Meeting the communication needs of an aging society - promoting positive communication between older adults and their family members

We are living in an era of highly developed communication technology. Nowadays, communication designs and tools are making it easier for people to connect with each other, using mobile phones, email, applications and social media sites, etc. Research has shown that for older adults, staying in contact with people around them is crucial for their mental and physical health. They want to know about their family members, such as the well-being of their adult children (WRVS). Communication technologies are helping more people to communicate. However, older adults are not benefiting from them due to their problems with using the technology (Catherine, et al). According to research, most interface designs are too complicated for older adults to use because aging has a particular effect in digital design. At the same time, they hope to have reciprocal and frequent communication with their family members. As for younger generations, they are addicted to such communication technologies, but they don’t always take the initiative to connect with older adults in their family. “Nexa” is the Latin word for “connection”. The designer intends to build Nexa, an application that is simple enough for older adults to use for communication and motivates other family members to participate in sharing their lives with their older relatives. Low-effort use, multiform messages, and reciprocal communications are realized in this design.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.F.A.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Art and Design

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2017

Author dc:creator

• Bai, Qiuailin

Contributors dc:contributor

• Weightman, David

• Older adults
• Communication

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2017 Qiuailin Bai

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/98420

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/98420