Home // eTELEMED 2016, The Eighth International Conference on eHealth, Telemedicine, and Social Medicine // View article
Authors:
Tara French
Jeroen Blom
Sneha Raman
Keywords: rural health; participatory design; community; technology; experience labs; care structures; collaboration space; experiential learning.
Abstract:
There is a need when introducing new technology in health and social care settings to involve those who will use the technology, or be affected by it, at an early stage of the design process. Experience Labs employ a participatory approach for different stakeholders to share lived experiences, and collaboratively create ideas and solutions for health and social care challenges. The Labs serve the whole of Scotland, including the remote Highland areas, and are designed bespoke to the project goal and context. In this paper, we propose that the participatory approach of the Experience Labs provides a valuable space for collaboration to explore the potential and impact of supportive technology in rural communities. Initial findings suggest that participating in Experience Labs leads to a better understanding of communities of care as established by individuals and support structures in place, and how these can be mediated by technology. We conclude that the introduction of technology in these rural Highland communities of care needs to support existing networks, unique to each community, and consider the impact on changing existing structures.
Pages: 13 to 18
Copyright: Copyright (c) IARIA, 2016
Publication date: April 24, 2016
Published in: conference
ISSN: 2308-4359
ISBN: 978-1-61208-470-1
Location: Venice, Italy
Dates: from April 24, 2016 to April 28, 2016