On this episode of Spark: Twittering Grandma, Digital Family Histories, and Ageism in Design
- Christian Payne‘s grandmother is on Twitter
- Christian’s tweets: @Documentally
- Ofelia’s tweets: @Granumentally
- Nora solicits your story ideas. Get in touch!
- Paul Taylor combines genealogy and social networking with Arcalife
- Nora mentions the New Scientist article How do you value a historical email?
- Glen Hougan teaches his students to design for an aging population (full interview)
- Nora mentions her full interview with William Deresiewicz on The End of Solitude
This episode features Creative Commons music and sound effects:
- “Wadidyusay?” by Zap Mama
- “Scott Waves to Aprils Salty Grace” by J. Lang
- “Thimble of Sun,” “Unravel Slowly,” “Sweet & Easy,” and “Black Eyed Susan” by Chad Crouch
- “Noctune” by Podington Bear
- “E Flat Stride” by Mills Blue Rhythm Band (1935)
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[Original image by OurManInside]
Twittering grandma story was impactful: My mom is 75 and is totally addicted to the ipod touch. She is Greek and came to the US just a few years ago. I never thought she would take to it as rapidly as she did. It has opened up a whole new world. I hope tech makers and software designers take note.. there is huge market potential in the > 65 demographic
Yet another incredible episode Nora! Nice work guys.
I think you'll find this link really interesting: http://genealogy.about.com/cs/oralhistory/a/inter…
It is 50 questions to ask a relative. I suggest buying a cheap MP3 recorder and giving it to them to record the answers on their own time, or perhaps you could interview them instead. It's a fantastic idea to keep a detailed, audio record of your family members for the future.
Cheers
Dave
Thanks, Dave. I love that idea of discovering a new side to relatives through questions you might not have thought of asking.
I listened with interest to this episode. When we got to the part about Arcalife my first thought was who owns the data stored there. Who has access. I think how could 50 or 100 years of geological data especially when it get interspersed with personal stories. Though I know are an inter-connected world and growing more so every day. I can't help get more and more concerned with the security, use and abuse of all this online information. What happens if in the future or tomorrow an insurance company finds out from online data that your family has a history of cancer. What if they and other insurance company not refuse all members of you family coverage? This all because someone in your family added the details of how each member of a family died. This is on one of hundreds of scenarios I can envision. I feel people are way too willing to give up to the internet information about themselves and others without thing through the long term consequences of their actions.
PS.
As alway, apologies for my poor ability to write.
As a youngish person with MS I'm always horrified by the hideousness of products for anyone with a disability. The attitude of producers seems to be that we don't mind looking feeble. I've always gotten way too much attention, however kindly intentioned. whenever I use a mobilty device. How about walkers that look like grocery carts or strollers? I feel much less humiliated on days when I can walk well enough to push a grocery cart. I really enjoyed Glenn Hougans ideas and look forward to seeing his products. Can you tell me how to find them?
Interesting perspective, Emily; thanks for telling us about it. I think the products would mostly be coming from Glen Hougan's students, so I'm not sure where to find them.
I just listened to Glen Hougan's remarks on product design for seniors, and I have to say that I am so tired of hearing people lament about ageism.
If he ventured into a common elementary school he might notice classroom chairs with all four legs covered by tennis balls. I thought it was inventive of the someone to apply the sporty balls in this way. So relax Glen…the glass is half full, not empty…why not look at the tennis ball application to the walker as innovative. (and probably cost effective)…yeesh.
After the show I googled "walking canes" and lo and behold I saw a variety of cane designs I have never seen on the street. Perhaps Glen's "Halifax" is not offering its seniors variety. Or do Halifax seniors need more "style" awareness? Or should we subject them to the level of mass marketing that has influenced younger people? I sense if we do increase style marketing to seniors, we'll hear the cry that we are now taking advantage of seniors.
Perhaps the current seniors have not been willing to purchase "wild design". Perhaps the boomers are a better buying crowd for innovative design. Time will tell.
Perhaps Glen we can ask the cane companies what their experience has been.
It would be nice to hear what seniors have to say about all this. What does the end user say? Glen?
If we look hard enough we can find ageism in anything. Relax those eyes!
Kudos to Glen Hougan. It's about time someone paid attention to design for seniors. I am an eldering boomer physician who's been going on about this problem, especially around hospital needs, for years. I wrote a piece after seeing Bruce Mau's "Massive Change"exhibit that I'd love to send to Glen if you'd be kind enough to give me an email address for him.
I think it was Massive Change that first got me really thinking about 'design thinking' and how much we can do if we just change our presuppositions about objects and processes.
I guess this is a latecomer comment but re: design for the elderly/infirm. I think there is a huge market opportunity for someone who can produce a 3 or 4 wheel scooter that has some sex appeal. The ones on the market now are so dorky looking. I have elderly friends and family who could really use one but resist, in part, because they look so lame. What about something for the Harley Davidson generation or the Beamer crowd?