Evaluating the interplay between emotional impact and usability of a technology-based socialization service in aged care: An Italian and Portuguese user study

Background: As the global population ages, digital technological advancements offer solutions to promote active aging, but their effectiveness depends on usability and emotional impact, which could be influenced by demographic, organizational and geographical factors. An analysis of needs and emotional requirements revealed similar results in both countries. Based on these findings, a technology-based service to promote socialization was developed to address emotional needs such as feeling involved, staying safe, and being connected. For this service, participants integrated this technology into their routines for twelve months. Objective: This study investigates the interplay between emotional evaluation and usability and trust scores for a technology-based service aimed at promoting socialization among older adults across two European pilot sites (Italy and Portugal). Methods: This user study involved 77 older adults: 37 from Italy and 40 from Portugal. They were requested to interact with assistive technology that support the socialization (i.e. Sentab Technology). The analysis focused on the data collected after six months of system use and it is related to the evaluation of usability, trust, and emotional impact. Results: Findings indicate significant differences in usability scores between sites (p < 0.001; Cohen's d = 1.0) and trust perception (p = 0.01; r = 0.29). Emotional impact evaluation of feeling "informed," "socially empowered," and "secure" also varied, with small to moderate effect sizes (p < 0.05). Additionally, an interplay was observed between usability and emotional impact in both pilots, while the correlation between trust and emotional impact showed different trends in the two sites. Conclusion: Designing technological solutions must account for emotional requirements, as they correlate with usability. Geographical and demographic contexts also influence the relationship between trust, usability, and emotional evaluation in aged care technologies.