This study shares research methodologies between six different research teams on social computing service and platform planning for older adults and carried out collaborative research.
This study is divided into theoretical and applicative parts. T ...
This study shares research methodologies between six different research teams on social computing service and platform planning for older adults and carried out collaborative research.
This study is divided into theoretical and applicative parts. The theoretical section deals with case studies of older adults using social network services, characteristics of the information usage of older adult users, and cognitive engineering characteristics as well based on HCI theory and methodology. Specifically, the cogntive engineering aspects, information usage patterns, and social networking patterns were theoretically explored. A model was deduced, and this model was empirically analyzed.
The applicative research is based on the results of the theoretical study and its aim was to develop a service that strengthens and utilizes social networks of the silver generation. Needs analysis, usage pattern analysis, and prototype development for PC, mobile devices, and IPTV platforms were conducted for an effective contents applications and interface model.
Prior research on older adults in areas such as information technology and social networking have merely analyzed the phenomenon itself without much research on social computing that can support them. Therefore, this research classifies older adults' social networking elements as "technology capacity gap", "context gap", and "motivation gap". A HCI approach was taken to overcome these gaps by finding interaction and interface elements of social computing services. In order to strengthen weak areas of prior research, quantitative research based on surveys, contextual inquiry, and other qualitative methods were utilized in order to find out the needs and wants of the silver generation. Through this, elements that influence effective social networking, and these elements were made into a theoretical model in order to increase generalization.
This study proposes a digital contents platform model for older adults and welfare service development strategies that utilize social computing. Also, this research studied information usage behavior and proposed a more effective method of preventing information alienation. The results of this study is expected to be applied in diverse areas. First, a social computing service with increased satisfaction can be developed through diverse domestic and international case studies and user studies, and the digitla contents platform for older adults can be utilized in developing welfare service strategies.
In addition, the results of this study have practical implications. Based on the theoretical model of silver generation media usage and related interaction and interface elements, an actual social network service was proposed. Although the silver industry is receiving much focus, there is a lack of an appropriate service guideline, and this study may be utilized by social computing related firms. Ultimately, this study seeks to increase the quality of life of older adults through social means. Also, to firms that only see the older adult issue to be an issue only dealt with by the government, the proposed social computing service model in this study may allow for a more efficient service planning and revenue models.