INCREASING AUTONOMY OF OLDER ADULTS THROUGH THE USE OF COMPUTERS AND THE INTERNET

This paper describes a research project that addresses the potential beneficial effects of newly acquired computer and Internet skills on the cognitive ability and quality of life in older individuals. This project is a randomized controlled study with healthy older participants between 65 and 75 years of age. In this paper, the design of this study, as well as some preliminary results on an everyday competence measure, the Technological Transfer Test (TTT), will be discussed. This test was designed to measure problem solving with respect to everyday technological devices, such as a cash machine. The ability to use such devices is very important for autonomy in later life, as society becomes more and more technology driven

Children’s bond with companion animals and associations with psychosocial health: A systematic review

BackgroundCompanion animals can fulfill children’s attachment needs. A secure attachment to humans is positively associated with psychosocial health, therefore, the extent to which this applies to a strong child-companion animal bond is worth examining.AimsWe aimed to gain insight into the current literature regarding the bond between children and companion animals and psychosocial health. Secondary, we also synthesized evidence about the (1) characteristics of children and companion animals and the strength of their bond; (2) the correlations between attachment to humans and the child-companion animal bond; and (3) the instruments used to measure the child-companion animal bond.MethodAccording to PRISMA guidelines, we searched three major electronic databases (PubMed, EBSCOhost, and Web of Science) in September 2021 and included records with the following criteria: peer reviewed English articles with quantitative and qualitative data on child-companion animal bonds and children’s psychosocial health. Reports with participants younger than 18 years of age with a family owned companion animal were included. Two authors performed the screening and determined eligibility according to a predefined coding protocol.ResultsThe search revealed 1,025 unique records, of which we included 29 studies. Some positive associations were reported between the strength of the child-companion animal bond and children’s psychosocial health outcomes like empathy, social support, and quality of life, although some results were contradictory. We found differences in associations between a child’s gender, companion animal species and the strength of the child-companion animal bond. A secure attachment style to parents was positively associated with a stronger child–companion animal bond. Most of the instruments currently used, measure the strength of the bond.DiscussionThis review suggests that the child-companion animal bond could be beneficial for children’s psychosocial health, but some results were inconclusive. Also, not every relationship develops into an attachment. Since a strong bond with animals might not be the same as a secure attachment, we advise to modify human attachment instruments, in order to effectively study children’s attachment to companion animals. Lastly, research designs that are able to investigate the causality of the relationship between the child-companion animal bond and psychosocial health are required

Risk of upper limb complaints due to computer use in older persons: a randomized study

Abstract Background We studied whether the twelve-month use of a standard computer would induce complaints of upper limb pain or functional limitations in older novice computer users. Methods Participants between 64 and 76 of age were randomly assigned to an Intervention group (n = 62), whose members received a personal computer and fast Internet access at their homes, or a No Intervention control group (n = 61), whose members refrained from computer use during the twelve month study period. Results Difference scores between baseline and twelve months assessments on both complaint (SFS) and functional health scales (SF-36) did not differ between groups (all p > .05). Conclusion Prolonged, self-paced use of a standard computer interface does not put older persons at a risk of upper limb complaints or reduce functional health in older adults.</p

Payment with Mobile (NFC) Vouchers – Using Co-design Techniques to Identify User Requirements

This paper presents an ongoing co-design study focusing on the application of Near Field Communication (NFC) technology in the area of voucher payment. The research that is described is conducted to a) gain a thorough understanding of the current context of use of paper vouchers, including user experience and user needs, and b) evaluate the potential of the concept of NFC-vouchers with endusers in an early stage. Several aspects of the context of use as well as the future NFC-vouchers will be discussed.status: publishe

Research approaches into communication technology for older users

In this paper a number of research approaches are described which are related to older adults and communication technologies. Three research projects are illustrated with very different goals, research methods and findings. The methods used in each of the projects will be discussed in terms of the type and quality of the results they generated. Open questions and challenges for research and design initiatives related to technology for older users are identifiedstatus: publishe

Reciprocity in Rapid Ethnography: Giving Back by Making the Small Things Count

© IFIP International Federation for Information Processing 2015. This paper responds to the discussion of a possible lack of reciprocity in applying ethnography in HCI research, sometimes referred to as ‘rapid ethnography’. It contributes to the discussion by describing examples of how reciprocity can be achieved when applying rapid forms of ethnography. The paper suggests five approaches for HCI researchers to aim for reciprocity while doing research: (1) making participation fun for informants, (2) giving informants a voice, (3) allowing informants to exhibit their skills or strengths, (4) offering practical help and (5) providing self-knowledge. Each of these approaches comes with some risks, which are also explained in the paper. Reciprocity should be taken into consideration from the initial start of the research projects.status: publishe

Anthropomorphism as a Strategy to Engage End-Users in Health Data Ideation

Recent innovations in data technology hold great promise for new products or applications. However, creating meaningful data applications can be challenging. This is especially the case in a user-centered design or participatory design approach as most end-users find it difficult to grasp the essence and opportunities of an abstract concept such as data technology. This paper presents method to engage end-users in data ideation that draws on people's tendency to anthropomorphize technology. It uses a metaphor for health data by introducing the imaginary concept of omniscient, benign little people residing in one's body. Participants are facilitated in a step-by-step process to formulate questions they would like to ask these little people and the answers they expect to receive. This approach, illustrated with a study on personal health information, resulted in insights for developing meaningful data applications.status: publishe

Designing for Others, and the Trap of HCI Methods & Practices

HCI research often (cl)aims to do good for others, but does it actually? We discuss two cases that exemplify how designing for others can in fact be harmful: the Games Against Health paper by Linehan et al. and the Uninvited Guests video by Superflux. We feel that user-centered methods are often considered as a safe-conduct, simply because the end-user is involved one cannot do wrong. We plead for explicit transparency about the origin of research projects and technology designs to put a critical reflection about underlying values of the work into practice.status: publishe

Innovative ICT Applications for Hearing Impaired Children – a Participatory Design Approach

User-centered design and participatory design (or co-design) are design philosophies placing the end users of a new product or application in the center of the process of designing and developing new (ICT) products and applications. In this research, a participatory design process was set up to develop innovative ICT applications for elementary school children with hearing impairments. The process roughly consists of three phases: an inspiration phase, a design phase and an iterative development and evaluation phase. The intention is to refrain from choosing any application domain (e.g. gaming, learning, multimedia, communication) or technology before the first phase, to ensure that, according to the participatory design approach, the ideas for new applications are based on the end-users and not on the technology.status: publishe