Perspectives on Human-Computer Interaction research with older people

Book Title:

Perspectives on Human-Computer Interaction research with older people

Publisher:

Springer

Series title:

Human-Computer Interaction Series

Editor:

Sergio Sayago (Universitat de Barcelona)

Mission and vision of the book:

Ageing has become a significant research area in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) in recent years. The bulk of this research is characterized by (i) compensating for the impact of declining age-related functional abilities on user interface design, (ii) reducing social isolation and enabling older people to remain in touch with their children and grandchildren via new Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) tools, (iii) helping older adults to live independently and age-in-place with assistive technologies, and (iv) fairly negative stereotyped views of the relationship between older people and digital technologies (e.g., unable to either learn or use desktop computers, online social networks, smartphones…).

This book posits that HCI research involving older people has come to a stage where a change of perspective is needed to better understand, design, and evaluate older people’s interactions with digital technologies in the early 21st century. This alternative standpoint is prompted by recent research in other fields outside of HCI, and opportunities offered by advances in contemporary technologies, such as social networking tools, the Internet of Things, as well as the more general increasing role of the Internet in everyday life. Previous research (from Psychology and Sociology, for instance) has shown that ageing is a multifaceted process, with gains and losses. In light of the presence of digital technologies in multiple facets of the lives of most of us, there is room for thinking that the role that these technologies play in older people’s lives can and should go beyond supporting health, independent living and communication. In addition to this, the relationship between older people and digital technologies is, or might be, richer than one might imagine when we witness older people’s interactions with these technologies and / or talk to them about their digital encounters in out-of-laboratory conditions.

This book therefore aims to provide a new (or a different) perspective for future HCI research with older people, with a diversity of views.

This website / blog:

The aim of this website is to further disseminate the research contained within the book, and to set up a shared knowledge community. The editor will request permission from the authors of accepted chapters to provide material(s) that may be relevant and helpful to include on the website.

Submissions and peer-review:

• Expressions of interest (CLOSED)
  • Potential authors are kindly invited to submit expressions of interests that provide a succinct summary of the most relevant aspects of their intended chapters.
  • Expressions of interests will be peer-reviewed.
• Full chapters (CLOSED)
  • Authors of accepted expressions of interest will be invited to prepare and submit full chapters taking into account the feedback and instructions provided by the editor.
  • Chapters will be permitted two rounds of peer-review.
• Accepted chapters (PUBLISHED – 16 June 2018)

Publication: 2019