Maximizing the Benefits of Participatory Design for Human-Robot Interaction Research With Older Adults

OBJECTIVE

We reviewed human-robot interaction (HRI) participatory design (PD) research with older adults. The goal was to identify methods used, determine their value for design of robots with older adults, and provide guidance for best practices.

BACKGROUND

Assistive robots may promote aging-in-place and quality of life for older adults. However, the robots must be designed to meet older adults' specific needs and preferences. PD and other user-centered methods may be used to engage older adults in the robot development process to accommodate their needs and preferences and to assure usability of emergent assistive robots.

METHOD

This targeted review of HRI PD studies with older adults draws on a detailed review of 26 articles. Our assessment focused on the HRI methods and their utility for use with older adults who have a range of needs and capabilities.

RESULTS

Our review highlighted the importance of using mixed methods and including multiple stakeholders throughout the design process. These approaches can encourage mutual learning (to improve design by developers and to increase acceptance by users). We identified key phases used in HRI PD workshops (e.g., initial interview phase, series of focus groups phase, and presentation phase). These approaches can provide inspiration for future efforts.

CONCLUSION

HRI PD strategies can support designers in developing assistive robots that meet older adults' needs, capabilities, and preferences to promote acceptance. More HRI research is needed to understand potential implications for aging-in-place. PD methods provide a promising approach.

Exploring Social and Assistive Domestic Robots for Older Adults: Robot Sociability, Trust, and Acceptance

Older adults prefer to age in place, to live independently while maintaining social connection and engagement with the community. Though older adults can encounter barriers to these goals, social and assistive domestic robots hold promise for promoting independence and online/offline social engagement. However, social robots must be designed to meet their needs and preferences. Open questions remain regarding how to facilitate the development of trust and acceptance in robot support. We investigated the associations between robot social characteristics, sociability, trust, and acceptance for instrumental activities of daily living. We used an online survey to assess older adults’ perceptions towards social and assistive robots. Robots with more social abilities were rated as more acceptable and trustworthy across different task types. We discuss design implications that may promote the development of robot trust and acceptance by older adults, and ultimately help enable aging in place and social engagement.

Exploring Use of Digital Home Assistants for Older Adults: A Demonstration Project

Emerging digital home assistant technology has potential to support older adults in their homes. Voice-activated assistants can be used for entertainment, environmental control, physical activities, health management, and social engagement. However, many older adults have limited experience with these devices, which are not designed with them in mind. We conducted a demonstration project to explore how seven older adult assisted and independent living residents interacted with digital assistants over four months. We conducted monthly semi-structured telephone interviews and pre/post questionnaires. Participants desired to use their devices to communicate with others, and for a range of health activities, including nutrition tracking, medication management, and health information searching. However, numerous usability barriers emerged. Some participants perceived their device as a social companion. These findings indicate that older adults are willing to use digital assistants for various activities that may enhance independence, although instructional and training materials are needed to support their use.

Well-Being Factors That Relate to Facebook-Using Older Adults’ Perceived Social Support on Facebook

The majority of literature on Facebook use and well-being focuses on younger demographics. The number older adults using Facebook continues to increase. Facebook use by older adults has been found to increase well-being and decrease feelings of depression. This study investigates the effect that perceived social support on Facebook may have on loneliness, depression, social support (offline), and fear of missing out (FOMO) for older adult Facebook users. Older adults aged 65 and older in the U.S. completed a Qualtrics survey (N=798). Participants were, on average, 74 years old. Perceived social support on Facebook had a positive association with social support, depression, and FOMO. The results suggest that among Facebook using older adults, higher levels of perceived social support on Facebook were associated with higher levels of social support, feelings of depression, and FOMO. Future research should investigate the possibility that depression could be driving perceived social support on Facebook.

Willingness to Use Automated Vehicles: Results From a Large and Diverse Sample of U.S. Older Adults

The diffusion of fully automated vehicles (AVs), or self-driving vehicles, is expected to provide many affordances for older adults. If older adults are not willing to use AVs, they will not be able to reap these affordances. Understanding factors related to older adults' willingness to use AVs is key to ensuring that successful strategies can be devised to promote their utilization in the future. In this study, we investigate U.S. older adults' willingness to use AVs among a large and diverse sample (N = 1,231). We assessed sociodemographic, population density, health, and attitudinal determinants of willingness to use AVs. Our binary logistic regression results showed that older adults with higher levels of educational attainment, transportation limitations, and positive attitudes toward new technology adoption were more likely to be willing to use AVs. Our study indicates that older adults' willingness to use AVs are complex and vary among U.S. older adults. Practical implications and study limitations are discussed.

