Information and Knowledge Management using ArcGIS ModelBuilder

Minna Isomursu and Marja Harjumaa
based on quite simple assumptions, and a more complex reality is faced only in deployment of
technology (Lindley et al. 2008).
In earlier studies it has been found that personal visits of the researchers keep users interested and
help them to develop loyalty to the project (e.g. Eisma et al. 2004). One practice that was found to
increase the motivation to adopt and integrate the service fully to everyday life was that the
researchers were in touch with the users during the trial, even when the communication concerned
about the technical problems that the users had faced.
Eisma et al. (2004) suggest that organising a focus group is useful when it is marketed as a social
event and a possibility to learn about new products and technologies. This has further impact on
user’s motivation as well as offering a possibility to participate in the future. In this study, the
researchers stated that sometimes the participants get positive experiences when they learn to use
new technology, because they have thought that they could not do that any more, and the
participation rewards them as such.
6. Conclusion
Today, lots of efforts are directed to developing ICT services for increasing the well-being of older
people. To properly evaluate their impact, one needs to evaluate how the technology can change
people’s lives. In the early phases of service development, it is crucial to get rich information that
helps in design. This paper summarizes experiences from six case studies. The findings show field
trials provide an opportunity to observe the technology use in the real environment and to collect rich
data by interacting with the users.
Our analysis indicates that researchers had found challenges in working with older users. User
research always requires sensitivity to recognize and respond to personal characteristics and needs
of the users. As ICT has been traditionally developed for adult working users, the methods and
practices for working with more versatile user groups are still emerging. We hope that these findings
are valuable both for researchers and companies developing new services for this emerging and
challenging market.
Acknowledgements
The research presented in this paper has been funded by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland,
TEKES and Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) Joint Programme (projects HearMeFeelMe and WeCare).
Also, we want to acknowledge the valuable contribution of the ageing users who took part in the field
trials, the formal and informal caretakers who supported us in this research, and the researchers who
conducted the field trials.
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