Skip to main content

Designing Computer-Supported Technology to Mediate Intergenerational Social Interaction: A Cultural Perspective

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Perspectives on Human-Computer Interaction Research with Older People

Part of the book series: Human–Computer Interaction Series ((HCIS))

Abstract

This chapter builds upon the need to adopt a more comprehensive approach when designing computer-supported technology to mediate social interaction between older adults and other generations of family members. Recognizing the complexity and heterogeneity of this communication scenario, the chapter shows the need to consider the culture as a key factor for reusing HCI design knowledge when conceiving new technology to mediate intergenerational social interactions. Considering a cultural perspective, this chapter discusses similarities and differences in the intergenerational social interaction process in Latin American and Western countries. On the one hand, the identified similitudes help reuse existing design knowledge. On the other hand, the identified differences inform the design of new solutions to mediate intergenerational communication. Understanding the underlying socio-cultural traits of the social inter-action scenario allows us to determine how to reuse the knowledge gained during the previous two decades of HCI research with older adults, and thus design better interaction mechanisms for the next generation of systems for this application domain.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 109.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Ballagas R, Kaye J, Ames M, et al (2009) Family communication: phone conversations with children. In: Proceedings of the international conference on interaction design and children (IDC 2009). ACM Press, pp 321–324. https://doi.org/10.1145/1551788.1551874

  • Bardis PD (1979) Social interaction and social processes. Soc Sci 54(3):147–167

    Google Scholar 

  • Barros C, Fernández MB, Herrera MS (2014) Notions that people over 45 years old have about family and the internal interactions between family members [in Spanish]. Psicoperspectivas 13(1):121–130. https://doi.org/10.5027/psicoperspectivas-vol13-issue1-fulltext-264

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bell C, Fausset C, Farmer S et al (2013) Examining social media use among older adults. In: Proceedings of the ACM conference on hypertext and social media (HT 2013). ACM Press, pp 158–163. https://doi.org/10.1145/2481492.2481509

  • Bratteteig T, Wagner I (2016) Unpacking the notion of participation in participatory design. Comput Support Coop Work 25(6):425–475. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10606-016-9259-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brereton M (2013) Habituated objects: everyday tangibles that foster the independent living of an elderly woman. Interactions 20(4):20–24. https://doi.org/10.1145/2486227.2486233

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brereton M, Soro A, Vaisutis K et al (2015) The messaging kettle: prototyping connection over a distance between adult children and older parents. In: Proceedings of the ACM SIGCHI conference on human factors in computing systems (CHI 2015). ACM Press, pp 713–716. https://doi.org/10.1145/2702123.2702462

  • Caine KE, Fisk AD, Rogers WA (2006) Benefits and privacy concerns of a home equipped with a visual sensing system: a perspective from older adults. Proc Hum Factors Ergon Soc Annu Meet 50(2):180–184

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen K, Chan AHS (2011) A review of technology acceptance by older adults. Gerontechnology 10(1):1–12. https://doi.org/10.4017/gt.2011.10.01.006.00

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen YRR, Schulz PJ (2016) The effect of information communication technology interventions on reducing social isolation in the elderly: a systematic review. J Med Internet Res 18(1):18. https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.4596

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Consolvo S, Roessler P, Shelton BE et al (2004) Technology for care networks of elders. IEEE Pervasive Comput 3(2):22–29. https://doi.org/10.1109/MPRV.2004.1316814

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cornejo R, Tentori M, Favela J (2013) Enriching in-person encounters through social media: a study on family connectedness for the elderly. Int J Hum Comput Stud 71(9):889–899. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhcs.2013.04.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Angeli A, Bordin S, Blanco MM (2014) Infrastructuring participatory development in information technology. In: Proceedings of the participatory design conference (PDC 2014). ACM Press, pp 11–20. https://doi.org/10.1145/2661435.2661448

  • Dickinson A, Hill RL (2007) Keeping in touch: talking to older people about computers and communication. Educ Gerontol 33(8):613–630. https://doi.org/10.1080/03601270701363877

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ehn P, Kyng M (1987) The collective resource approach to systems design. In: Bjerknes G et al (eds) Computers and democracy—a Scandinavian challenge, Aldershot, Avebury, pp 17–58

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferreira SM, Sayago S, Blat J (2016) Going beyond telecenters to foster the digital inclusion of older people in Brazil: lessons learned from a rapid ethnographical study. Inf Technol Dev 22(1):26–46. https://doi.org/10.1080/02681102.2015.1091974

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fischer G, Herrmann T (2015) Meta-design: transforming and enriching the design and use of socio-technical systems. In: Wulf W, Schmidt K, Randall D (eds) Designing socially embedded technologies in the real-world. Springer, London, pp 79–109

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Forbes A (1996) Caring for older people: loneliness. BMJ 313(7053):352–354. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.313.7053.352

