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Age-Friendly Technologies: Interaction Design with and for Older People

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Digital Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 January 2023) | Viewed by 37049

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Mary Lou Maher

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Guest Editor

Department of Software and Information Systems, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
Interests: interaction design; cognitive studies of user experience; qualitative and quantitative methodologies

Dr. Lina Lee

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Guest Editor

Department of Software and Information Systems, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
Interests: human-computer interaction (HCI); aging and technology; embodied cognition; empirical study

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue has a focus on research that connects older adults’ wellness and quality of life with issues in designing technology with and for older adults. Challenges the aging population are facing include social isolation, digital exclusion, lack of digital skills, lack of physical and cognitive ability, demand for aging at home, and independent living. Recently, the use of interactive technology is essential for the senior community to connect with the outside world. The challenge for designers of interactive technology is that some older adults are not interested in technology yet find themselves confronted with an increasingly digital world. This Special Issue considers senior-centered design for interaction to facilitate a positive and engaging user experience to improve the overall quality of life by promoting older adults’ wellbeing and satisfaction. This interdisciplinary Special Issue aims to bring together a selection of high-quality papers (e.g., case studies, insightful reviews, theoretical and critical perspectives, and viewpoint articles) that contribute to technology design for older adults by addressing topics including, but not limited to:

Human-computer interaction
User-centered design
Ethnographic study
Empirical study
User engagement
Gerontechnology
Encouraging creativity and self esteem with technology
How technology affects social engagement
Educating aging adults on new technologies
Technologies that assist aging adults with managing their healthcare
Home health and wellness
Smart home systems

Prof. Dr. Mary Lou Maher
Dr. Lina Lee
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)
Human-centered design (HCD)
Aging and technology
Wellbeing
User engagement
Long-term Engagement
Positive Aging, Aging in Place (AIP)

Published Papers (13 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 1187 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Designing Mobile Health Applications to Support Walking for Older Adults

by Yasmin Felberbaum, Joel Lanir and Patrice L. Weiss

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(4), 3611; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043611 - 17 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1592

Abstract

Physical activity is extremely important at an older age and has major benefits. There is a range of applications that help maintain physical activity. However, their adoption among older adults is still limited. The purpose of the study is to explore the key aspects of the design of mobile applications that support walking for older adults. We conducted a field study with older adults, aged 69–79 years, using a technology probe (a mobile application developed as an early prototype) with the purpose of eliciting requirements for mobile health applications. We interviewed the participants during and after the study period, asking them about their motivation for walking, usage of the application, and overall preferences when using such technologies. The findings suggest that mobile applications that support walking should address a range of walking variables, support a long-term learning process, and enable the user to take control and responsibility for the walk. In addition, we provide design guidelines concerning the motivation for walking and the data visualization that would make technology adoption easier. The findings from this study can be used to inform the design of more usable products for older users. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Age-Friendly Technologies: Interaction Design with and for Older People)

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19 pages, 931 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ageing and Keeping Pace with Technology: A Grounded Theory Study on Blind Adults’ Experiences of Adapting to New Technologies

by Alina Betlej, Jan Gondek and Natalia Gondek

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(3), 1876; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20031876 - 19 Jan 2023

Viewed by 1756

Abstract

This study investigated blind adults’ experiences of adapting to digital technologies. The authors’ focus was on how they have been experiencing changes implied by digital transformation, which provided the starting point for assessing their prospects and/or limitations for self-development through new technologies in the future. The second point concerned designing technologies for blind adults by adding questions about their specific needs and expectations for digital device designers. To develop these main issues, we planned a qualitative grounded theory study in which 16 blind adults were individually interviewed. It aimed to provide rich descriptions of a selected phenomenon. The research analysis was conducted by using the sociological and philosophical methods, which provided insights into the social assessment of digital development for ageing by blind adults. The data analysis revealed five distinct categories that captured these experiences and expectations: (1) wishing to learn—“Digital technology gives me privacy and independence”; (2) having to learn—“If you do not have new digital devices or do not know how to use them, you end up on the margins of society”; (3) being socially excluded—“Designers of new technologies do not think about blind adults”; (4) fearing to stop understanding—“Technological development is too rapid, it is difficult to be on time while ageing”; and (5) waiting for the changes—“I hope my situation will change in the future”. Together, these five categories form the basis of the core category “Ageing and keeping pace with technology”, which encapsulates the initial adaptation experiences of the interviewees to the technological development. The findings indicate that the blind adults experienced digital devices as tools for improving their well-being, but they also saw them as posing the threat of being socially excluded because of new technology designs and accessibility barriers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Age-Friendly Technologies: Interaction Design with and for Older People)

