Short answer
When designing health technologies for older adults, actively investigate and integrate a comprehensive understanding of their diverse identities to ensure relevance, usability, and widespread adoption.
- Field
- User-Centred Design
- Source
- CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (2022)
- Method
- Systematic Review
- Sample
- 174 publications
- Evidence
- Moderate effect
Health technologies designed for older adults are more likely to be adopted when the design process actively considers and incorporates a wide range of identity dimensions, not just age. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2022 study published in CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. Using Systematic review with 174 publications, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: When designing health technologies for older adults, actively investigate and integrate a comprehensive understanding of their diverse identities to ensure relevance, usability, and widespread adoption.
Prioritizing Diverse Identities in Health Tech Design for Older Adults Boosts Adoption
Health technologies designed for older adults are more likely to be adopted when the design process actively considers and incorporates a wide range of identity dimensions, not just age.
CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems · 2022
Key Findings
- 01Many identity dimensions beyond age have not been adequately explored in HCI research focused on aging.
- 02Current engagement methods in health technology design for older adults may not fully capture the diversity of their experiences.
- 03There is a significant research gap in understanding how to leverage diverse identity dimensions to improve technology adoption among marginalized older adult populations.
Application
Design takeaway
When designing health technologies for older adults, actively investigate and integrate a comprehensive understanding of their diverse identities to ensure relevance, usability, and widespread adoption.
How to apply
During user research, employ qualitative methods that encourage participants to share their multifaceted identities and how these influence their health and technology use. Use personas that reflect diverse identity intersections.
Project actions
- 01When defining your target user, go beyond basic demographics and consider their cultural background, personal experiences, and social context.
- 02Use a variety of research methods, including interviews and ethnographic studies, to uncover the nuances of user identity.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Provides a comprehensive systematic review of a significant body of literature.
- +Identifies clear research gaps and offers actionable implications for future design practice.
Limitations
It can be challenging to fully capture and represent the complexity of user identity within a single design project. Ethical considerations are paramount when exploring sensitive aspects of identity.
Reliability & validity
The systematic review methodology enhances reliability by using predefined criteria for study selection and data extraction. Validity is supported by the breadth of the literature reviewed, but may be limited by the heterogeneity of the included studies' definitions and approaches to identity.
Think critically
To what extent does the emphasis on 'identity' in design research risk oversimplifying complex social and cultural factors, or conversely, lead to tokenistic representation?
Design Principles
"Design for the spectrum of identity, not just the demographic."
Current health technology design often overlooks the multifaceted identities of older adults, leading to technologies that fail to resonate with or meet the needs of diverse user groups. By broadening the scope of identity considerations, designers can create more inclusive and effective solutions that address health inequities.
What This Means for Your Design
When you design things for older people, don't just think about them being old. Think about all the other things that make them who they are – like their background, culture, or if they have a disability. This will help you make better products that more people will actually use.
How to use in your project
- 1.Reference this study when justifying the need to explore user identity beyond basic demographics in your user research section.
- 2.Use the findings to inform your user persona development, ensuring they represent a range of identity dimensions.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
This research highlights the critical need to move beyond a singular focus on age when designing for older adults. By exploring a broader spectrum of identity dimensions—such as cultural background, socioeconomic status, and personal experiences—designers can create health technologies that are more inclusive, relevant, and ultimately more likely to be adopted by diverse user groups, thereby addressing potential health inequities.
Source
CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
Examining Identity as a Variable of Health Technology Research for Older Adults: A Systematic Review
journal · 2022
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about prioritizing diverse identities in health tech design for older adults boosts adoption?
- When designing health technologies for older adults, actively investigate and integrate a comprehensive understanding of their diverse identities to ensure relevance, usability, and widespread adoption. Evidence: CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (2022).
- Why does "Prioritizing Diverse Identities in Health Tech Design for Older Adults Boosts Adoption" matter for design?
- Current health technology design often overlooks the multifaceted identities of older adults, leading to technologies that fail to resonate with or meet the needs of diverse user groups. By broadening the scope of identity considerations, designers can create more inclusive and effective solutions that address health inequities.
- How can designers apply this research?
- When designing health technologies for older adults, actively investigate and integrate a comprehensive understanding of their diverse identities to ensure relevance, usability, and widespread adoption.
- What were the main findings?
- Many identity dimensions beyond age have not been adequately explored in HCI research focused on aging.. Current engagement methods in health technology design for older adults may not fully capture the diversity of their experiences.. There is a significant research gap in understanding how to leverage diverse identity dimensions to improve technology adoption among marginalized older adult populations.
- What research method was used?
- Systematic Review with 174 publications.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2022 journal from CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- During user research, employ qualitative methods that encourage participants to share their multifaceted identities and how these influence their health and technology use. Use personas that reflect diverse identity intersections.
- What are the limitations?
- The review is limited to published HCI literature, potentially excluding relevant research from other fields or industry-led initiatives. The definition and exploration of 'identity' can vary across studies.