R2: Bridging Critical Gaps in Technology Use By Older Adults
Background
Researcher Dr. Amanda Lazar is currently working on a series of research projects related to technology use and older adults. In this day and age, many people in the United States are proficient technology users. Technology exists in various aspects of our lives, and technologies are designed to be useful and intuitive. So, when a technology is not intuitive, it is often the user that is blamed. Many older adults do not rely on technology as heavily as younger generations. Technologies are not always intuitive to them, so to help them, other people attempt to simplify technology or replace it with easier tools. However, this means we will be constantly playing catch up with the latest technology, trying to make it accessible and easy to use after it was already designed.
Current Work
Work on this project will include doing co-design research with older adults. Co-design is the process of involving the potential users of a technology throughout the design process. Involving older adults (and people with disabilities) early in the process can help researchers shape technologies in ways that will truly help people. Doing studies in places where older adults spend their time will also help researchers understand the way they live and interact with technologies naturally. Finally, there will be a focus on individualization. Individualization is designing to better match the abilities of a single person. Focusing on individualization will help technologies be useful to individuals with varying abilities, not a homogenous group.