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17 pages, 665 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Predicting Older Adults’ Mobile Payment Adoption: An Extended TAM Model

by Cheng-Chia Yang, Shang-Yu Yang and Yu-Chia Chang

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(2), 1391; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20021391 - 12 Jan 2023

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3362

Abstract

This study adopted an advanced model, combining the technology acceptance model, the theory of reasoned action, the diffusion of innovations, trust, and five aspects of perceived risk, to measure the factors that influence the behavioral intentions of older adults to use mobile payments. A total of 365 questionnaires were collected from older adults aged 55 years or older from 20 community care sites in central Taiwan. Partial least-squares structural equation modeling was used to test our research model. The results showed that attitude was the main determinant of M-payment in older adults. Moreover, increasing the usefulness, ease of use, and observability of M-payment helped older adults improve their attitudes toward M-payment, thereby increasing their intention to use it. Trust had a significant effect on the usefulness and ease of use of M-payment, while the main factors affecting trust were only performance and financial risks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Age-Friendly Technologies: Interaction Design with and for Older People)

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15 pages, 3074 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Co-Creating ICT Risk Strategies with Older Australians: A Workshop Model

by Jacob Sheahan, Larissa Hjorth, Bernardo Figueiredo, Diane M. Martin, Mike Reid, Torgeir Aleti and Mark Buschgens

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(1), 52; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20010052 - 21 Dec 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1652

Abstract

As digital inclusion becomes a growing indicator of wellbeing in later life, the ability to understand older adults’ preferences for information and communication technologies (ICTs) and develop strategies to support their digital literacy is critical. The barriers older adults face include their perceived ICT risks and capacity to learn. Complexities, including ICT environmental stressors and societal norms, may require concerted engagement with older adults to achieve higher digital literacy competencies. This article describes the results of a series of co-design workshops to develop strategies for increased ICT competencies and reduced perceived risks among older adults. Engaging older Australians in three in-person workshops (each workshop consisting of 15 people), this study adapted the “Scenario Personarrative Method” to illustrate the experiences of people with technology and rich pictures of the strategies seniors employ. Through the enrichment of low-to-high-digital-literacy personas and mapping workshop participant responses to several scenarios, the workshops contextualized the different opportunities and barriers seniors may face, offering a useful approach toward collaborative strategy development. We argued that in using co-designed persona methods, scholars can develop more nuance in generating ICT risk strategies that are built with and for older adults. By allowing risks to be contextualized through this approach, we illustrated the novelty of adapting the Scenario Personarrative Method to provide insights into perceived barriers and to build skills, motivations, and strategies toward enhancing digital literacy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Age-Friendly Technologies: Interaction Design with and for Older People)

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24 pages, 3763 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Global Research Trends on Smart Homes for Older Adults: Bibliometric and Scientometric Analyses

by Yi-Kyung Hong, Ze-Yu Wang and Ji Young Cho

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(22), 14821; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192214821 - 10 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2481

Abstract

A growing aging population across the world signifies the importance of smart homes equipped with appropriate technology for the safety and health of older adults. Well-designed smart homes can increase the desire of older adults’ aging-in-place and bring economic benefits to the country by reducing budgets for care providers. To obtain a structural overview and provide significant insights into the characteristics of smart homes for older adults, this study conducted bibliometric and scientometric analyses. We used the Web of Science Core Collection database, searching for keywords “smart home*”, “home automation”, or “domotics” with terms related to older adults, resulting in a total of 1408 documents. VOSviewer software was used to map and visualize the documents. The results showed that research on smart homes for older adults began appearing from 1997 and increased steadily, peaking from 2015. The main research areas were technical engineering fields, such as computer science and engineering, telecommunications with minimal research in humanities, social sciences, and design, indicating the necessity to expand research toward a human-centered perspective, age-friendly technology, and convergence study. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Age-Friendly Technologies: Interaction Design with and for Older People)

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16 pages, 2298 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Design Framework of Medical Wayfinding Signs for the Elderly: Based on the Situational Cognitive Commonness

by Jianfeng Wu, Xinyu Liu, Chunfu Lu, Shihan Yu, Dongfang Jiao, Xinyu Ye and Yuqing Zhu

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(21), 13885; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192113885 - 25 Oct 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2107

