Exploring multimodal technologies to engage elderly people in remote communication with their family

The increasing mobility in the ageing society has caused more and more elderly people to live apart from their families. The mental wellbeing and overall quality of life for the elderly are significantly influenced by the quality of remote communication with their family members. However, traditional communication technologies prioritize text messages, voice calls, and live videos, which may not adequately satisfy the needs of elderly users given their limited digital literacy and age-related challenges. This paper reviewed three types of novel technologies, i.e., immersive technologies, social robots, and the Internet of Things (IoTs), from the perspectives of social presence, asynchronous communication, and symmetric experience. We further discuss how to leverage the advantages of these technologies while considering relevant issues such as privacy and cultural differences. Design recommendations are given to designers with the goal of enhancing elderly individuals’ experience in communication with their remote families. This paper contributes to the general design research agenda focused on improving elderly people’s mental and relational wellbeing in the age of digitalization.