1. Slide 1 Building Bridges Creating Technology for Older Adults Dr. Susan Squires Senior Scientist 12 February 2009 Social Connection Strand

2. TRIL’s Social Connection Initiatives Clinical and Social Assessment Goals Collect quantitative data on over 600 older adults through the TRIL Clinic to understand the relationship between social engagement, loneliness, isolation and various indices of physical and mental health. Understand potentially significant social, emotional and health markers for loneliness and isolation using quantitative and ethnographic approaches. Older People who maintain social activity are better able to cope with the challenges of ageing. The Social Connections Strand is gaining a deeper understanding of the relationship between social engagement, and health, and finding effective technology interventions to lower the risks associated with loneliness and isolation. Building Bridges Technology Development Iteratively develop and evaluate technologies for older adults to improve social engagement and support healthy ageing.

3. Barriers to Technology Use

4. Slide 4 Evaluation 3 4 5 Stage1 Ethnodesign 1 2 Download Ideation Creation Specification Develop Workshops The ‘field’ (real world) STAGE 2: Design and Build Stage 1: Background Research Stage 2: Design and Develop Stage 3: Deployment Building Bridges Home Deployments Aim: Design, develop and evaluate a group communication technology for older adults to augment social connection and reduce the risk of social isolation

5. 3 Dimensions of Material Culture All artifacts have three components  1. Use  2. Usability  3. Meaning Model of an Artifact Usability Meaning Use artifact Each need is a part of the whole

6. Use What it does Does it work? “Connects people”

7. Usability How well it works Can older adults navigate? “Simple, easy”

8. Meaning & Metaphor Who is it for? Associated with values, beliefs, symbolism, stories. Does it make sense to older adults?

9. Building Bridges Prototype v.1 A technology to improve social engagement has been developed and tested in homes of older adults. It includes a 12” touch screen with speakers and phone handset. There are three main features: 1)Group phone calls: Users can initiate conference calls with other users 2)Broadcasts: Users can listen to broadcasts and join a subsequent ‘group chat’ 3) Postcards: Users can send messages using an onscreen keyboard