Working with users is substantial for AAL funded projects. It is very important to understand the users’ way of life and their needs and wishes. Join-In set up user groups in Germany, Hungary, Norway and Ireland. The participants are being recruited from senior clubs, patient organisations, church associations, and from voluntary neighbourhood support groups. Home care patients will be involved at a later point of time. All of these persons have a common interest: staying healthy and self-sufficient.
The interests, wishes, fears and behaviour are being assessed by questionnaires, focus groups, interviews as well as observations. By way of gaming sessions we gather user requirements and assess the suitability and user friendliness of the games, controllers and platforms. Known as well as unknown games are offered to the users .The games include board games as well as computer games and exergames using Wii and Kinect. The results of the user assessment provide the basis for the developments.
We involve key persons that deal with different aspects of elderly care such as education, social work, ambulatory and stationary care. Their contribution is very valuable when developing a solution close to the user.
A social network requires an active participation; yet, motivation is not easy. Therefore, part of the project deals with assessing the motivation of the users and with finding ways to motivating this special group. While the goal of the project is to find solutions that are usable as well as accepted, another interesting aspect concerns cultural difference between the countries.
One main finding so far is that users in all of the participating countries see communication as the most important aspect in social interaction. Another aspect concerns a certain fear the participants express towards the technology: It has to be made clear, that the technology is solely a means to support people.
Join-In will connect people. It will develop products which will meet the users’ needs and become an integral part of their daily lives.
