This study explores the everyday lives of senior citizens to investigate how ubiquitous technology can build on already familiar domestic practices to stimulate social connectivity among separated friends and family members. We build on previous research in HCI and findings from our initial study to present a set of implications to guide future research relating to ambient ubiquitous technology in the domestic domain.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS
-How can existing artifacts be digitally enhanced with new interactive features?
-How can ambient technologies be embedded into domestic artifacts?
-How can users' response towards an artifact be reflected as a part of the artifact?
-How can ambient communication devices be evaluated in terms of users' domestic routines?

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
-Augment familiar domestic artifacts into ubiquitous and interactive ones
-Explore a design space of new interface elements beyond buttons and screens
-Appropriate symbolic and emotional meanings of artifacts for new types of interaction
-Consider evaluation criteria for experiences with digitally-augmented domestic artifacts

USER STUDY (meaning map of domestic objects)

PROBE STUDY (disposable camera study, self diary)

CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT (ideation and categorization; main driections of 'caring' & 'sharing')

CONCEPT SCENARIOS (two plant pots connected to share awareness through plant condition)

AB

PROTOTYPE (two plant pots connected, each with weight sensor to detect plant condition)

TECHNOLOGY PROBE (probing user response to ambient plant pots by deploying working prototypes)