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Collaborative HCI and UX: Longitudinal Diary Studies as a means of Uncovering Barriers to Digital Adoption

In this paper, our proposition is that longitudinal research, such as diary studies, can be used to uncover the core needs of those users who are over 65 and experience difficulty with digital interfaces. Through a two year research project, we have explored the barriers to adopting technology, patterns in monitoring health and finally, how people living with Dementia and their carers might use technology to improve the quality of their life. 
 
Through understanding what these core issues are, we propose that any virtual reality technology can be sufficiently aligned to the mental models of over 65s, so as to be completely inclusive of their needs. By using HCI and UX research approaches, both public and commercial digital agencies, at the forefront of digital innovation, can produce digital artefacts to alleviate barriers to digital adoption in an aging population. 
 
We submit this summary of our research in contribution to Human Centred Design (HCD) for Intelligent Environments workshop at the British HCI Conference, as we are keen to receive feedback and participate in discussions around this area, particularly because some of our research has suggested VR is the next logical step in supporting an aging population.