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Forghani A, Neustaedter C (2014) The routines and needs of grandparents and parents for grandparent-grandchild conversations over distance. In: Proceedings of the ACM SIGCHI conference on human factors in computing systems (CHI 2014). ACM Press, pp 4177–4186. https://doi.org/10.1145/2556288.2557255

  • Garattini C, Wherton J, Prendergast D (2012) Linking the lonely: an exploration of a communication technology designed to support social interaction among older adults. Univ Access Inf Soc 11(2):211–222. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-011-0235-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gutierrez FJ, Ochoa SF (2016) Mom, I do have a family! Attitudes, agreements, and expectations on the interaction with Chilean older adults. In: Proceedings of the ACM conference on computer-supported cooperative work and social computing (CSCW 2016). ACM Press, pp 1400–1409. https://doi.org/10.1145/2818048.2820000

  • Gutierrez FJ, Ochoa SF (2017) It takes at least two to tango: understanding the cooperative nature of elderly caregiving in Latin America. In: Proceedings of the ACM conference on computer-supported cooperative work and social computing (CSCW 2017). ACM Press, pp 1618–1630. https://doi.org/10.1145/2998181.2998314

  • Gutierrez FJ, Ochoa SF, Vassileva J (2017) Mediating intergenerational family communication with computer-supported domestic technology. In: Gutwin C, Ochoa SF, Vassileva J, Inoue T (eds) Collaboration and technology—CRIWG 2017. Lecture notes in computer science, vol 10391. Springer, pp 132–147. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-63874-4_11

    Google Scholar 

  • Harley D, Fitzpatrick G (2009) YouTube and intergenerational communication: the case of Ger-iatric1927. Univ Access Inf Soc 8(1):5–20. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-008-0127-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harwood J, Lin MC (2000) Affiliation, pride, exhange, and distance in grandparents’ accounts of relationships with their college-aged grandchildren. J Commun 50(3):31–47. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-2466.2000.tb02851.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hirschheim R, Klein HK, Lyytinen K (1995) Information systems development and data modeling: conceptual and philosophical foundations. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Hope A, Schwaba T, Piper AM (2014) Understanding digital and material social communication for older adults. In: Proceedings of the ACM SIGCHI conference on human factors in computing systems (CHI 2014). ACM Press, pp 3903–3914. https://doi.org/10.1145/2556288.2557133

  • Huber L, Shankhar K, Connelly K et al (2013) How in-home technologies mediate caregiving relationships in later life. Int J Hum Comput Interact 29(7):441–455. https://doi.org/10.1080/10447318.2012.715990

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy TLM, Wellman B (2007) The networked household. Inf Commun Soc 10(5):645–670. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691180701658012

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kurniawan S, Zaphiris P (2005) Research-derived Web design guidelines for older people. In: Proceedings of the international ACM SIGACCESS conference on computers and accessibility (ASSETS 2005). ACM Press, pp 129–135. https://doi.org/10.1145/1090785.1090810

  • Lee C, Coughlin JF (2015) PERSPECTIVE: Older adults’ adoption of technology: an integrated approach to identifying determinants and barriers. J Prod Innov Manag 32(5):747–759. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpim.12176

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leitch S, Warren MJ (2010) Ethics: the past, present and future of socio-technical systems design. In: Tatnall A (ed) History of computing: learning from the past. Springer, Berlin, pp 189–197

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Lindley SE (2012) Shades of lightweight: supporting cross-generational communication through home messaging. Univ Access Inf Soc 11(1):31–43. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-011-0231-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lindley SE, Harper R, Sellen A (2008) Designing for elders: exploring the complexity of relationships in later life. In: Proceedings of the British HCI group annual conference on HCI (BCS-HCI 2008). British Computer Society, pp 77–86

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindley SE, Harper R, Sellen A (2009) Desiring to be in touch in a changing communications landscape: attitudes of older adults. In: Proceedings of the ACM SIGCHI conference on human factors in computing systems (CHI 2009). ACM Press, pp 1693–1702. https://doi.org/10.1145/1518701.1518962

  • Lynch C (2015) Design for aging: perspectives on technology, older adults, and educating engineers. Anthropol Aging 36(2):127–134. https://doi.org/10.5195/aa.2015.108

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moffat K (2013) Older-adult HCI: why should we care? Interactions 20(4):72–75. https://doi.org/10.1145/2486227.2486242

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Muñoz D, Cornejo R, Gutierrez FJ et al (2015) A social cloud-based tool to deal with time and media mismatch of intergenerational family communication. Futur Gener Comput Syst 53:140–151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.future.2014.07.003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mynatt ED, Melenhorst AS, Frisk AD et al (2004) Aware technologies for aging in place: un-derstanding user needs and attitudes. IEEE Pervasive Comput 3(2):36–41. https://doi.org/10.1109/MPRV.2004.1316816

