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Virtual Assistant for Healthy Aging: Benefits Perceived by Elders

Authors:
Magdalena Velciu
Mircea Mărzan
Mariusz Kaczmarek
Alexey Andrushevich
Barry Teunissen
Luiza Spiru

Keywords: healthy and active aging, elderly user requirement, virtual assistant

Abstract:
We advocate for developing innovative products that help elderly people maintain their mental and physical health while aging, by enhancing their user experience. This article presents findings from our applied research activities which involve senior users throughout the development of elder-friendly virtual technologies. We describe Ella4Life, an innovative solution that supports elderly people in improving their healthy aging and emphasizing the virtual assistant role for communication, interaction, staying informed, etc. The methodological approach is based on assessing the elderly requirements in terms of perceptions and their own representation of virtual assistance. We used a qualitative method for data collection, through focus group and in-depth interviews for identifying the requirements of the elders when facing a virtual assistant. Challenged with an innovative application including a virtual assistance, the elders gave us useful information about their expectations, the main findings being presented here. The involvement of elderly users living in different countries adds further value to our work with regard to the universal benefits gained from interacting with a virtual assistant and also offers useful insights for a better adaptation/ customization of the solutions for addressing their particular needs.

Pages: 12 to 15

Copyright: Copyright (c) IARIA, 2019

Publication date: June 30, 2019

Published in: conference

ISSN: 2519-8653

ISBN: 978-1-61208-726-9

Location: Rome, Italy

Dates: from June 30, 2019 to July 4, 2019