“I Could Wear It All of the Time, Just Like My Wedding Ring:” Insights into Older People’s Perceptions of Smart Rings
Laura-Bianca Bilius, Radu-Daniel Vatavu · 2023
We present findings from an examination of older adults’ perceptions of and preferences for smart rings, a unique class of interactive wearables gaining traction in the consumer market. To this end, we conducted semi-structured interviews with nine older adults, aged between 61 and 69 years old, to understand their perceptions regarding several smart ring models representative of rings, ring-like, and ring-ready finger-augmentation devices. We also elicited our participants’ preferences for using smart rings in their everyday life, such as for controlling various home appliances and electronic devices. Our results show an overall positive experience and openness toward adopting smart rings, which were perceived useful to assist with various activities. Based on our findings and following the aging research agenda in HCI, we propose future work opportunities for designing smart ring technology tailored to the needs and preferences of older adults.