Overcoming technology and communication barriers in intergenerational communication with a tangible interface

Despite the higher uptake of digital media also in older age groups, there are still challenges for people of high ages and with cognitive or motoric problems, which prevent them from learning and using devices like smartphones or tablets. Tangible user interfaces provide an opportunity to connect these people to social media, thereby increasing their digital participation in society and reducing loneliness. In this paper, we discuss the challenges of intergenerational communication and research the opportunities affiliated with tangible technologies to overcome technology barriers for adults of high ages. We present a hybrid system for social media interactions between young smartphone users and their old relatives, who do not use mobile technologies. The system consists of a tangible user interface designed specifically for old adults that connects to a standard mobile messenger service. TAMI was designed in a user-centered process to fulfill the needs of older adults and tested in a longer-term field study with pairs of young and old relatives.