Connecting older adults through voice-based interfaces

Abstract

My dissertation work focuses on increasing access to online communication and enabling self-expression for older adults with vision impairments. This population experiences barriers including technology cost and learnability of accessible software required for going online. My dissertation draws on research in accessibility, social computing, and aging along with my background in computer science, human-computer interaction, and communication studies. I will design, build, and evaluate a voice-based online platform that allows older adults to share content and express themselves through a traditional phone interface. I will study how sharing through this platform impacts social support, isolation, and quality of life as people age with vision impairments.