TechBuddies: Engaging Students to Teach Retirees about Technology

摘要

Retirees suffer from impaired mobility, loss of friends and family, and loneliness. Although these problems could be mitigated through the use of digital communication devices and the internet, many retirees lack the skill and confidence to use them effectively. The existing community initiatives that aim to help retirees understand technology often lack volunteers to teach them. This is why we developed TechBuddies, a two-component system aimed at engaging more students as volunteers. The first component consists of an interactive display that raises awareness about volunteering opportunities by simulating an interaction between a retiree and the potential volunteer. The second component involves an app-based platform that facilitates communication about events and encourages long-term engagement. TechBuddies raises awareness about and provides a platform for inter-generational interactions between students and retirees who are a interested in using it to pursue personal interests.