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Toward improved co-designing home care solutions based on personas and design thinking with older users

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Abstract

The ability of human beings to live longer is an outstanding achievement of science in the 21st century. New technologies and innovations have an essential role in ensuring the well-being of the new generation. By adopting Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, it is possible to improve autonomy, security, and quality of life. However, designing IoT solutions for Home Care and older users brings new challenges to the Human–Computer Interaction field. Older users are heterogeneous and critical users of technology and interactive solutions. In this context, it is necessary to promote the participation of older users in the design process aiming at considering their specificities, intentions of use, and individual preferences and necessities. We propose a co-design method based on Design Thinking and Personas. Our research contributes to methods and a case study assessment regarding IoT-based Home Care solutions’ co-design. The proposed approach considers older users’ wishes and needs in an iterative, creative, and participatory way. We tested the proposed method in a case study with nine older adults. Results indicate the effectiveness and difficulties of involving older users in the design process. Our results contribute to a better understanding of how to carry out participatory activities with older adults in the context of Home Care.

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Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author R.B. The data are not publicly available due to them containing information that could compromise research participant privacy/consent. Additional anonymous data are available in a technical report [49].

Notes

  1. http://www.irissenior.com.br/

  2. Bracelet and smart necklace were chosen as being integrated into the IrisSenior’s technological solution, as well as having appeared as alternatives in the initial activities.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the older users for their contributions to the activities and as family members and health professionals who made this case study feasible. We also thank the IrisSenior Serviços de Teleassistência for providing the Home Care devices and call center services used in our research. This study was financed in part by the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) grant No.405352/2021-2.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. UNIFACCAMP, Rua Guatemala, 167, Campos Limpo Paulista, SP, 13231-230, Brazil

    Renata de Podestá Gaspar

  2. National Science and Technology Institute on Cybersecurity, Electrical Engineering Department, University of Brasília (UnB), P.O. Box 4466, Brasília, DF, 70910-900, Brazil

    Vinícius P. Gonçalves

  3. Computer Science Department, University of Brasília (UnB), P.O. Box 4466, Brasília, DF, 70910-900, Brazil

    Geraldo P. Rocha Filho

  4. Institute of Computing, University of Campinas, Av. Albert Einstein, 1251, Campinas, SP, 13083-852, Brazil

    Julio Cesar dos Reis

  5. CTI Renato Archer and UNIFACCAMP, Rod. D. Pedro I, km 143, 6, Campinas, SP, 13069-901, Brazil

    Ferrucio de Franco Rosa & Rodrigo Bonacin

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  1. Renata de Podestá Gaspar
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Appendix -affinity diagrams

Appendix -affinity diagrams

See Tables 14, 15 and 16.

Table 14 Results of the affinity diagram regarding the main challenges in Home Care and AAL suggestion based on interviews with the participants (older users)
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Table 15 Results of the affinity diagram regarding the main challenges in Home Care and AAL suggestion based on interviews conducted with health care professional
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Table 16 Results of the affinity diagram regarding main challenges faced in Home Care and AAL suggestion based on interviews with relatives
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Gaspar, R.d.P., Gonçalves, V.P., Filho, G.P.R. et al. Toward improved co-designing home care solutions based on personas and design thinking with older users. Univ Access Inf Soc 23, 305–328 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-022-00940-5

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