Design for Older Adults: The COVID-19 Pandemic and Human-AI Interaction
A special issue of Multimodal Technologies and Interaction (ISSN 2414-4088).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 May 2021) | Viewed by 11404
Special Issue Editors
Interests: human–computer interaction; older people; ageing
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
This special issue addresses technology design for older people (65+) in two timely and important design scenarios: the COVID-19 pandemic and Human–Artificial Intelligence (AI) interaction.
The COVID-19 pandemic has focused increased attention on social isolation and loneliness for all ages, particularly older people as the most vulnerable, at-risk segment of the population. Many of the traditional strategies for engaging older adults have become obsolete in the new normal. Over the course of the pandemic, we have seen evidence of openly ageist discourses (e.g., #BoomerRemover), which complicates the experiences of living through COVID-19 for older people. How can digital technologies be designed to improve connectivity in a time of recommended and required physical distancing for older people (and all of us)? What lessons can we learn from the COVID-19 pandemic to design better technologies for a growing ageing population?
We are moving toward an era of Human–AI interaction, as autonomous and intelligent systems, from voice assistants and product recommenders to smart-home devices, smart cars, and social robots, are becoming increasingly common in our lives. This has led to claims for examining AI as the new design material, exploring ways of prototyping Human–AI, and putting forward new design guidelines, as the best user experience no longer comes only from usability but from trustworthy, personalized, and ethical machine intelligence. At the same time, population ageing is poised to become one of the most significant social transformations of the 21st century, with implications for nearly all sectors of society. How do we design Human–AI interaction for, and with, older people?
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 people by addressing topics including, but not limited to:
- Older people, COVID-19, social isolation, loneliness, and ICTs;
- Designing digital technologies for a growing ageing population post-COVID 19;
- COVID-19 and digital ageism;
- Artificial Intelligence as a design material and older people;
- Ways of prototyping Human–AI interaction and older people;
- Guidelines for Human–AI interaction and older people;
- Ethically designed Human–AI interactions and older people.
Dr. Sergio Sayago
Dr. Paula Forbes
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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