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		Apple Computers Inc., Cupertino, California, invited design schools from all over the world to participate in its design competition under the theme of reintegrating communities using computational technologies. From the National Institute of Design, India, I alongwith two student teammates worked on the community of senior citizens in the city of Ahmedabad, India. As close-knit large families break up and give way to nuclear families in cities, increasing numbers of elderly people find themselves alone at home or in old age homes. We did extensive research and designed the pocket-sized device, interface and networking system “Mandala”, to reintegrate the community of senior citizens in Ahmedabad, India. We presented the design project "Mandala" at the Apple Computers Inc., California amidst other internationally reputed design schools. The ICSID (International Council of Society of Industrial Designers) and Du Pont, Inc., presented the Award of Excellence in Design from among 60 other participating schools, to "Mandala", in its annual competition based on the theme "humane village" at Toronto, Canada, 1997.
								India has 71 million people above the age of 60 and by 2020 it is expected to rise to 124 million. The problems of the urban aged are expected to be more severe than the rural aged.