Tangible Social Content Service System: Making Digital Technology Easier to Use by Elderly and Its Usability Evaluation

Abstract

Digital world is surrounded by biggest challenges of changing communication mediums with rapid increase of technology and social network services. Younger generation immerses towards enlarge smart techniques on competence basis, while elderly suffered by social isolation. However, the intergenerational communication is challenged by distinction in media preferences and interaction mediums which lead to physical and mental disorder and social isolation in elderly people. The tangible social content service system using the well acquainted UI with elderly is developed, which embeds live voice message in digital photos and easy connector with social network service (Facebook) for the independent living and socially and mentally retired generation. Now a day, smartphone and messenger services are widely used by elderly. So, messenger based voice message service is also developed based on KakaoTalk Plus Friend API for smartphone. After development stage the usability evaluation of web-based system for elderly oriented service is conducted by seniors to examine two-way communication techniques among the younger generation and elderly with the unique medium of photos with elderly friendly tangible user interface (UI).