Developing Assistive Technology Products Based on Experiential Learning for Elderly Care

This study aimed to understand the challenges faced by assistive technology developers when designing products for elderly care and to explore how experiential learning shapes their design experiences. This qualitative study conducted semistructured interviews with 11 research and development (R&D) managers, who were recruited through purposive sampling and subsequent snowball sampling. A continuous comparison method was used to analyze the interview data. The findings revealed that assistive technology developers lack a comprehensive understanding of the characteristics of elderly users, leading to mismatches between their product and the care needs of the elderly user. Developers responded to this challenge by (a) initially perceiving the gap as a lack of technology awareness among users, (b) adopting a learning strategy that involved field observations and a collaborative design model, and (c) integrating principles of co-design with users into their practice and seeking validation after the learning process. This study provides three suggestions to maximize the benefits of R&D and product introduction: First, systematic training courses can be designed for assistive technology developers to understand the unique characteristics of the elderly. Second, courses can be offered through accessible platforms such as community colleges, online learning, and open universities. Third, assistive technology developers can collaborate with experienced professionals specializing in geriatric care to ensure that their products align with the unique characteristics and needs of the elderly.