Assessing user needs by exploring daily actions of elderly people in their home environment in Chile

Abstract

Despite their increasing need for assistance, technical assistance systems for the elderly often fail. The aim of this study is to investigate the human-technology interaction in the everyday life of older Chileans. It focuses on household technology, which subsumes technical devices that are used to simplify and manage daily routine. The aim of the investigation is to identify the technology used and the usage practices. By conducting interviews with observational parts, some special characteristics of the target group are revealed and general implications for product development are derived.