2024 - Solar Game

As people get older, many of their acquaintances pass away, even partners and their children leave their homes to form a family of their own. The elderly then change their address to retirement homes where, until they finally leave this world, somebody else – a stranger – will tend to them. WHY ‘SOLAR GAMES’? Our goal is to bring people together – the nurses, residents and their families. In the midst of it all would be a table and organized workshops where the participants would make the game pieces themselves. Not only does it encourage interpersonal relationships but creativity and learning new skills that improve both physiological and psychological health. In this case, the inspiration would be derived from Vučedol-Zók culture that encompasses multiple countries from Central and Eastern Europe, but is closely tied with Slavonia, a region in Croatia. Board games are often found in care homes, as one of the most popular activities that seniors enjoy. Our proposal offers a lot more options – it would stop monotonous passing of time, but would become a new, exciting experience each time it’s used. HOW DOES IT WORK? The table consists of a solar panel, a touch screen and a few compartments for board game pieces. During the day or when it’s not in use, the solar panels accumulate electric energy and store it in the batteries hidden in the middle of the table. It’s often difficult to visit the elderly because of strict rules and protocols. So, except for displaying different boards, the monitor can also be used to organize online meetings with people from other nursing homes across the globe. This way, the establishment becomes a livelier place. The rotation of the table enables its users to view the monitor at eye level. The chain that binds two main parts of the table dictates the angle of it. Horizontal position of the game table is marked by two differently colored chain loops.