HCD approach for the definition of physical and digital interfaces for the promotion of active and healthy ageing

As in the rest of the world, the phenomenon of an ageing population is marked in Italy. Data show an increasing number of older adults in Italy, which may continue in the future, placing it among the countries with the most older adults globally. Gerontechnology (Bouma et al., 2007; Chen, 2020; van Bronswijk, 2009), a recent field of research, studies the interplay between increasing longevity and the development and application of emerging health technologies, providing solutions that can promote the well- being of older people and facilitate active and healthy ageing. However, several studies are highlighting the problems of technologies developed for older people, such as the limited fit between older people's daily lives, their needs and the available technologies (Greenhalgh et al., 2015; Sanders et al., 2012), high privacy or security concerns (Yusif et al., 2016), and the presence of economic or socio-cultural barriers on the part of older people (Wang et al., 2016). As stated by Manchester & Jarke (2022), the field of gerontechnology has been influenced by Human-Centred Design, an approach to design that places users at the centre of the design process, the overall aim of which is to design for and with end-users, meeting the acceptability, usability and User Experience requirements of artefacts through observation, empathy and active listening.