Human Aspects of IT for the Aged Population. Applications in Health, Assistance, and Entertainment

Abstract

The elderly in the future will use smart house technology, sensors, and robots to stay at home longer. Privacy at home for these elderly is important. In this exploratory paper, we examine different understandings of privacy and use Palen and Dourish's framework to look at the negotiation of privacy along boundaries between a human at home, the robot, and its sensors. We select three dilemmas: turning sensors on and off, the robot seeing through walls, and machine learning. We discuss these dilemmas and also discuss ways the robot can help make the elderly more aware of privacy issues and to build trust.

Combating Barriers to the Development of a Patient-Oriented Frailty Website

“…Despite a positive attitude toward web-based health services [ 27 ], older adults are concerned about privacy, especially when it is unclear by whom or how their medical data will be used [ 28 ]. For example, the probability of being identified was the single most important attribute when older adults considered internet privacy, even though sharing their medical data was viewed positively if it was to be used for science and the development of novel care and treatment [ 29 ]. The hesitancy of older adults to share their medical data reveals the need for clearly communicating how their information will be used—if they are to be comfortable consenting to its wider use.…”