Values and Viewpoints
VIRAS, Shopping with Ease: Enhancing the Shopping Experience for Older Individuals by Identifying Challenges and Developing Functional Solutions for Shopping Carts View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Lisa Katharina Kortmann, Rhea Braunwalder
The ageing population in Switzerland presents both challenges and opportunities for society. On one side, older consumer groups gain economic influence and offer great potential for producers or service providers. On the other side, higher age is usually linked to decreasing health, leading to an increase in individuals with impaired physical or mental health in the total population. In the strategy for a Swiss ageing policy (2007) the Swiss Federal Government highlights the importance of enabling older individuals to maintain societal participation and lead self-determined lives. Grocery shopping in supermarkets is a significant daily activity for older individuals, providing not only essential supplies but also opportunities for social interaction, physical activity, and enjoyment. However, a substantial proportion of older individuals in Switzerland report challenges when shopping in a supermarket. The ongoing research project “VIRAS, shopping with ease” aims to identify the specific challenges faced by different groups of older individuals when shopping in supermarkets in German speaking Switzerland. Additionally, it seeks to propose helpful modifications to a shopping cart to alleviate these challenges. Employing a participative mixed-method approach, the research includes hidden observations in supermarkets (n = 5), qualitative interviews with older individuals (n = 9), a survey (ongoing), and focus groups (planned). The field phase of the research project will be completed in autumn 2025. Findings will be used to further develop an autonomous shopping cart. In addition, findings inform strategies to support older individuals in maintaining their independence and quality of life through improved supermarket shopping experiences.
Food, Loneliness, and Ageing: Contemporary Ethnographies in Spain View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session David Conde-Caballero, Lorenzo Mariano, Borja Rivero Jiménez
This paper shares the initial findings of an ongoing research project in Spain, which explores the impact of loneliness on the eating habits of older adults from an ethnographic perspective. The study reveals that loneliness—especially when it involves eating alone—negatively affects the dietary habits of this group, leading to reduced food intake and poorer nutritional quality. Participants describe how the lack of companionship diminishes their motivation to prepare healthy meals and can result in the consumption of pre-cooked or less varied dishes. These early findings highlight the importance of considering social and emotional factors in nutrition and point to the need for interventions that promote companionship and social support during meals in order to improve quality of life in old age. An ethnographic approach offers valuable insights into the everyday experiences, routines, and emotional landscapes of older adults. By engaging closely with participants in their natural environments, this methodology allows researchers to uncover subtle dynamics and meanings around food, loneliness, and social interaction that might be overlooked in more quantitative studies. It sheds light not only on what people eat, but also on how and why they eat the way they do.
Featured Investigating Gaze Behaviour while Multitasking in Kitchen Spaces - a Study of Spatial Design while Ageing-in-Place View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Sukesha Ghosh, Swati Pal
Performing multiple tasks in a kitchen environment demands physical effort with cognitive abilities like physical strength along with focused attention and memory retention capabilities, which decline with age, presenting challenges for independent living. While the correlation between spatial design and human task performance is well-documented, there is limited understanding of how spatial design directly influences spatial activities among older adults. This study examines the gaze behavior of older adults (N=31, aged 65-81) across three compact kitchen typologies—single, double, and L-shaped—prevalent in urban Indian contexts. Statistical analysis with ANOVA and Pearson correlation was used to compare saccade duration, fixation duration, and fixation count to evaluate motor task performances. The findings highlight that spatial design highly influences aging behavioral strategies, impacting individual task efficiency. By comparing three kitchen typologies, the L-shaped kitchen platform demonstrated enhanced task efficiency and comfort while working. This study offers insights to the designers and behavioral researchers, establishing the importance of ergonomic kitchen designs in promoting usability and independence for aging populations.
The Ugly Side of Beauty: An Analysis of the Face Genius Look Surgery In South Korea from the Viewpoint of Healthcare Practitioners
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Abby Kim, Victoria Wiet
The “face genius look” (hereafter FGL), which is a compilation of different procedures including but not limited to rounded eyes, a V-shaped jawline, and a high nose bridge, aspires to give patients perfect ratios and a harmonious countenance. While the wider cultural view in South Korea embraces FGL, this study seeks to examine how healthcare practitioners at cosmetic surgery clinics in South Korea perceive the cultural and economic value of attaining the highly sought-after FGL. Healthcare practitioners from five cosmetic surgery clinics across Gangnam were asked to respond to a series of questions to elicit viewpoints on the cultural and economic value of FGL procedures. Those responses were organized into codes, from which this research used to discern patterns. Ultimately, the study identified several patterns suggesting that most healthcare professionals appreciated the concept of FGL, acknowledged the economic motivations for having these cosmetic surgeries, and took measures to support the mental well-being of their patients. However, the loss of the uniqueness of Korean facial features precipitated by the surgeries and mounting ethical concerns over long-term effects, as well as catering to younger patients, greatly diminished the value of FGL.
Most Desired Assistive Devices for Individuals with Mobility-Impairing Health Conditions: Findings from a Qualitative-Quantitative Content Analysis View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Ulrike Fettke, Regina Hörand, Andrea Kastl, Sabine Ittlinger
For people with health conditions that affect mobility, a wide range of products are available on the market, ranging from high-tech to low-tech devices. Against the backdrop of search initiatives by German healthcare ministries and health insurers, this study explores the most sought-after assistive devices for individuals with mobility limitations. The participants were patients with mobility-impairing health conditions. During their stays at rehabilitation clinics, their attending physicians invited them to visit model homes equipped with assistive technologies assembled according to ergonomic and mobility principles. These centres were designed to showcase potential home adaptations and support devices, and to study users' preferences and expectations regarding assistive technologies that promote independent living. Following their return to their permanent residences, 21 participants were interviewed by telephone using qualitative, semi-structured questions about their experiences and impressions of the technologies demonstrated at the centres. A qualitative-quantitative content analysis was conducted on the interviews to identify which types of assistive devices were perceived as the most helpful, desirable or necessary. The 'likes' were counted by taking reports on the devices' usefulness, as well as past or present purchases, into account. One device scored 11 points. Another device scored seven points, while two devices scored six points each, and three devices scored five points. In terms of content, the findings are consistent with international research on housing and assistive device preferences. These results will inform healthcare policy and assistive device design, ensuring they better align with patients' needs and preferences.
