Interactive Personal Sharing Media for the Elderly in India

Sharing - a way of making bonds

• Sharing is externalizing the coherent self.

• It needs a receiver.

• It comes from learning to socialize and appreciating that others have a need.

• Sharing of emotions is relieving of burdens.

• Indian tradition believes that knowledge is universal.

• Knowledge increases by sharing.

All people share, irrespective of culture, age, gender or social status.

Personal – an expression of one’s self.

• An individual has an exclusive usage of something that is personal.

• It is a pointer to one’s lifestyle, mannerisms, personal traits, habits… • It symbolizes one’s hopes, dreams, and aspirations.

• Personal belongings are a source of comfort and provide a sense of ownership… • There is always a sense of attachment to something that is personal; it has an emotional value.

• Personal ‘space’ gives a person those solitary moments one always looks forward to.

What are personal: Letters, diaries, gifts, photos, prizes, mementos, clothes and other daily use objects…..

Experiences, choices, opinions, doubts, memories, moments, solitude,…..

Structures of Friends and Family

• Equal Platform • Individualistic Identity • Individualistic things shared • Individual as a Unit • Hierarchy • Family Identity • Personal aspects shared.

• Family as a Unit

Friendship-a key to a happy social state

• Sharing • Personal • Give and take • Faith • Fun element • Respect • Mutual Understanding • Play • Entertainment • Relaxation • Learning • Secrets • Challenges • Support

Who has what?

• Elderly People + Experience, patience, time on hands.

• Middle Aged People + Career and family security responsibilities, access to hi-tech gadgets, and also acceptance for them.

• Young People + Energy, enthusiasm, techno savvy ness and acceptance for newer changing technology.

Skills and access on an age timeline

• Elderly People - No or very less skills for technology.

- Low acceptance and reluctance to learn technological skills.

• Middle Age People - Technology a part of daily life.

- Ready acceptance and access to hi-tech gadgets.

• Young People - Acceptance for technology as well as techno savvy ness.

- Screened access to technology.

Markers in our relationship with the elderly Their presence in our mythology and heritage -

• Indian Mythology is full of venerable characters like Dronacharya and Bhishma, whom the society looked upon as a source of inspiration and knowledge.

• Characters like Shravan Baal, devoted his life entirely to the service of his age old blind parents, while Lord Rama happily went for 14 years in exile to honor a promise made by his father.

• For Lord Ganesha, his parents constitute his universe.

All these stories give a glimpse into the society’s attitude towards the elderly, and the scene remains quite the same even after all these years into the present….

Reflection of mythology into the present

Notable Cultural Traits • • • • • Respect for persons elder to you. The day begins with touching their feet to seek their blessings for the endeavors of the day.

Respectful conversation even with peers and younger generation.

Tendency to have a disciplined interaction with the younger generation.

Being naturally friendly - one doesn’t have to think before talking nice to others.

Looking forward to being old. People cherish the idea of giving to their next generation what they receive from their older generation.

What they Cherish..

• Tangible Photos, Books, Artifacts, Souvenirs, Gifts, Wristwatch, Spectacle Case, Pocket Radio, Shawl, Rosary Beads, Medals, Trophies, Certificates, Jewelry, Diary, Umbrella, Cane, Rocking Chair • Intangible Memories, Nostalgia, Travels, Anecdotes, Stories, Lullabies, Recipes, Skills, Prayers, Riddles.

Visual Imagery..

Old people are… Witty, Patient, Full of stories, anecdotes, experiences, advice..

They have… Gracious acceptance of Life, they look forward to being old..

They earn… Respect. Their sense of responsibility towards their children and grandchildren never ceases Their looks are… Warm, Expressive, sharp featured, a peculiar posture, a wrinkled body with slow and precise movements

Elderly- a source to gain from…

• Grandmothers - Encouragement advise and comfort.

- Skills in cooking, knitting, housekeeping, raising children, home remedies, songs and lullabies, folk lore and mythological stories.

