s Additive Manufacturing Lab at Simon Fraser University (SFU).

Presentations at Alzheimer Europe Conference
Our abstracts on staff’s attitude towards the use of telepresence robots in Canadian long-term care homes and staff resilience during the COVID outbreak have both been accepted to be presented at this year’s Alzheimer Europe Conference, to be held on November 29th!
AAIC Presentation
IDEA Lab members Dr. Lillian Hung, Sophie Yang, and Jim Mann will virtually present our work on the Happy2Eat project at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) on July 26-30. Please come join us to learn more about this project!
Northern Health Conference Presentation
Find out more about our Happy2Eat presentation at the 2021 Northern Health Conference, held June 9th and 10th, which focused on the compassion of long-term care staff throughout the pandemic!