Judging the Desirability and Acceptance of Assistance Systems for the Elderly -- Lessons Learned with a Fieldwork Approach

Apologists for technological progress have been predicting since decades that technical assistance systems offer grand opportunities for the independent living of the old in aging societies. Nevertheless, a predominant part of the systems developed so far are not accepted and used in a satisfying extend as they seem not to be perceived as appropriate solutions for the problems elderly really have. Considering this, we present a theoretical framework and a research strategy developed to identify those practices within the conduct of everyday life of the elderly which are actually experienced as problematic by them and therefore require a solution. Beyond that, our ongoing research lead us to more general assumptions about the importance of established coping strategies within the elderly's conduct of everyday life for judging the desirability and acceptance of technological assistance systems.