Developing Digital Home Assistant User Guides for Older Adults With and Without Long-Term Mobility Disabilities

The aim of the current study was to understand how to integrate digital home assistant technologies and smart appliances into older adults’ homes by developing supportive user guides that facilitate adoption and continued use. We conducted a series of interviews among older adults, with and without mobility disabilities, to understand their attitudes towards digital assistants and to identify needs for instructional support and user guides. Subsequently, we developed and tested specific user guide modules for older adults aimed at addressing the identified concerns and desired instructional support. Specifically, we developed and field-tested user guides for the initial Amazon Echo device setup, basic device use (e.g., playing music and checking the weather), and separate modules for other domestic use cases (e.g., how to pair an Alexa enabled device with smart lights or appliances). Our results provide guidance for implementation of smart voice technologies to support older adults with long-term mobility disabilities.

Digital Home Assistant Health Applications for Older Adults With Long-Term Mobility Disabilities

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the feasibility, usability, safety, and efficacy of digital home assistant health applications (e.g., meditation applications, medication reminders, hydration management) for older adults with mobility disabilities. We used a multi-pronged approach. First, we compiled, categorized, and assessed a list of commercially available health applications compatible with Amazon Alexa devices. We reviewed data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study and the ACCESS study to identify challenges that older adults with mobility disabilities face within the home. We also reviewed the literature on the acceptance and use of digital home assistant health applications by older adults. Lastly, we conducted user testing in a laboratory and in a home-simulation environment to assess usability of different health applications. Our results provide guidance for the implementation of digital home assistant health applications to support older adults with long-term mobility disabilities.

SMART HOME TECHNOLOGY FOR OLDER ADULTS WITH MOBILITY DISABILITIES: POTENTIAL AND CHALLENGES

Recently, there has been a significant expansion in the number of smart and connected technologies for assisting individuals with a variety of tasks within the home. Examples include digital home assistants (e.g., Amazon Echo), smart lights, smart plugs, robotic vacuums, as well as a multitude of other devices. Such technologies hold the potential to support independence for older adults with long-term mobility disabilities, as they may experience challenges engaging in daily activities. The aim of the current study was to utilize a comprehensive approach with an interdisciplinary team to improve understanding of how to integrate smart technology into older adults’ homes. We focused on identifying functionality that would be useful to them, understanding their perceptions, and developing instructional support. We conducted interviews among older adults with, and without, long-term mobility disabilities to better understand their attitudes towards digital assistants, identify needs for instructional support, and test the usability of our instructional protocol. The overall goal of this research is to improve understanding of older adults’ perceptions of these technologies and identify usability challenges within the home. The instructional protocol offers support by reducing the identified barriers to initial adoption and continued use to promote aging-in-place and improving overall quality of life for older adults with long-term mobility disabilities.

THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY: EXAMINING OUTCOMES OF TECHNOLOGY USE AMONG OLDER ADULTS

Older adults are increasingly using information and communication technologies (ICTs) to communicate with social ties, gather information to make decisions, and for entertainment purposes. Research is increasingly showing that using ICTs has a range of potential benefits for older adults. However, less research examines the potential negative outcomes of ICT use for older adults. Data from a nationally representative sample of older adults in the United States is used to examine positive and negative outcomes of ICT use. Traditional well-being and social connection outcomes are examined as well as new stressors associated with mobile phone use. Our findings suggest that ICT use has varying effects on older adults, depending upon the type, level, and purposes of use. Implications are discussed for entities seeking to encourage ICT use to enhance health and quality of life among older adults.

The Physical-Digital Divide: Exploring the Social Gap Between Digital Natives and Physical Natives

Older adults are the most digitally divided demographic group. The present study explores how older adults perceive the physical use of information and communication technologies (ICTs), particularly across generations and contexts. Data for the present study come from nine focus groups. Seniors acknowledge that ICTs help them connect with geographically distant social ties, but that they lead to feelings of disconnection with geographically close social ties. We label this phenomenon the "physical-digital divide," which exists when a group feels ostracized or offended when those around them engage with ICTs while they themselves are not or cannot engage with ICTs. Younger generations are often referred to as "digital natives" and older generations as "digital immigrants." A more apt label for older adults may be "physical natives," as their preferred method of communication involves physical face-to-face interactions and traditional codes of etiquette. Suggestions are made for reducing the physical-digital divide.