The topic I chose to look at in semester 1 was the idea of looking at how older people use and understand technology. I decided to look at this issue through the idea of creating a new product which allowed catalogues to be put on to a disk and viewed through a product similar to an e-reader and you would also be able to order the products and have the same functions to an internet site. This would enable a catalogue to be easily viewed, held, delivered and used especially for older generations. I now want to look applying a number primary research skills and techniques to further develop this idea.
In semester 1 I looked at this in terms of literature and finding secondary research sources. I looked at an article entitled ‘The Older Adult and Public Library Computer Technology: A Pilot Study in a Canadian setting’ written by Patricia A. Larkin-Lieffers and ‘Co-creation and user-generated content-elderly people’s user requirements’ by Amela Karahasanovic. Although these offered a lot of information in terms of secondary sources, I found it limiting in terms of finding accurate information and current information. I also found it limiting in terms of collecting correct and useful information, as both sources which I looked at as the studies were based in different countries and created for other purposes and to achieve other results.
Throughout semester 2 we have been looking at different methods of carrying out research. These methods are all primary methods of research, which offers both benefits and restraints in terms of time, resources and value. These methods include carrying out interviews, observations and Experiments. For this particular area and topic of research, interviews could be an effective research method. I would look at interviewing a range of people in the elderly population, who differ in terms of class, knowledge, use and access to technology. I would look at interviewing specialists in different areas of technology related to my product. I also intend to interview people that train and teach people to use technology, possibly in public spaces or in a work environment. From these interviews I could look at, the uses this generation has for technology, the areas and aspects of technology that they have difficulty using and understanding and how technology could be adapted to be more easily used, understood and accessed by this generation. By interviewing specialists I intend to look at what products are aimed at this area of the market and why, also to research what new and existing technology there is available to be able to innovate my product and improve and develop it from existing products in terms of technology and versitiy. This particular research method would allow me to gain knowledge and understanding that would be difficult to achieve from other research methods, as it is first hand, primary research that would be current in terms of technical information, and the needs and requirements of the target market. The aspects of this methods that are less effective is the reliability in terms of that it is only a very small selection of this particular market and audience, therefore it might not reflect the overall view of technology and the requirements of technology for this generation. Another factor in using this method is the time it would take to carry out, in planning ect. I intend to minimise these by looking at a range of people within the elderly population to try and give as balanced results as possible, and by using effective time management and carrying out prototype interviews to see if the questions being asked would give effective results.
Another research method is that of carrying out observations, I intend to carry them out in environments that allow people to have access to computers and technology. These could include public libraries and internet cafes, as for most of the elderly generation they do not own there own computer therefore require access to technology in other places. By carrying out observations in these places it would allow me to view places that offers computer technology to the general public, and observe how the users and staff behave and react to the elderly using technology and what help and advice they receive. These observations would allow me explore the design and target market these environments aim at and to see if the elderly use and feel comfortable using these places. The problems with using this method of research is that there are a number of ethical rules to follow when carrying out observations and is therefore difficult to record the results. You may also require consent which makes it difficult to be accurate in carrying it out effectively.
A method of research that would not be an appropriate would be a questionnaire, this method would not be effective as it is not a time effective and in order to achieve accurate results you would have to carry out the questionnaire on a large number of people.
Within this proposal I have looked at two secondary methods of research that I intend to carry out, both of these would enable me to gain research from a variety of sources and in a variety of forms. From semester 1 I found out a lot about research and background information that had been carried out on older peoples use and understanding of technology from literature and secondary sources. This gave me a clear understanding of the issues regarding their use and needs towards technology, to give me an insight into how I could develop my product in terms of being user friendly. However literature did not give me an insight in to the technology and technical information that I require in order to develop my product. Therefore through carrying out these primary methods of research it would give me both the current and accurate technical information and the users needs and requirements of technology in this country.
Bibliography
-Karahasanovic, A et al (2009) Co-creation and user-generated content-elderly people’s user requirements, Science Direct
-Lieffers, L (2000) The older adult and public library computer technology: A pilot study on a Canadian setting, K. G. Saur Verlag
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