Background

In later life levels of physical mobility may decrease, and if this occurs older people become more at risk of experiencing feelings of depression, loneliness and exclusion (Crawford and Walker, 2006: 29). However, as this research argues, mobility is a multi-facetted concept underpinned by social, cultural, economic and political factors. Thus physicality is not the only limiting feature of mobility, other issues include lack of financial resources and poor access to transport (Barnes et al, 2004: 61). Such dimensions of mobility are explored within this research; although the main focus lies more broadly upon the facilitation of mobility through transportation systems. In this sense transport is viewed, rather like the terms themselves as two sides of the same coin, on the one hand reinforcing social exclusion spatially, physically and financially (DETR/TRaC, 2000), and on the other as a tool for inclusion by promoting access to everyday essential places such as healthcare practitioners and food shops (Social Exclusion Unit, 2003). Thus, by increasing access to opportunities and civic participation (Kenyon, 2006: 1), transportation is seen to have the potential to build a more inclusive society ( Lyons and Urry, 2006: 2).

However, as Lyons and Urry (2006: 3) argue, research within the transportation field must take into consideration both technological advances and the ‘social, behavioural and motivational dimensions’, a philosophy which underpins this study. Keen to progress transportation research this study will make use of a qualitative approach, something that Lazendorf (2003) feels is needed to enhance the field as a whole. According to the Social Exclusion Unit (2003) ‘people need to know about transport’. They need to know the services that exist, timetable information, and how to make use of the available services. The diversity of the population is reflected in the diversity of the information that is required; thus, increasingly the information required is personalised or specific to them. This research looks at the potential for advances within the fields of transportation and technology to come together to meet these individual needs.

Research aims & objectives

The aim of this research is to examine how mobile technology could impact upon the lives of older people. It is concerned with the extent to which the current transport systems meet the needs of the ageing population and whether technological innovations can enhance the mobility, and independence of older people. An overarching aim of this study is to highlight the paucity of empirical research in the United Kingdom relating to older people, transport and technology, and the limited use of qualitative research within the transportation field. Overall, this study hopes to contribute to social theory and debates concerned with the mobility of the ageing population, and as a source of data and empirical insights that can contribute to the development of effective government policies for ‘more’ sustainable mobility, better ‘future’ technological system and social inclusion. The working hypothesis is that technology has the potential to improve the lives of older people, by encouraging active citizenship and discouraging social isolation through the promotion of independence.

Research questions

In later life people are increasingly likely to experience changes in their circumstances such as driving cessation or physical impairments that will have an effect on their travel patterns (Schlag and Schwenkhagen, 1996). This research seeks to explore not only the issues and challenges that older people face when travelling, but also the ways in which they could be overcome. Older people consider one of the barriers to travelling in later life is the lack of easily accessible up-to-date travel information. This study then examines the sorts of travel information that older people require, and possible strategies for making this information accessible to the widest possible audience. The handheld navigational device will be evaluated in terms of the extent to which such products really can be designed-for-all, and how well such products can support travel behaviour in later life.

Methodological approach

Part of the data has been collected as part of the Mobilisation and Accessibility Planning for People with Disabilities (henceforth, MAPPED) project, a collaborative project financed by the European Union. The project focus was to devise and trial handheld navigational devices designed as a mobility and accessibility aid for people aged 18-65 with diverse disabilities. For the purposes of this research the trials were extended to include a sample of older people, aged 65 and over. Features of the device include a journey planner tailored to individual need, accessibility information, and access to the Points of Interest (POI’s) database. Fischer and Sullivan (2002) state that emerging mobile technology has the ‘potential to deliver personalised information tailored to individual needs and abilities’, which will ultimately be beneficial to all communities, as all individuals, whatever their personal needs or level of ability, could retain some level of independence.

These trials will be followed by a series of focus groups with older people, aged 65 and over, who will be grouped into users and non-users of technology; to allow further exploration of the key themes arising from the trial data and will mean that a wider range of experiences and lifestyle situations can be drawn upon.

Key issues emerging from the results

Thus far three key sets of issues have emerged:

• Travel problems: The trials highlighted several issues around public transport, including the inadequacy of the timing and frequency of services, difficulties in obtaining timetable information without access to and knowledge of the internet, and the problems with the accessibility of vehicles including the limited number of low floor buses in use. In terms of private modes of transport the main problems referred to were the expense of running, maintaining and parking vehicles, as well as congestion within the urban environment.
• Travel information: Despite many of the participants being regular users of the internet, the most commonly used source of travel information were reported as printed a-z maps. Participants felt that whilst travel information is available it is dispersed and difficult to find. One way to improve travel information would be for those designing and disseminating it to put themselves in the place of a ‘disabled or older person’.
• Evaluation of the handheld device: There were several problems with the technology itself whilst the trials were being conducted, including the signal strength of the Global Positioning System (GPS). Generally participants had a positive outlook about the future potential of the handheld navigational devices; felt that the instructions on the handheld were quite easy to understand and that the handheld became easier to use as the trials progressed. However, they also thought that several improvements would need to be made in order for this product to be useful in the future; the screen and keypad would need to be bigger, the fonts and maps should be more clearly defined, optional audio output would be welcomed, the stylus could be attached to the handheld in order to avoid it becoming lost, and suggested additional extras included a wrist or neck strap, and a carrying case with a clear window for use in the rain.

Summary

This research shows older people as a heterogeneous group with vastly different experiences, preferences and attitudes towards both transport and technology, thus illustrating the drawbacks of design-for-all in terms of a one size fits all approach. There are some common themes though in terms of the potential older people see in handheld navigational devices, and the improvements they suggest for future models; thus with much more careful planning, designing and consultation there could be a bright future for individualised mobile technology

Acknowledgements

This study is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), an element of the Future Urban Technology: Undertaking Research to Enhance Sustainability (FUTURES) project, which is concerned with research into the role of new technologies in progressing towards more sustainable urban mobility

PhD Supervisors: Prof. Maria Evandrou, Director of the Centre for Research on Ageing, University of Southampton, and Jackie Rafferty, Director of the Centre for Human Service Technology, University of Southampton.

Further details

For more information about the FUTURES project see, http://www.sue-futures.org/, and about the MAPPED project see, http://services.txt.it/MAPPED/.