Lessons Learned from Older Adults Fusing of an Augmented Reality, Assisted Living and Social Interaction Platform

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Assistive Technology

Background:

• Aging populations present societal and economic shifts.
• Digital exclusion remains a concern for older adults despite internet familiarity.
• Technological adoption, like augmented reality (AR), can be challenging for seniors due to cognitive, physical, and familiarity barriers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the GUIDed system, an AR-operated application.
• To support the independence and quality of life for older adults.
• To explore lessons learned from the co-creation process and evaluate AR acceptance.

Main Methods:

• Co-creation process involving older adults.
• Utilized evaluation methods such as paper prototypes, focus groups, and living labs.
• Developed and tested an augmented reality (AR) application called GUIDed.

Main Results:

• Gathered insights into the acceptance of AR functionality among older adults.
• Identified key factors influencing the adoption of new technologies by seniors.
• Collected data for improving the GUIDed system's usability and effectiveness.

Conclusions:

• The GUIDed system shows potential for supporting older adults' independence and quality of life.
• Co-creation and iterative testing are crucial for developing user-centered assistive technologies.
• Addressing familiarity and usability challenges is key to successful AR adoption by the elderly.