Engaging with older users

1. Engaging with older users Alan Newell & Maggie Morgan Queen Mother Research Centre School of Computing University of Dundee Scotland & MM Training, Dundee

2. “Design and the Digital Divide” Insights from 40 years research into computer support for older and disabled people Alan Newell Published by Morgan and Claypool Summer 2011

3. Maggie MorganMM Training Script writer – theatre director Leverhulme Artist in Residence, in the School of Computing -2005/2006 Continuing freelance involvement in the research, and conference presentations

4. Technology for older people • Needs to be based on: • Effective communication with the user group, • Proper requirements gathering, • Usability and Beauty.

5. Developing technology for older people Study your user population Design your systems to respond to their needs and wants

6. What theyneed ? • A medical model of “cure” • A focus on the disability • Patronising design • Poor aesthetics • Ignorance of any wider context

7. What theywant ! • A focus on the person • Their emotional as well as physical needs • Aesthetics • Self image • Personality

8. Empathetic Design Design for what older users want - or might want

9. A primary focus on users • Mutual inspiration – users and researchers in a creative mode • Innovative ways of interacting with users • Real empathy with users • See: • www.computing.dundee.ac.uk/staff/afn

10. The challenges of communicating with users • Language and experience barriers • jargon, concepts & metaphors • Sensory impairments • Lack of trust in technology • Overriding desire to please • Keeping focus groups focused • Time consuming • Difficult to organize

11. Ethical issues • Negative self image • Lack of confidence • Self blame • Operational anxiety • Physical or mental fragility • Informed consent

12. A user centre For a cohort of over 200 individuals rising to over 3000 Also work in: Dementia day centres, Residential homes & In home studies.

13. Wolfson Research Studio Theatre Purpose designed forinteractive theatre

14. The use of theatre for: • Facilitating Focus Groups of users • Requirements gathering • Communicating to designers and other professionals • User characteristics • User experiences • Ethnographies

15. Working with theatre professionals • Research by script writer • iterative discussions with researchers and older users. • Dramatic scenarios developed. • Scenarios performed by professional actors, on video or live theatre. • Facilitated discussions.

16. The performance • Video scenario + facilitated discussion. • Video scenario + actors in role in facilitated discussion. • Live interactive theatre

17. Techniques • Audience asked to analyse actions and motivations of players • “Hot seating” • Scripted theatre followed by improvisations directed by the audience

18. Educational Videos “The UTOPIA Trilogy” “Relative Confusion”, “Relatively PC”, and others See: www.computing.dundee.ac.uk/staff/afn

19. Concept development Applications of digital interactive television for older people. A communication system

21. Advantages for users. • Users are engaged in creative activity. • Theatre liberates users to be creative • Suspension of disbelief • Future software • The context/environment of use