Interview with "senior" FLL coach...

The Dragonbotz team interviewed their robotics coach, Ms. Veryl Greene, who is a senior citizen and probably one of the oldest FLL coaches in NYC.  They discovered that Ms. Greene has a variety of interests, hobbies, and difficulties in her daily life.

For example, Ms. Greene likes to dance hip-hop and salsa. She is a nature photographer and camper. She is also likes to build with LEGO and she is not a shame to admit that she is an AFOLR (Adult Fan Of LEGO & Robotics). She is especially talented in constructing robots out of LEGO Mindstorms kit.

However, Ms. Greene has certain problems doing some of her favorite activities. She has an eye condition, Macular Degeneration of the retina. Eventually, she may not be able to drive to go camping by herself. She has trouble seeing how to fit tiny LEGO elements together and configuring NXT-G programming for her robots.

Besides this, Ms. Greene needs to take medicine pills and vitamins daily, but sometimes forgets to take them; like a lot of other seniors. She is retired from full time teaching with the NYC DOE, but she keeps very busy with her pets, still does some teaching, and of course coaching, so she needs a reminder of some sort to ensure that she takes her medicine and vitamins. So, Ms. Greene would like a reminder robot to tell her to take her pills, also what day it is, when her favorite television show is about to come on, and more. She likes technology, computers and iPads, because it helps her to continue to read and write. Most of all, Ms. Greene would like to have companion like the robot in the movie “Robot and Frank.” She says, “That would be Way Cool!”

By P.P.

Senior Citizen Statistics

Did you Know?


Senior citizens account for 6% of the world's population.
Source: http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB5058/index1.html


40.3 million people in the United States were 65 or older as of April 2010.
Source: http://www.disabled-world.com/disability/statistics/older-americans.php

There were 3.4 million seniors (65 and over) in poverty in 2009.
Source: http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/cb11-ff08.html

After age 65, an American has more than 70 percent chance of needing help with the activities of daily living like dressing, bathing, and using the bathroom.
Source: http://www.seniorcaremarketer.com/seniorcare_statistics.htm

800 seniors have home attendants in New York.
Source: http://www.nyfsc.org/services/support_homeattend.html

30% of family caregivers caring for seniors are themselves aged 65 or over; another 15% are between the ages of 45 to 54.
Source: http://www.seniorcaremarketer.com/seniorcare_statistics.htm

About 1/3 of the elder population over the age of 65 falls each year and risks of falls increases proportionately with age. At 80 years, over half of seniors fall annually.
Source: http://www.learnnottofall.com/content/fall-facts/how-often.jsp

Falls are the leading cause of death due to injury among the elderly 87% of all fractures in the elderly are due to falls.
Source: http://www.learnnottofall.com/content/fall-facts/how-often.jsp

Getting help after an immobilizing fall improves the chance of survival by 80% and increases the likelihood of a return to independent living.
Source: http://www.learnnottofall.com/content/fall-facts/how-often.jsp

Up to 40% of the people who have a stroke have a serious fall within the next year.
Source: http://www.learnnottofall.com/content/fall-facts/how-often.jsp

A whopping 90% of seniors have developed hypertension or are at risk of developing hypertension. This type of blood pressure can lead to complications such as heart attack and heart failure.
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Health-Statistics-for-Senior-Citizens&id=5374263

There are 7,000-10,000 individuals who turn 65 every day. By 2030, every 1 in 5 drivers will be a senior citizen

Source: http://www.kcet.org/shows/yourturntocare/talk/facts-about-seniors-driving.html

8.3 million seniors face the threat of hunger every day in America.

Source: http://www.mowaa.org/page.aspx?pid=281

Movie Review: Robot and Frank

         The Dragonbotz robotics team recently went to watch a movie called “Robot & Frank.” “Robot & Frank” is a movie based on a senior who is given a robot to assist him. Frank, the senior, is against the move in the beginning, but then realizes that it was all he ever needed. This movie really depicts the everyday struggle seniors have and how help is always needed. This movie revolutionizes a house nurse into a life sized robot. You never know. Maybe, in a few years, robots will help us all! Don’t forget go and see “Robot and Frank”!

by C.J.C.

2012 Maker Faire

The 2012 Maker Faire at the Hall of Science, on September 30, was a huge success for the FIRST LEGO League team the Dragonbotz. We were there to talk about the FIRST and the FLL new season.


Our robot was designed to 
complete a mission from the 2012-13 FLL Senior Solutions competition. In this case, the problem was that a Lego chair was separated into two parts; one was on the field, and one was in base. Our robot went onto the field to drag the piece of the chair on the field into base. In base, members connected the two chair parts. Then finally, the robot pushed the completed chair back onto the field and positioned it under the table. This successful mission was a result of the team thinking, building, programming, and testing. 
Alongside showcasing our robot, we also spent some time presenting our Dragonbotz posterboard. Everyone had a great time.

by S.C.

Welcome!

Welcome to our blog site! 


We are a FLL, FIRST LEGO League robotics team. Our team name is DragonbotZ, and we are participating in the 2012-2013 "Senior Solutions" FIRST robotics competition. 

During the next few months, we will be brainstorming, building, and researching  to ultimately create a robot that will compete in the Robot Design and Game Performance. Will we also be doing research into to the needs of our senior citizens and hope to develop a solution that can improve the lives of senior citizens. As of now, we are finding out what problems are facing our senior citizens. Feel free to post a comment of any thoughts you might have about senior citizens. Thank you.