- Memories and nostalgia.

• Grandfathers - Encouragement, moral support and advise.

- Skills about profession like family business or trade.

- Prayers, stories….

- Status in the society.

Where the elderly meet the elderly

Urban Context Men….

Morning walk groups, Yoga Clubs, Laughter Clubs, Religious Gatherings, Prayer Meeting, ‘Shakha’, Environmental Clubs, Festivals… Women… Women’s Cause Groups (NGOs), Child Care, Griha Udyog (Small Scale Industries), Satsangs, Temple Meetings, Festival (Haldi Kumkum)…

Places for Interaction

Rural Context Men….

Village Panchayat, Local Courts, Local Cause Groups, Small Scale Industries, Developmental Meetings, Festivals, Literacy programs.

Women… Women’s Cause Groups (NGOs), Child Care, Griha Udyog (Small Scale Industries), Temple Meetings, Festival (Haldi Kumkum etc.), Literacy Programs.

We limit our users to the Urban Context since we are more accustomed to the urban environment.

Diurnal Schedule of the Elderly • Women

Day begins at 5.30 AM.

Morning Chores, Tea, Newspaper, Walk, Puja, Helping in Kitchen… Recreation 10.30 AM to 12.00 Noon Phone calls, Household Chores, Reading Scriptures….

Lunch and Siesta 12.00 Noon to 3.30 PM Recreation 3.30PM to 7.00 PM TV, Reading, Knitting, Stroll, Satsang, Temple, Social Groups, Social Service… Family 7.00 PM to Dinnertime

Diurnal Schedule of the Elderly • Men

Day begins at 5.30 AM.

Morning Chores, Tea, Walk, Newspaper, Radio/ TV, Puja… Recreation 10.30 AM to 12.00 Noon Chores, Bank, Pension, Market, Phone Calls, Games/ Play,TV… Lunch and Siesta 12.00 Noon to 3.30 PM Recreation 3.30PM to 7.00 PM TV, Reading, Stroll, Satsang, Temple, Social Groups, Social Service … Family 7.00 PM to Dinnertime

Focus areas

Recreation 10.30 AM to 12.00 Noon Chores, Bank, Pension, Market, Phone Calls, Games/ Play,TV, Morning Chores, Tea, Newspaper, Walk, Puja, Helping in Kitchen… Recreation 3.30PM to 7.00 PM TV, Reading, Stroll, Satsang, Temple, Social Groups, Social Service, Reading, Knitting…

Current means for Interaction

• Letters (-) Not immediate, one way, need to go out to post or buy stationery.

(+)Can send photos, organize written material, gives a personal touch through handwriting, doodles, sketches and they are lasting.

• Phone (-) Needs someone to receive call, Visuals absent, fixed instrument and not a personal device.

(+) Hearing voice gives feeling of closeness and personal expression.

• Email (-) Not immediate, Low accessibility, needs one to learn skills, personal touch is missing.

(+) Faster than letters, no need to go out to post or for stationery,and can send and receive pictures very easily.

Current scenario for interaction in the elderly.

• Middle aged generation becomes more engrossed with career responsibilities and work timings extend beyond normal interaction timings in a family or necessitates them to move away from home for job related opportunities.

• Elderly generation has to keep moving with the younger generation. In case of more than one son, parents stay with each of them for some period of the year. This reduces contact with their friends circle.

• Introverted housing due to modern flat system makes interaction difficult.

Need for an Interaction

• What is more invigorating than a trip into nostalgia? Having the perspective of the present time and happenings, how can it be made more interesting than just browsing through a photo album?

• A friend has recently been through a bad health phase. The urge is to encourage the person to be involved in the social gatherings, invite to parties and to bring a smile on the face.

• A grandchild stays in a different city with another son, and wont sleep without a lullaby or a story from the grandmother. Can there be something more than a mere telephone call?