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nef T, Ganea RL, MĂĽri RM et al (2013) Social networking sites and older adults—a systematic review. Int Psychogeriatr 25(7):1041–1053. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610213000355

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Newall NE, Chipperfield JG, Clifton RA et al (2009) Casual beliefs, social participation, and loneliness among older adults: a longitudinal study. J Soc Pers RelatShip 36(2–3):273–290. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407509106718

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Papastavrou E, Kalokerinou A, Papacostas SS et al (2007) Caring for a relative with dementia: family caregiver burden. J Adv Nurs 58(5):446–457. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2007.04250.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pekkola S, Kaarilahti N, Pohjola P (2006) Towards formalised end-user participation in information systems development process: bridging the gap between participatory design and ISD methodologies. In: Proceedings of the ninth conference on participatory design: expanding boundaries in design, vol 1. ACM Press, pp 21–30. https://doi.org/10.1145/1147261.1147265

  • Procter R, Greenhalgh T, Wherton J et al (2014) The day-to-day co-production of aging in place. Comput Support Coop Work 23(3):245–267. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10606-014-9202-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Redondo N, DĂ­az-Fernández M, Llorente-MarrĂłn MM et al (2015) El espacio residencial del cuidado de los adultos mayores en AmĂ©rica Latina y España [The residential space of elderly caregiving in Latin America and Spain, in Spanish]. Notas de PoblaciĂłn 100:223–258

    Google Scholar 

  • Riche Y, Mackay W (2010) PeerCare: supporting awareness of rhythms and routines for better aging in place. Comput Support Coop Work 19(1):73–104. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10606-009-9105-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roupa Z, Nikas M, Gerasimou E et al (2010) The use of technology by the elderly. Health Sci J 4(2):118–126

    Google Scholar 

  • Sayago S, Sloan D, Blat J (2011) Everyday use of computer-mediated communication tools and its evolution over time: an ethnographical study with older people. Interact Comput 23(2011):543–554. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intcom.2011.06.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schorch M, Wan L, Randall D, Wulf V (2016) Designing for those who are overlooked—insider perspectives on care practices and cooperative work of elderly informal caregivers. In: Proceedings of the ACM conference on computer-supported cooperative work and social computing (CSCW 2016). ACM Press, pp 787–799. https://doi.org/10.1145/2818048.2819999

  • Schulz R, Beach SR, Matthews JT et al (2013) Willingness to pay for quality of life technologies to enhance independent functioning among baby boomers and the elderly adults. Gerontologist 54(3):363–374. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnt016

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Siibak A, Tamme V (2013) Who introduced Granny to Facebook? An exploration of everyday family interactions in web-based communication environments. Nothern Light Film Media Stud Yearb 11(1):71–89. https://doi.org/10.1386/nl.11.1.71_1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stuifbergen MC, van Delden JJM, Dykstra PA (2008) The implications of todays’ family structures for support giving to older parents. Ageing Soc 28(3):413–434. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X07006666

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suárez J (2004) Colombia. In: Tompkins C, Sternberg K (eds) Teen life in Latin America and the Caribbean. Greenwood Press, Westport, CT, pp 77–98

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2017). World Population Ageing 2017—Highlights (ST/ESA/SER.A/397)

    Google Scholar 

  • Venkatesh V, Davis F (2000) A theoretical extension of the technology acceptance model: four longitudinal field studies. Manage Sci 46(2):186–204

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vines J, Lindsay S, Protchard GW et al (2013) Making family care work: dependence, privacy and remote home monitoring telecare systems. In: Proceedings of the ACM international joint conference on pervasive and ubiquitous computing (UbiComp 2013). ACM Press, pp 607–616. https://doi.org/10.1145/2493432.2493469

  • Waycott J, Vetere F, Pedell S et al (2013) Older adults as digital content producers. In: Proceedings of the ACM SIGCHI conference on human factors in computing systems (CHI 2013). ACM Press, pp 39–48. https://doi.org/10.1145/2470654.2470662

  • World Wide Web Consortium (2008) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0. http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20/. Accessed 19 Jan 2017

Download references

Acknowledgements

The work of Francisco J. Gutierrez has been supported by the PhD scholarship program of Conicyt Chile (CONICY-PCHA/Doctorado Nacional/2013-21130075). This research work has been partially supported by the grant Fondecyt Enlace 2018, VID, University of Chile.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Francisco J. Gutierrez .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Gutierrez, F.J., Ochoa, S.F., Cornejo, R., Vassileva, J. (2019). Designing Computer-Supported Technology to Mediate Intergenerational Social Interaction: A Cultural Perspective. In: Sayago, S. (eds) Perspectives on Human-Computer Interaction Research with Older People. Human–Computer Interaction Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-06076-3_13

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-06076-3_13

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-06075-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-06076-3

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics