Applying digital technology to promote active and healthy confinement lifestyle during pandemics in the elderly

Although recognized as effective measures to curb the spread of the COVID19 outbreak, social distancing and home confinement have generated a mental health burden with older adults who are considered to be more vulnerable to psychosocial strains. To date, the application of digital technologies in response to COVID-19 pandemic has been narrowed to public-health needs related to containment and mitigation. However, information and communications technology (ICT)-based initiatives directed toward prediction and prevention of psychosocial support are still limited. Given the power of digital health solutions to allow easy and accurate characterization and intervention for health and disease, as well as to flatten the COVID19 incidence curves in many countries, our ECLB-COVID19 consortium is highlighting the importance of providing innovative ICT-based solutions (ICT-COVID-Companion) to improve elderly physical and mental health, thereby preventing/dampening psychosocial strain during pandemics. Based on innovative approaches (e.g., emotional/social computing, open social platform, interactive coaching, gamification, fitness-tracker, internet of things) and smart digital solutions (smartwatch/smartphone), smart companions must provide safe personalised physical, mental and psychosocial health surveillance. Additionally, by delivering personalised multi-dimension crisis-oriented health recommendations, such innovative crisis-oriented solutions would help (i) facilitate a user’s adherence to active and healthy confinement lifestyle (AHCL), (ii) achieve a rapid psychosocial recovery in case of depression issues and (iii) enhance preparedness for eventual future pandemics.     

Multimodal Observation Method of Digital Accessibility for Elderly People

This article presents a new methodological framework for multimodal observation of digital technologies. It is based on the use of mixed methods developed in the interdisciplinary MAN project founded by CNRS. It focuses on the digital accessibility of older people. The originality of the method lies in the implementation of a method combining qualitative and quantitative measurement to determine relevant indicators. These indicators characterize the person's behavior when using a technology and its usability. We show how these indicators are built, based on the cross-referencing of data. We present the different tools (questionnaire, interviews and technological data recording tools) used in the MAN method in a living laboratory environment controlled with four volunteers. Two use scenarios are proposed to illustrate the method in assessing the accessibility of a tactile application for older people without a digital divide and without disabilities. We present the recorded qualitative and quantitative data and illustrate by an example the unrelatedness of these data through a specific annotation tool.