Creative personal projects of the elderly as active engagements with interactive media technology

Abstract

Interactive media technologies are increasingly designed to support an active life among senior citizens and not solely to diminish the effects of physical and cognitive decline. One aspect of active life in one's old age is engagement in creative "personal projects," such as new hobbies and reflection on past events. To our knowledge, research has not yet explicitly focused on the role of creative personal projects in senior citizens' media use. In our analysis of media diaries and contextual interviews with seven seniors, we focus on how interactive media technologies are involved in these projects. Proceeding from our findings, we provide suggestions on how to enhance creative personal projects with interactive media technology design.