Older Adults Imagining Future Technologies in Participatory Design Workshops: Supporting Continuity in the Pursuit of Meaningful Activities

TL;DR

This study explores how older adults perceive and envision using existing and emerging digital technologies, like VR and AI, to support meaningful activities and continuity in aging at home through participatory design workshops.

Contribution

It introduces insights into older adults' perceptions and values regarding future technologies for meaningful activities, emphasizing continuity and safety in aging at home.

Findings

Older adults seek technologies that support continuity in meaningful activities.

Participants value simplicity, positivity, proactivity, and integration in future technologies.

Diverse interpretations of meaningful activities influence technology preferences.

Abstract

Recent innovations in digital technology offer significant opportunities for older adults to engage in meaningful activities. To investigate older adults' perceptions of using existing and emerging technologies for meaningful activities, we conducted three participatory design workshops and follow-up interviews with adults aged over 65. The workshops encompassed discussions on existing technologies for meaningful activities, demonstrations of emerging technologies such as VR, AR, and AI, and design activities including prototyping and storyboarding. Our findings show that while participants had diverse interpretations of meaningful activities, they sought to use technologies to support continuity in the pursuit of these activities. Specifically, participants highlighted the importance of safe aging at home, which provides a pathway for meaningful activities in later life. We further discuss participants' discerning attitudes when assessing the use of different technologies for meaningful activities and several values and attributes they desire when envisioning future technologies, including simplicity, positivity, proactivity, and integration.