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Nostalgia-Driven Design: Creating an Inclusive VR Experience for Older Black Adults

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Wisdom, Well-Being, Win-Win (iConference 2024)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((volume 14596))

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Abstract

This study examines the technological feasibility and emotional efficacy of a Virtual Reality (VR) platform tailored for older Black adults; a demographic often marginalized in the realm of digital technology. Using a participatory design methodology grounded in user-centered paradigms, theories of nostalgia are integrated with practical technological elements to create a prototype that meets both functional and emotional needs. A total of 28 participants were involved through five stages of the design thinking process, culminating in evaluations at a local senior center. The results reveal enthusiastic user engagement, not only with the platform's interface and functionalities but also its emotional and cultural resonance. These findings highlight the platform's role in fostering digital inclusion among older adults, transforming them from mere consumers to active co-creators, thereby enriching a collective narrative and cultural heritage. The study offers valuable contributions to intersecting fields of human-computer interaction, gerontology, and cultural studies, demonstrating the potential of emotionally and culturally resonant technology to enhance the quality of life for older adults.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Information Culture and Data Stewardship, School of Computing and Information, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA

    Kuo-Ting Huang

Authors
  1. Kuo-Ting Huang
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Correspondence to Kuo-Ting Huang .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. iSchool organization, Berlin, Germany

    Isaac Sserwanga

  2. University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan

    Hideo Joho

  3. Jilin University, Changchun, China

    Jie Ma

  4. Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden

    Preben Hansen

  5. Wuhan University, Wuhan, China

    Dan Wu

  6. University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan

    Masanori Koizumi

  7. University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Anne J. Gilliland

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© 2024 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

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Huang, KT. (2024). Nostalgia-Driven Design: Creating an Inclusive VR Experience for Older Black Adults. In: Sserwanga, I., et al. Wisdom, Well-Being, Win-Win. iConference 2024. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 14596. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-57850-2_32

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-57850-2_32

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-57849-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-57850-2

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

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