Designing Wearable Technology for Older Adults
Master's Thesis · Interactive Media Technology · KTH Royal Institute of Technology
As part of my master's thesis, I am investigating how wearable technology can be designed to reduce perceived stigma among older adults. Through an iterative human-centered design process combining qualitative research and prototyping, the project aims to develop evidence-based design recommendations for future wearable technology.
Project Overview
Project Type
Master's Thesis
Research Area
Human-Computer Interaction
Status
In Progress
Duration
2026
Methods
- Literature Review
- Workshops
- Semi-Structured Interviews
- Qualitative Thematic Analysis
- Prototype Design
- Prototype Evaluation Interviews
Research Question
“How can wearable technology be designed to reduce perceived stigma among older adults while remaining desirable, comfortable, and meaningful to wear?”
The Challenge
Function alone isn't enough.
Many wearable assistive technologies successfully address functional needs but are often perceived as medical, stigmatizing, or aesthetically unappealing. As a result, many older adults may be reluctant to wear them in everyday life. This project explores how design can improve acceptance by balancing functionality with identity, aesthetics, comfort, and personal expression.
Research Process
A full human-centered design process, from foundational research to evidence-based recommendations. Completed, current, and upcoming stages are clearly distinguished.
- Step 01
Literature Review
- Step 02
Research Planning
- Step 03
Participant Recruitment
- Step 04
Workshops
- Step 05
Semi-Structured Interviews
- Step 06
Qualitative Thematic Analysis
Current stage
- Step 07
Design Opportunities
- Step 08
Wearable Prototype Development
- Step 09
Prototype Evaluation Interviews
- Step 10
Evidence-Based Design Recommendations
- Step 11
Final Thesis
Research Activities
Planned and designed the research study
Conducted a literature review
Recruited participants
Designed workshop activities
Facilitated workshops
Conducted semi-structured interviews
Currently analyzing qualitative data using thematic analysis
Developing wearable concepts and prototypes
Planning prototype evaluation interviews
Translating findings into evidence-based design recommendations
Research Methods
Literature Review
Reviewed previous research on wearable technology, ageing, stigma, and human-computer interaction to establish the project's theoretical foundation.
Workshops
Facilitated object-based workshops encouraging participants to discuss experiences, perceptions, and attitudes toward wearable technology.
Semi-Structured Interviews
Conducted interviews to explore participants' experiences, preferences, and expectations in greater depth.
Qualitative Thematic Analysis
Currently analyzing approximately 15 hours of workshop and interview recordings to identify recurring themes, user needs, and design opportunities.
Prototype Development
Insights from the thematic analysis will inform the design of wearable concepts and prototypes exploring different approaches to aesthetics, interaction, and form factor.
Prototype Evaluation Interviews
The developed prototypes will be evaluated with participants to understand their perceptions, preferences, and experiences before formulating final design recommendations.
Qualitative Thematic Analysis
Data collection has been completed through workshops and semi-structured interviews. I am currently analyzing the collected material to identify recurring themes, user needs, and opportunities for design.
The findings from this phase will guide the development of wearable prototypes, which will subsequently be evaluated in individual interviews. These evaluations will inform the project's final evidence-based design recommendations.
Expected Outcome
The final outcome of the project will be a set of evidence-based design recommendations for designing wearable technology that better supports older adults while reducing perceived stigma and increasing long-term acceptance.
Reflection
This project has strengthened my ability to independently plan and conduct qualitative user research, facilitate workshops, analyze complex qualitative datasets, and manage an end-to-end research project. It has reinforced my passion for understanding users and translating research insights into meaningful product and design decisions.
Gallery
Placeholders — swap in workshop photos, sketches, and prototype images as the project progresses.
Skills Demonstrated
- Human-Computer Interaction
- User Research
- Qualitative Research
- Workshop Facilitation
- Semi-Structured Interviews
- Thematic Analysis
- Prototype Development
- Prototype Evaluation
- Accessibility
- Interaction Design
- Research Planning
- Research Synthesis
- Evidence-Based Design
- Communication