Current technical, social, or ecological trends and topics reflect current needs and interests. They often trigger research calls and contracts. A critical analysis of what is currently being discussed and considered important by the public can generate new project ideas and open up new areas for technology development.
Does our project follow current trends or hot topics? What particular areas might need attention? (reflection aspect: relevance)
Rachuy et al. (2013) take up the issue of demographic change and elderly people’s desire to stay in their familiar surroundings. Many older people wear emergency call buttons. Starting from their observation that people take off emergency call buttons in the bathroom they developed a low-cost fall detection system based on ultrasonic and piezoelectric sensors.