Abstract / Description of output
As part of a comprehensive mixed-methods user requirements analysis for the design of
reminder systems for assisted living we carried out ‘Home Tour’ Interviews in the homes
of older users. Semi-structured interviews focusing on what people forget and what
strategies they use for reminding themselves were augmented by a ‘tour’ of the home
(documented by photography) in order to better understand the home context and
environment we were designing for. Interviews were carried out in conjunction with a
survey (N=378) and six focus groups targeting older users and people with sensory
impairments. Thematic analysis of the interview data, observations, and photos yielded a
richer understanding of the tools and techniques used to remember in the home and
their social and physical context. We argue that in-depth home tours can be successfully
combined with traditional methods such as large surveys to truly include the user in the
design of care-related technologies. We conclude that techniques including a richer
understanding of the user and their context will ultimately lead to more usable and
acceptable technologies for the home.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Proceedings of INCLUDE 2011 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Publication status | Published - 2011 |