Mobile phones with their widespread use among older adults provide new opportunities in the field of active and healthy ageing. In particular, poorly exploited integration of smartphones and assistive technologies may contribute to the active ageing. Paper outlines the field of assistive technologies on smartphones for older adults with an emphasis on the mobile health (m-health). We present key factors and barriers for the acceptance of m-services among older adults. An overview of the prevalence and description of the features of the so called smartphones launchers for older adults, which, with adapted user interface, provide older adults with more accessible and easier to use assistive technologies on smartphones, revealed a very limited offer of those applications, both in terms of adapted user interface as well as in terms of set of assistive technologies they provide. In conclusion, we highlight some guidelines for the future research of the acceptance and usability of smartphone applications and other e-services for active and healthy ageing. Finally, we present the outline of the iterative approach, facilitating active involvement of the end-user in all stages of the research and development process of selected e-services.
F.02 Acquisition of new scientific knowledge
COBISS.SI-ID: 33575773Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS), University of Ljubljana (UL), is the central and the largest interdisciplinary public institution for education and research in the social sciences. Research activity is carried out at The Social Sciences Research Institute consisting of 21 research centres. There are 15 Program Groups (one of them is MRIC Programme) and 16 basic, postdoc or applied projects (http://www.sicris.si) that are currently being implemented at the faculty. In 2014, at the FSS was held 9 FP7 projects (Seventh Framework Programme), 10 LLP in EM programmes (Lifelong Learning Programme in Erasmus Mundus) and 8 COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) actions (Poročilo o uspešnosti UL na področju evropskih projektov v letu 2014). Many research centres and programmes enable development of basic disciplines (sociology, political science, communication studies and cultural studies) with high degree and number of specializations within these fields.
F.01 Acquisition of new practical knowledge, information and skills
COBISS.SI-ID: 33576029Assistive technologies are important aspect of information and communication technology in contemporary ageing societes. Mobile phones are one of the most widespread technologies among older adults and have, in particular smartphones, great potential to serve as assistive technology. Smartphones’ integrated sensors and installed applications may transform it into assistive device and improve quality of life of older adults. Furthermore, due to their widespread use, smartphones with integrated assistive technologies represent an opportunity for digital inclusion of older adults. The project Mobile aging is therefore directed towards studying sociotechnical affordances of assistive technologies in (smart) mobile phones and their integration with assistive technologies to foster inclusive and empowered aging of the heterogeneous group of the elderly. The aim of the project is to link the psychological needs of older people with technology design features, capturing the diversity of heterogeneous group of older users and to contribute to more holistic understanding of the quality of life of older people. This report is structured in the three thematic sections in accordance with the project aims. Firstly, we present key aspects of the quality of life of older adults with an emphasis on its definition and measures. Secondly, overview of mobile phone adoption trends in Slovenia and European Union followed by an overview of theoretical approaches to technology adoption is provided. Third section of the report focuses on the user experience and mobile phone design. Report concludes with an overview of the design guidelines and checklists for mobile phones and smartphones presented in the literature so far.
F.02 Acquisition of new scientific knowledge
COBISS.SI-ID: 33910109