Enacting Eldertech in Senior Citizens' Communities of Japan: A Social Support Perspective

2019 Fiscal Year Research-status Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K13933
• Research Institution: Ritsumeikan University
• Principal Investigator: 黄 テイテイ 立命館大学, OIC総合研究機構, 研究員 (40815552)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: IT / ICT / senior support / community / CSF

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

In order to provide solid theory supports for the future field work, the first year was spend on the literature review and the interview design following the the uploaded research plan. Specifically, for answering the research question that how do various communities use the deployed ICT to support the social life of the seniors, I mainly focus on reviewing the previous research about assistive technology,the relationship between assistive technologies and the loneliness issues,community-based support for the senior citizens, the Social support theory, etc. On the other hand, I focus on reviewing the critical success factors (CSFs) articles on the ICT project of communities mainly on the field of information systems as first, for answering the second research question that how the general critical success factors (CSFs) act during constructing and managing the ICT project.
The specific interview plan, such as the interview questions for each targeted group(the seniors, the control organization, the support agencies, and the participants in society), the numbers and the time duration of interview for each case, the aspects need observation, and the needed secondary data.
During this year, the studies on assistive technology have grown more, and studies focus on both IT and community-based support for the elderly are still rare. My research can contribute to the growing gerotechnology research by deconstructing and analyzing the most representative cases of Japan and addressing key issues and solutions on ICT usage in community.

Current Status of Research Progress

3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.

Reason

I was scheduling for interviewing the first case in February 2020. However, the Coronavirus was just starting to spread and I had just return form China. For the safety of the interview targets (most are seniors) and following the self-restraint instructions, the interview plan for the cases have to be postponed by the end of the year or the next year. There are also certain concerns on the post mental and physical affection on the interview targets which might affect the research.

Strategy for Future Research Activity

For the further research, I am considering using the remote ICT tools for partial interviews as the backup plan. In the meantime, I will put my attention on fulfilling the secondary data on each case and keep updating the relevant studies and perfecting the theory lens for the following investigation.

Causes of Carryover

The reason is the delay of the field work due to the Cornovirus event. I was scheduling for interviewing the first case in February 2020. However, the Coronavirus was just starting to spread and I had just return form China. For the safety of the interview targets (most are seniors) and following the self-restraint instructions, the interview plan for the cases have to be postponed.