Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Eliciting user requirements with older adults: lessons from the design of an interactive domestic alarm system

  • Long paper
  • Published:
Universal Access in the Information Society Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper documents how methodological challenges were addressed when identifying user requirements for an Interactive Domestic Alarm System (IDAS) designed to enable older adults to live independently in their own homes for longer. A novel approach to determine possible IDAS functionality is described, and the results of focus groups conducted with older adults and care workers are reported. The paper identifies some difficulties encountered when using the focus group method with an ageing sample, and highlights the importance of careful preparatory work if this method is to be used successfully in such a context.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Dewsbury GA, Edge HM (2000) Designing the home to meet the needs of tomorrow...today: deconstructing and rebuilding the home for life. In: Proceedings of the ENHR 2000 Conference, Gävle, Sweden, 26–30 June 2000

  2. Dunnell K (2000) Policy responses to population ageing and population decline—United Kingdom. In: Proceedings of the Expert Group Meeting On Policy Responses To Population Ageing and Population Decline, Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations Secretariat, New York, September 2000

  3. Elling R (1997) Revising safety instructions with focus groups. J Bus Tech Comm 11:451–468

    Google Scholar 

  4. Help the Aged (2002a) Nothing personal: rationing social care for older people.http://www.helptheaged.org.uk/Viewpoint/Research/_default.htm. Cited 2002

  5. Help the Aged (2002b) The older population.http://www.helptheaged.org.uk/AdviceInfo/InfoPoint/_default.htm. Cited 2002

  6. Inglis E, Szymkowiak A, Gregor P, Newell AF, Hine N, Wilson BA, Evans J (2002) Issues surrounding the user centred development of a new interactive memory aid. In: Keates S, Langdon P, Clarkson PJ, Robinson P (eds) Universal access and assistive technology, Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York

  7. Kirakawski J (1997) Methods for user-orientated requirements specification. Telematics Applications Project TE2010.http://www.ejeisa.com/nectar/respect/3.2/index.htm. Cited 1997

  8. Kirwin B (1991) Human reliability assessment. In: Wilson JR, Corlett EN (1991) Evaluation of human work. A practical ergonomics methodology, Taylor & Francis, London

  9. McDonagh-Philip D, Bruseberg A (2000) Using focus groups to support new product development. Inst Eng Des J 26(5):4–9

    Google Scholar 

  10. Millward LJ (2000) Focus groups. In: Breakwell GM, Hammond S, Fife-Schaw C (eds) Research methods in psychology (2nd ed.) Sage, New York

  11. Rosenbaum S, Cockton G, Coyne K, Muller M, Rauch T (2002) Panel on focus groups in HCI: wealth of information or waste of resources? In: Proceedings of CHI 2002, Minneapolis, MN, 20–25 April 2000

  12. Robson C (1993) Real world research. Blackwell, London

  13. Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (2000) Home safety: The RoSPA guide to home safety projects.http://www.rospa.co.uk/hsfacts.htm. Cited 2000

  14. Swain AD, Guttman HE (1983) A handbook of human reliability analysis with emphasis on nuclear power plant applications. Nureg/CR-1278 (Washington, DC: USNRC)

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Millennium Home Project (EPSRC/DTI LINK Foresight/DoH Medlink). We would also like to thank Hillingdon Social Services for their cooperation and assistance with participant recruitment.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. VIVID Research Centre, Department of Information Systems & Computing, Brunel University, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, UK

    Lorna Lines & Kate S. Hone

Authors
  1. Lorna Lines
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kate S. Hone
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lorna Lines.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lines, L., Hone, K.S. Eliciting user requirements with older adults: lessons from the design of an interactive domestic alarm system. Univ Access Inf Soc 3, 141–148 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-004-0094-x

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-004-0094-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation