Publications
Understanding Older Adults' (Dis) Engagement with Design Materials
CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI ’25), 2025
Authors: Alisha Pradhan, Ben Jelen, Ramprabu Thangaraj, Katie A. Siek, Shannon Jette, Amanda Lazar
Abstract: Design workshops are a popular approach to include older adults in the technology design process. However, formative design sessions with older adults have had unexpected outcomes such as the non-use of traditional design materials like craft-based prototyping supplies or disengagement from design activities. Analyzing the engagement of 32 older adults across two design workshops, this paper sheds insights on some of these outcomes. Contributing to a growing body of HCI research on understanding older adults’ participation in design, we provide an understanding of how design materials can shape older adults’ engagement in formative design activities. Our discussion furthers research on understanding who older adults design for and why, argues for a different understanding of creative expression, and offers considerations for choosing design materials.
View Paper“That’s something that as a senior person you have to consider now”: Unpacking Older Adults’ Preferences for End-of-Life Data Planning
Designing Interactive Systems Conference (DIS ’25), 2025
Authors: Ramprabu Thangaraj, Jed R. Brubaker, Nathan Malkin, Alisha Pradhan
Abstract: What happens to a person’s data after they pass away? Designing for digital legacy requires input from individuals across all life stages, as motivations to plan vary with age. Yet, the specific perspectives that older adults have on end-of-life data management have not been investigated in depth. Through interviews with 16 older adults, we examine their preferences and motivations for managing everyday digital data (e.g., text messages, social media, photos) after death. Our findings surface several implications for end-of-life data planning, including creating awareness about digital legacy and associated risks. We also unpack and discuss how older adults’ life stage and familiarity with end-of-life planning uniquely positions them to identify barriers and opportunities in managing digital legacy, such as how post-mortem data can encode societal norms of a period or be donated for the greater good.
View Paper