Nappula

The practical running of a daycare centre consists of much more than just socializing with the children. 
The Nappula project rises from the needs and challenges of the City of Helsinki’s daycare organisation. The project aims to increase everyday leisure and safety: give more time 
for the children.

The Nappula project aims to test and research how to best utilize contactless technologies (such as RFID and NFC) in daycare centres. There are two key areas: presence monitoring and safety.

The hope is that new technologies will aid in presence monitoring and reporting, which are done manually at the moment. This brings more time for pedagogic work and time together with the children. On the other hand, the hope is that the 
project brings financial savings. Accurate 
data on presence makes it easier and faster to plan work shifts.

In regard to the safety, Nappula tests ways to enhance the security of the children and prevents children from possibly straying off. The need for better security is especially needed when going on trips outside the enclosed daycare premises.

Reaching results together

The project runs in two daycare centres in the Herttoniemi area. Altogether approximately thirty children are involved. The personnel of the centres, as well as parents of the children, play an integral part in the development. Cooperation 
is important, since the project is not about testing a finished product, but rather about developing the entire concept together with the users.

The project is carried out in stages. This makes it possible to take full advantage of all the experiences gathered along the way.

The project is conducted with the City of Helsinki Social Services Department. The daycare centres participating are Herttoniemi and Tuorinniemi.

Forum Virium Helsinki coordinates the project, being in charge of the planning and execution. The project is done in close co-operation with the City of Oulu that is working on a similar pilot. WhileOnTheMove, a Smart Urban Spaces project partner is in charge for the development of the application for monitoring presence. Other collaboration partners include Design agency Nordkapp.

Nappula will take place during 2010 and 2011. It is part of an extensive, EU-funded Smart Urban Spaces research project.

sushelsinki.wordpress.com/category/SUS
www.smarturbanspaces.org

Project Manager Kaisa Spilling,
tel. +358 40 744 8831,
kaisa.spilling(at)forumvirium.fi