Design and Evaluation of Personalized Services to Foster Active Aging: The Experience of Technology Pre-Validation in Italian Pilots

Abstract

Assistive devices could promote independent living and support the active and healthy aging of an older population; however, several factors can badly influence the long-term use of new technologies. In this context, this paper presents a two-step methodology called “pre-validation” that aims to identify the factors that can bias the use of new services, thus minimizing the risk of an unsuccessful longer trial. The proposed pre-validation methodology is composed of two main phases that aim to assess the usability and the reliability of the technology assessed in a laboratory environment and the usability, acceptability, user experience, and reliability of the technology in real environments. The tested services include the socialization scenario, in which older adults are better connected to the community via technological solutions (i.e., socialization applications), and the monitoring scenario, which allows for the introduction of timely interventions (technologies involved include environmental monitoring sensors, a telepresence robot, wearable sensors, and a personalized dashboard). The obtained results underline an acceptable usability level (average System Usability Scale score > 65) for the tested technologies (i.e., socialization applications and a telepresence robot). Phase Two also underlines the good acceptability, user experience, and usability of the tested services. The statistical analysis underlines a correlation between the stress related to the use of technology, digital skills, and intention of use, among other factors. Qualitative feedback also remarks on a correlation between older adults with low digital skills and an anxiety about using technology. Positive correlation indexes were highlighted between the trust and usability scores. Eventually, future long-term trials with assistive technology should rely on motivated caregivers, be founded on a strong recruitment process, and should reassure older adults—especially the ones with low digital literacy—about the use of technology by proposing personalized training and mentoring, if necessary, to increase the trust.

Empowering Active and Healthy Ageing: Integrating IoT and Wearable Technologies for Personalised Interventions

“…Lorusso et al [35] conducted a pre-validation of technologies aimed at enhancing both health management and socialization in older adults. The AGAPE platform emphasizes holistic interventions tailored to individual needs and profiles, enhancing usability and ensuring broader and more effective adoption of technology for active ageing.…”

The Godspeed Questionnaire Series in the Assessment of the Social Robot TIAGo by Older Individuals

“…Henceforth, the aim of the introduction of technology is not to displace people from care or threaten their jobs but to support them, particularly where a shortage of human resources is expected [ 9 ]. Furthermore, human caregivers can and should be effective mediators between modern technologies and older adults [ 10 ] and also can play a significant role in co-designing new technologies for Ageing in place [ 11 ]. This approach, which is relatively new in the discussed age group, also termed “participatory design”, aims to engage the end-user as a partner in design, explicitly including the ideation of new concepts.…”