In this Human Centered Design and Implementation project, I worked with a team to create a design challenge and product customized to the growing senior citizen population. Honor The Elders is my concept of using participatory culture through instructional environments focused on creating tech savvy seniors. As the Subject Matter Expert in the Inspiration, Ideation and Implementation Phases – I used Pew research statistics to identify common problems with aging in place, created interview questions for personal views on life, health and thoughts on the technology age, interviewed seniors and named the product. The target audience is African American women living alone on a fixed income. The project uses the SCRUM process to organize research, ideas and track project development. Covid 19 impacted the original classroom design of the product. Stay at home orders presented an unexpected challenge to the participatory aspect of the product. The solution was to create a digital library of instructional videos and use representation to engage our target audience.
Video Transcription: A young man walks into the living room and waves his grandmother, who sits in a wheelchair.
Grandmother: Thanks for coming to see your old granny. Edward would love this, got me to like them too. I really miss him.
Grandson: Yeah, I remember.
Grandmother: Since your Grandpa died, I feel like I don’t get to see anyone anymore.
Grandson: Grandma just use video chat. We got you the phone for Christmas for that reason.
Grandmother: No, you know I’m not good at those gizmos.
Grandson: Its so easy, see (phone rings), hello, Dad.
Dad: Hey, Son, what’s up.
Grandmother: Let me see that (two beeps) uh, looks like I got the hanging up pretty good huh (laughs)
Grandson: Grandma
Grandmother: Well, you can help a Granny out couldn’t you?
Announcer: Cultivating tech savvy seniors takes time, patience and of course you.
