Technology Experience Café—Enabling Technology–Driven Social Innovation for an Ageing Society

Abstract

Effective technology innovation process management in the context of active healthy ageing has the potential to improve older adults' quality of life, allowing them to maintain their independence and age in their own homes for longer. But as older adults significantly differ from the general population in technology use and its impact on their quality of life, tools are needed that (1) involve this target group into the innovation process, as well as (2) capture the diverse needs of technology for various stakeholders involved in this process, are needed. This paper presents the framework called Technology Experience Café (TEC), developed within the European project SIforAGE, answering exactly this need. Detailed information on the methodology and its implementation in five sites, in four different countries across Europe, focusing on participating stakeholders, general design of the TEC, and used evaluation tools, is provided. Preliminary results show, that (1) the target group's perception of the TEC as a framework was thoroughly positive and TECs had a positive impact on older adults' technology related attitudes and (2) that stakeholders' benefits affiliated with their involvement in the TECs are manifold. Implications and limitations are discussed.