Abstract

Older people in China have a poor understanding of hospital signage. To address this problem, in this study, we combined the theories of situated cognition and cognitive commonness in order to introduce the three main factors that affect the generation of situational cognitive commonness: composition of the situation, familiarity, and concreteness. We used these theories to construct a methodological framework for the design of geriatric hospital wayfinding signs that were based on situational cognitive commonness. The design of nine healthcare signs for Chinese national standards were used as examples in the study. First, users who were familiar with medical scenarios were asked to draw concrete cognitive conception graphics for the purposes of individual wayfinding targets from both physical and social situations. Next, we coded and grouped the generated graphics based on their situational features in order to extract groups of representative common graphics. Finally, we reorganized the common graphics and developed concrete designs, which were tested by the judgment test. The wayfinding signs designed according to the methodological framework of this study effectively improved the understanding of hospital signage among older Chinese people. This study took geriatric hospital wayfinding signs as the examples to provide a feasible theoretical basis and research reference for symbol design. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Age-Friendly Technologies: Interaction Design with and for Older People)

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13 pages, 1583 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How Do Older Adults Process Icons in Visual Search Tasks? The Combined Effects of Icon Type and Cognitive Aging

by Jianfeng Wu, Dongfang Jiao, Chunfu Lu, Chengmin Li, Xiaofang Huang and Suzan Weng

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(8), 4525; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19084525 - 8 Apr 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2704

Abstract

Considering the differences in cognitive aging among older adults, this study examined how older adults process different types of graphic icons in visual search tasks. Fifty-four medical-related icons, including flat icons (FIs), FIs plus text (FIs + text), skeuomorphic icons (SIs), and SIs plus text (SIs + text), were created. The participants were divided into two groups—cognitively normal (CN) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI)—to complete a visual search task. According to the eye-tracking data of the participants, the search performance of the CN group was significantly better than that of the MCI group. In terms of icon types, all older adults performed better at searching for the combinations of icon and text, especially SI + text, which showed the smallest difference in the search performance between the MCI and CN groups. All older adults performed poorly when searching for FIs. The findings of this study considered the differences in cognitive aging among older adults and provided a useful reference for the icon and interface design of graphical user interfaces. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Age-Friendly Technologies: Interaction Design with and for Older People)

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17 pages, 369 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Designing Robots for Elderly from the Perspective of Potential End-Users: A Sociological Approach

by Alina Betlej

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(6), 3630; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19063630 - 18 Mar 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2335

Abstract

The proposed research aims to investigate the problem of age-friendly robot designing from the perspective of the potential end-users. The initial objectives addressed three main issues: how the elderly envision robots and their knowledge on technological development; age-friendly robot design; the elderly’s involvement in the robot design process. The empirical material analyzed are the results of in-depth interviews with people aged 70+. A sociological approach is proposed, based mainly on criticism of writing and the analytical and synthetic method. The theoretical framework is the perspective of an ageing society and technogerontology. The sociological approach enables better understanding of the sensitive problems of age-friendly robot designing from the individual point of view. It is concluded with a conceptual discussion on designing robots for the elderly. In particular, it is revealed how these issues could help in shaping social consensus about age-friendly technologies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Age-Friendly Technologies: Interaction Design with and for Older People)

15 pages, 5254 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effects of Smart Home Interface Touch Button Design Features on Performance among Young and Senior Users

by Na Yu, Ziwei Ouyang, Hehe Wang, Da Tao and Liang Jing

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(4), 2391; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19042391 - 18 Feb 2022

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3346

Abstract

Touch technology-based smart homes have become increasingly prevalent, as they can help people with independent daily life, especially for the elderly. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of button features (i.e., button size, graphics/text ratio, and icon style) in smart home interfaces on user performance across two age groups. Participants in the young group (n = 15) and senior group (n = 15) completed a clicking task. Button size ranged from 10 mm to 25 mm with 5 mm increments. The three levels of graphics/text ratio were 3:1, 1:1, and 1:3, while icon style was either flat or skeuomorphic. Results showed that button size and graphics/text ratio had significant effects on user performance in both groups, whereas icon style only had an effect in the senior group. It was observed that the elderly were fond of buttons with a larger size of 20 mm with larger texts and skeuomorphic icons, whereas the young preferred a button size of 15 mm with equal-sized graphics and text. These results may help to improve the accessibility and usability of smart home interface design. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Age-Friendly Technologies: Interaction Design with and for Older People)

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20 pages, 1930 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Experiential Value of Technologies: A Qualitative Study with Older Adults

by Shital Desai, Colleen McGrath, Heather McNeil, Heidi Sveistrup, Josephine McMurray and Arlene Astell

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(4), 2235; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19042235 - 16 Feb 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2745

