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Shades of lightweight: supporting cross-generational communication through home messaging

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Abstract

Previous work suggests that older adults view communication with family as being worthy of time and dedication, and that they fail to understand the allure of lightweight contact. This paper presents findings from a field trial in which three generations of a family were linked through situated messaging devices, which, while designed to support lightweight messaging, also afford rich and expressive contact. Analysis suggests that communication via the devices provided a valuable additional dimension to the families’ existing practices, but that the type of messaging supported is best understood as one element in an amalgam of communication possibilities. Suggestions for complementary approaches are offered.

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Acknowledgments

Thanks to my colleagues Abigail Sellen and Richard Harper for their guidance and advice throughout this field study, the Socio-Digital Systems Group at Microsoft Research, Cambridge, for their contributions during brainstorming sessions, Simon Lewis and Peter Taylor of the Technology Partnership for developing Wayve and for their support during the field trial, and of course, the family for their feedback and participation.

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  1. Microsoft Research Cambridge, Roger Needham Building, 7 J. J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0FB, UK

    Siân E. Lindley

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Correspondence to Siân E. Lindley.

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Lindley, S.E. Shades of lightweight: supporting cross-generational communication through home messaging. Univ Access Inf Soc 11, 31–43 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-011-0231-2

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