Running head: INCREASING ELDERLY ACCEPTANCE OF WEARABLE FITNESS DEVICES I would use a fitness tracker that fulfils my needs! User-centred design of motivating functionalities targeting active elderly to increase acceptance of wearable fitness devices E. Oude Groote Beverborg | ANR u920033| SNR 2020901 Master’s Thesis Communication and Information Sciences New Media Design School of Humanities and Digital Sciences Tilburg University, Tilburg Supervisor: dr. L. Elloumi Second Reader: dr.ir. N. van der Laan June 2019 INCREASING ELDERLY ACCEPTANCE OF WEARABLE FITNESS DEVICES 2 Abstract Background: In the broader research of wearables for elderly, wearable fitness devices (WFDs) can benefit elderly by motivating them to become more physically active. Unfortunately current WFDs are not suited for the elderly target group, due to different user needs. Objective: The present study specifically dives into the motivating functionalities of a WFD by developing motivating functionalities, utilizing the self-determination theory, that would be accepted by the elderly target group. Method: The study followed the 4 phases of user-centred design, with every phase answering one sub research questions and providing results as input for the next phase. The participants of the study were active elderly within the age group of 60 and 75 years. In phase 1, a related systems analysis was performed. In phase 2, user interviews were conducted with 5 participants. In phase 3, the prototype was developed along with acceptance factors, two scenarios, and personas. In phase 4, the eHealth End-user Walkthrough was conducted with 7 participants to test the prototype for end user acceptance and gather feedback. Results: Existing WFDs mainly motivate through goal setting and lack to support autonomy with motivating functionalities. It turned out that the elderly did not want to be motivated to move more through the WFD. This insight shifted the intent for the motivating functionalities from directly motivating to supporting the user. From the user interviews the need for a companion, a destination, and to be informed about self-health were set. The motivating functionalities (destination, buddy, and health functionality) were developed in an low-fidelity interactive prototype. The developed prototype was accepted (n=5). INCREASING ELDERLY ACCEPTANCE OF WEARABLE FITNESS DEVICES 3 Conclusion: Motivating functionalities targeted at elderly are better accepted when aimed at supporting the user. The found results can benefit future research on wearables for elderly and existing WFDs by including the elderly target group. Keywords: wearable, physical activity, motivation, elderly, technology acceptance, UCD INCREASING ELDERLY ACCEPTANCE OF WEARABLE FITNESS DEVICES 4 Table of contents Chapter 1: Introduction ........................................................................................................... 6 Chapter 2: Theoretical framework ....................................................................................... 10 2.1 Wearable devices ............................................................................................................ 10 2.2 The use of wearables among elderly .............................................................................. 11 2.3 Measure acceptance of technology ................................................................................. 14 2.4 Motivate elderly to exercise ........................................................................................... 20 2.5 Self-Determination Theory ............................................................................................. 22 2.6 The research questions .................................................................................................... 22 Chapter 3: Method ................................................................................................................. 24 3.1 Design of the study and ethics ........................................................................................ 24 3.2 Phase 1: Related systems analysis .................................................................................. 25 3.3 Phase 2: User interviews ................................................................................................. 26 3.4 Phase 3: Development .................................................................................................... 28 3.5 Phase 4: EEW ................................................................................................................. 29 Chapter 4: Results .................................................................................................................. 32 4.1 Related systems analysis results ..................................................................................... 32 4.1.1 Product functionalities ............................................................................................. 32 4.1.2 Motivating functionalities ........................................................................................ 33 4.1.3 Suited to be tested in the user interview .................................................................. 34 4.2 User interviews results .................................................................................................... 34 4.2.1 Elderly characteristics .............................................................................................. 34 4.2.2 Elderly daily life ...................................................................................................... 36 4.2.3 Acceptance factors ................................................................................................... 36 4.2.4 Motivations for being physically active ................................................................... 36 4.2.5 Barriers for being physically active ......................................................................... 40 4.2.6 Motivating functionalities of existing WFDs .......................................................... 42 4.2.7 User needs ................................................................................................................ 44 4.3 Development results ....................................................................................................... 44 4.3.1 Prototype development ............................................................................................ 44 4.3.2 Personas & scenarios development .......................................................................... 45 4.3.3 Acceptance factors ................................................................................................... 46 4.4 EEW results .................................................................................................................... 46 4.4.1 Buddy functionality ................................................................................................. 46 4.4.2 Destination functionality .......................................................................................... 48 INCREASING ELDERLY ACCEPTANCE OF WEARABLE FITNESS DEVICES 5 4.4.3 Health functionality ................................................................................................. 51 4.4.4 The total prototype ................................................................................................... 53 Chapter 5: Discussion and conclusion .................................................................................. 56 5.1 Summary of the results ................................................................................................... 56 5.2 Discussion and theoretical implications ......................................................................... 57 5.3 Limitations and future studies ........................................................................................ 60 5.3.1 Practical implications ............................................................................................... 61 5.4 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................... 62 References ............................................................................................................................... 63 Appendices .............................................................................................................................. 71 Appendix A: Phase 2 - User interview questions ................................................................. 71 Appendix B: Study information and informed consent ........................................................ 79 Appendix C: Phase 2 - Codebook user interview ................................................................. 82 Appendix D: Personas and scenarios .................................................................................... 85 Appendix E: Screenshots of the prototype ........................................................................... 88 Appendix F: Phase 4 - User test interview questions ........................................................... 91 Appendix G: Phase 4 - Codebook user test interview .......................................................... 93 Appendix H: Related systems analysis ................................................................................. 95 Appendix I: Interview quotes of the participants daily life activities ................................. 106 INCREASING ELDERLY ACCEPTANCE OF WEARABLE FITNESS DEVICES 6 Chapter 1: Introduction