Abstract

This study investigated the experiences of older adults with technologies they own and determined how they value them. Thirty-seven older adults participated in a Show and Tell co-creation session at a one-day workshop. Participants described why they loved or abandoned technologies they own. Their responses were recorded and analysed using Atlas.ti 22.0.0. Seven main themes representing experiential value in older adults emerged from the analysis: Convenience, Economy, Learning and Support, Currency of Technology, Privacy and Security, Emotions and Identity aspects of their experiences. This qualitative study has resulted in implications to design that recommends (a) Design for product ecosystems with technologies and services well-coordinated and synchronized to facilitate use of the technology (b) Create awareness and information on privacy and security issues and technical language associated with it (c) Make anti-virus and anti-phishing software accessible to older population (d) Design technologies as tools that allow older adults to identify themselves in the community and family (e) Create services that make technologies and services in the ecosystem affordable for the older adults. The outcomes of this study are significant as they provide recommendations that target systemic issues which present barriers in the use of technology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Age-Friendly Technologies: Interaction Design with and for Older People)

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22 pages, 2691 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Digitally Enabled Health Service for the Integrated Management of Hypertension: A Participatory User-Centred Design Process

by Vincenzo De Luca, Vanja Lazic, Strahil Birov, Klaus Piesche, Ozan Beyhan, Martino Francesco Pengo, Marcello Melgara, Marie Holm Sherman, Mikael Lilja, Antonija Balenovic, Gianfranco Parati, Maria Triassi, Raffaele Izzo, Guido Iaccarino and Maddalena Illario

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(23), 12442; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182312442 - 26 Nov 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2746

Abstract

This article describes a user-centred approach taken by a group of five procurers to set specifications for the procurement of value-based research and development services for IT-supported integrated hypertension management. The approach considered the unmet needs of patients and health systems of the involved regions. The procurers established a framework for requirements and a solution design consisting of nine building blocks, divided into three domains: service delivery, devices and integration, and health care organisation. The approach included the development of questionnaires, capturing patients’ and professionals’ views on possible system functionalities, and a template collecting information about the organisation of healthcare, professionals involved and existing IT systems at the procurers’ premises. A total of 28 patients diagnosed with hypertension and 26 professionals were interviewed. The interviewees identified 98 functional requirements, grouped in the nine building blocks. A total of nine use cases and their corresponding process models were defined by the procurers’ working group. As result, a digitally enabled integrated approach to hypertension has been designed to allow citizens to learn how to prevent the development of hypertension and lead a healthy lifestyle, and to receive comprehensive, individualised treatment in close collaboration with healthcare professionals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Age-Friendly Technologies: Interaction Design with and for Older People)

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13 pages, 304 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Study on Cause Analysis of Digital Divide among Older People in Korea

by Woochun Jun

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(16), 8586; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18168586 - 14 Aug 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3671

Abstract

Most people in modern society enjoy various benefits due to the development of information and communication technology and smart technology in modern society. However, due to the digital divide, there is a social class that cannot enjoy abundant benefits. The representative class is the class of older people. In the latest four-year national report on the status of the digital divide, the class with largest digital divide among various information disadvantaged groups, such as the disabled, the low-income class, farmers and fishermen, and older people, is the class of older people. In this study, the causes of the digital divide among older people in Korea are analyzed from various perspectives. To this end, various statistical analyses have been conducted based on national statistical survey works over the past four years. The digital informatization level, which is an index used to measure the digital divide, can be classified into three main components: information access, information capability, and information utilization. Among the three components, the information capability is found to be the lowest. Information capability can also be divided into three components for PCs and mobile devices: installation, use, and management. Among them, management capability was found to be the lowest. Based on this analysis, various plans to reduce the digital divide among older people were proposed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Age-Friendly Technologies: Interaction Design with and for Older People)

Review

Jump to: Research

21 pages, 3700 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Bibliometric Analysis of Human-Machine Interaction Methodology for Electric-Powered Wheelchairs Driving from 1998 to 2020

by Xiaochen Zhang, Lanxin Hui, Linchao Wei, Fuchuan Song and Fei Hu

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(14), 7567; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18147567 - 16 Jul 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3057

Abstract

Electric power wheelchairs (EPWs) enhance the mobility capability of the elderly and the disabled, while the human-machine interaction (HMI) determines how well the human intention will be precisely delivered and how human-machine system cooperation will be efficiently conducted. A bibliometric quantitative analysis of 1154 publications related to this research field, published between 1998 and 2020, was conducted. We identified the development status, contributors, hot topics, and potential future research directions of this field. We believe that the combination of intelligence and humanization of an EPW HMI system based on human-machine collaboration is an emerging trend in EPW HMI methodology research. Particular attention should be paid to evaluating the applicability and benefits of the EPW HMI methodology for the users, as well as how much it contributes to society. This study offers researchers a comprehensive understanding of EPW HMI studies in the past 22 years and latest trends from the evolutionary footprints and forward-thinking insights regarding future research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Age-Friendly Technologies: Interaction Design with and for Older People)

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