Ways to help working parents care for children and their elderly parents plus help anyone be more productive as an employee or in their personal lives.

1. #1. Employee OnStar
Able to call an expert to walk you though a task.
Good for new employees,
working parents & children,
care takers of elderly.

2. Problem
● Adult child want to return to work but must
provide care for elderly parent
● Not enough time for work & providing care
● Stress for new employee & elderly parent

3. Solution
● Simple smart device
app allows remote
assistance
– 2 way Voice
– 2 way Video
Help

4. Example
● Elderly parent needs
help using a camera.
● Instructions are too
small to read.
● Calls care taker for
help.
● Explains problem

5. Visual & Verbal Help
● Care taker can see
what is needed
● Displays visual &
verbal help

6. Benefits
● Care taker less stressed
● Care taker able to return to work
● Elderly parent gets better, faster help
● More free time
● Helps
– New employee with job tasks
– Parents help children
– Care givers

7. Test method
● Simulated using Skype & screen sharing

8. Results
● Seeing and hearing
helped understanding
● Hands free stand
● Able to do same thing
in a “voice mail”
version
● Technophobia of
elderly
● Will it interrupt
employee at work?

9. Future improvements
● Use a tablet with big buttons for elderly &
children
● Ask employers about providing help to new
employees
● Try with children

10. #2 Personal Kanban
Kanban is used by businesses to avoid wasted
time & materials and help all employees stay
organized & productive.
The same technique can help students, parents,
and new employees in their personal lives.

11. Inventory
● Not having the
materials needed to
finish a task causes:
– Wasted time
– Frustration
– Poor quality

12. Supplies where needed
● One part of Kanban is
to have adequate
supplies where they
will be used

13. Kanban Cards
● One way to assure
there is adequate
supply is Kanban cards
● The cards list
– Item
– Minimum Quantity
– Store to get more
– Amount to restock

14. Internal & External Stores
● Kanban cards can be
used to create
shopping lists.
● When you need to
buy more take the
card then replace it
when restocked.

15. Benefits of Kanban Cards
● Saves time
● Prevents shortages
● Prevents errors

16. Instructions
● Another aspect of having what you need where
you need it when you need it is instructions
● Simple instructions are made for tasks
– Anyone can properly do it
● All tools are stored where needed

17. Instructions
1 2 3 4

18. Test Method
● Made Kanban cards for a few household tasks
● Made instructions for a few household tasks
– Caused some shortages to test actual use
● Did a 1 week experiment with a family

19. Results
● Restocking cards very
helpful
● Liked instructions near
phone for emergencies
● Getting family to use
system
● Cooking
● Laundry
● School work
● Car maintenance
● Preparing for next day
● Which tasks to
document?

20. Future Improvements
● Apply to more tasks
● Involve family in choosing tasks