Smart is (Not) Always Digital! Expanding the Concept of Assistive Technology: The Roller as an Age-Based, Gendered and Social Innovation

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingArticle in proceedingsResearchpeer-review

The value of rollers for the elderly and other groups who need walking assistance has been underestimated both in terms of practice and in knowledge production. This paper aims at scrutinising the roller as an age-based and gendered innovation. Using the theoretical notion of scripts, it demonstrates how rollers and their users are intertwined in everyday practices and how these relationships intersect with notions of age and social welfare provision. Based on contrasting images of rollers and their users, as well as semi-structured interviews, this paper examines the puzzle of how the take-up of new (technological) devices comes about. It argues that the roller can be seen as a simple, disruptive innovation emerging from the bottom up with contradictory scripts of gender and age. The paper concludes with a perspectivation of how the rollers could be made both smarter and digital!.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationHCI in Mobility, Transport, and Automotive Systems - 3rd International Conference, MobiTAS 2021, Held as Part of the 23rd HCI International Conference, HCII 2021, Proceedings
EditorsHeidi Krömker
Number of pages13
PublisherSpringer
Publication date2021
Pages487-499
ISBN (Print)9783030783570
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021
Event3rd International Conference on HCI in Mobility, Transport, and Automotive Systems, MobiTAS 2021, held as part of the 23rd International Conference, HCI International 2020 - Virtual, Online
Duration: 24 Jul 202129 Jul 2021

Conference

Conference3rd International Conference on HCI in Mobility, Transport, and Automotive Systems, MobiTAS 2021, held as part of the 23rd International Conference, HCI International 2020
ByVirtual, Online
Periode24/07/202129/07/2021
SeriesLecture Notes in Computer Science
Volume12791 LNCS
ISSN0302-9743

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

    Research areas

  • Ageism, Assistive technology, Gendered scripts, Social innovation, Stereotyping, Walker

ID: 306679611