- 10.00 – 10.45: Trial lecture. Title: to be announced
- 12.00 – 16.00: Public defence
Ordinary opponents:
- First opponent: Klaus Miesenberger, Associate Professor, Johannes Kepler University
- Second opponent: Ana Isabel Martins, Researcher, University of Aveiro
- The chair of the committee: Nenad Pavel, Associate Professor, OsloMet
Leader of the public defence: Siri Fagernes, Head of Group, OsloMet
Supervisors:
Main supervisor: Weiqin Chen, Professor, Department of Computer Science, OsloMet
Co-supervisors:
- Astrid Bergland, Professor, Centre for Senior Citizen Staff, OsloMet
- Norun C. Sanderson, Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science, OsloMet
Abstract
The global tendency of population aging, driven by increased life expectancies and declining birth rates, presents various biological, social, and cultural challenges. The rise in older citizens within the population raises concerns about the quality of life, healthcare system, and economic implications.
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has emerged as potential solutions to address these challenges. Among these technologies, augmented reality (AR) stands out as a promising tool for improving the lives of older individuals. AR merges virtual elements with the real world, offering an enhanced interactive interface that simplifies tasks and enhances experiences. AR holds the potential to support daily activities, foster social interactions, maintain health, enhance caregiving, promote independence, and improve overall well-being among the older population.
Existing research has examined the development and application of AR systems to address various aging-related issues, such as physical limitations, cognitive decline, and social isolation. However, despite the potential benefits, the usability of AR systems for elderly users remains a challenge.
Usability heuristics, which provide design guidelines and evaluation criteria for usability, play a crucial role in ensuring the effectiveness and user-friendliness of ICT systems. Although there are general usability heuristics, they do not comprehensively address the unique characteristics and requirements of AR technology.
This dissertation aims to contribute valuable insights into supporting human aging through the benefits of AR technology. Following a Design Science Research (DSR) approach, the research explores the effectiveness of AR interventions in addressing aging-related challenges, investigates existing usability recommendations and guidelines, and develops and validates an artifact in the form of a novel set of usability heuristics for AR technology in the context of older users. Employing a DSR methodology, this study follows an iterative process of problem identification, artifact development, and evaluation to ensure the heuristics' practical applicability.
The dissertation provides several key contributions. A systematic literature review and meta-analysis provided insights into the effects of mixed reality, including AR, on fall prevention in older adults, emphasizing the potential benefits of incorporating virtual and augmented elements into the interventions.
The user-centered design process of an AR exergame prototype for fall prevention provided valuable feedback from the older participants and highlighted the need for usability recommendations for AR design and development for older people. An artifact in the form of a new set of usability heuristics for AR technology for older users was developed, and its two-staged validation was reported. The validation stage results demonstrated the heuristics' usefulness, ease of use, and understandability. The set was found to be a good checklist that can be used at different stages of the AR design and development process.
Overall, this research endeavours to promote a deeper understanding of the potential benefits of AR technologies in addressing aging-related challenges and to provide practical guidelines for designing more user-friendly and effective AR systems for older people.
