Intergenerational aid for digital inclusivity by ‍‘Sita’lakshmi Lakshmanan (Emily Carr University of Art + Design)

“Intergenerational aid for digital inclusivity” explores my journey of understanding how to research and design for daily use technologies that transcend age barriers. While many senior friendly applications exist today, day-to-day technologies like banking apps, bus pass forms, government websites, etc. are still difficult for many seniors to independently learn and use. Considering the necessity of these services in our lives, many seniors are forced to rely on assistance from the people around them - often younger family members, neighbors, friends, community volunteers, etc. As part of my Masters at Emily Carr University of Art + Design, I researched into this ‘digital support’ that seniors seek in their social relationships. Through research methods like service learning, interviews and participatory workshops with various stakeholders like seniors, younger warm experts, community volunteers, tech coaches, etc.; I share my experience in researching and designing for ‘digital support', a key determinant of technology adoption by seniors.

Key takeaways from this talk include:

• Tips on how to design and conduct participatory research that is inclusive of seniors.
• Key insights about the necessity of digital support for seniors and how warm experts have so far been shouldering this responsibility.
• A macro perspective : What strategies can various stakeholders in society implement in order to provide wholesome support for seniors?
• A micro perspective : An example of a mobile application prototype that capitalizes on existing intergenerational relationships to efficiently provide digital support for seniors.