How do older adults engage as robot co-designers?

Abstract

Co-design is a powerful methodology to incorporate older adults into the design of new technologies. It has been less commonly used in robot design processes, especially with older adults. Embedded in our work of a year-long co-design process with older adults, 28 participants between the ages of 70 and 94 engaged in a rapid-prototyping session to design social robot interactions using a flow-based programming interface. In this paper, we explore the rapid-prototyping session investigating how older adults design robot interactions supported by lived experiences with technologies, and how older adults relate to being robot interaction designers after the rapid-prototyping session. Results demonstrate the impact and value of incorporating co-design rapid-prototyping methods that empower users to design and program social robots. Our results strongly advocate for co-design methodologies that empower users, such as older adults, and expand the boundaries of technology design.