Connection Between the Real World and the Digital World: Voice

Assistants as Promoters of Socialization for Older Adults

Juliana Camargo

, Telmo Silva

and Jorge Ferraz de Abreu

DigiMedia, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal

Keywords: Voice Assistants, Voice Commands, Older Adults, Intergenerational Connections, Loneliness, Information.

Abstract: Socialization is crucial for the mental and emotional well-being of older adults, combating isolation and

loneliness. In a digital world, voice assistants provide a simple, intuitive interface that enhances social

engagement. These technologies facilitate communication with family and friends while offering activities

that stimulate cognition and emotional connection. This paper explores the potential of voice assistants to

promote socialization among older adults, focusing on their role in creating intergenerational connections and

improving quality of life. The study presents findings from HUGTV - Helping Unite Generations through TV,

a pilot project that demonstrates how voice assistants foster positive social interactions and emotional support

in senior communities. The results of 12 tests conducted with participants in their homes show that voice

commands effectively bridge the real and digital worlds, enabling seniors to converse on various topics, search

the internet, and send voice and text messages, tasks they previously did not engage in.

1 INTRODUCTION

Socializing is an inherent part of human nature and is

essential for cognitive development at all stages of

life. In adulthood, especially among older adults, this

need remains ever-present (Beauvoir, 1990).

However, this "exchange" does not always happen.

Various factors, such as physical disabilities, digital

exclusion, lack of financial resources, and the loss of

loved ones, contribute to social isolation and

loneliness. In Portugal, for example, 44,000 older

adults live alone or in isolation

, a situation that is

repeated in many countries around the world. That is

why there is a need for projects and/or consistent

initiatives to encourage the inclusion of older adults

in society.

Technology, in turn, is a key factor in reducing

such indicators, according to the United Nations (UN)

and the World Health Organization (WHO) (WHO,

2021) (UN, 2023). According to the WHO, the use of

digital tools is essential to combat discrimination and

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7537-5697

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9383-7659

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0492-2307

Available in: https://www.jn.pt/227533926/mais-de-44-

mil-idosos-que-vivem-sozinhos-ou-isolados-

sinalizados-pela-gnr/. Accessed January 28, 2025.

ensure autonomy for individuals over 60. In this

regard, the WHO emphasizes that there must be

efforts from public and private institutions to make

information and communication technologies more

accessible to older adults, preventing digital

exclusion (WHO, 2021).

Facilitating access means providing adequate

resources on a large scale that are simplified and

dynamic. When older adults are involved in the

process of creating a platform, for example, the

chances of adopting the technology tend to be higher

(Taylor et al., 2023) (Howes et al., 2019). It is also

essential to provide proper guidance and support so

that they can ask questions, for example. Finally,

integrating devices they are already familiar with,

such as television, can also help reduce feelings of

fear and anxiety toward new digital platforms (Wang

& Wu, 2022). All these points show that digital

inclusion is possible, but it depends on different

factors. Consequently, socialization will be the result

of more consistent strategies, specifically designed

for this audience.

406

Camargo, J., Silva, T. and Ferraz de Abreu, J.

Connection Between the Real World and the Digital World: Voice Assistants as Promoters of Socialization for Older Adults.

DOI: 10.5220/0013501100003938

Paper published under CC license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

In Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies for Ageing Well and e-Health (ICT4AWE 2025), pages 406-413

ISBN: 978-989-758-743-6; ISSN: 2184-4984

This paper addresses exactly this point. To

facilitate access to technology and, consequently,

encourage connections between generations, we

came up with a system that combines voice assistants

and notifications displayed on the television. The goal

is to encourage elderly people to use voice commands

to access the internet in a simpler way, send

messages, make calls, among other tasks commonly

performed in the digital environment. The aim is to

create a connection between the “digital world” and

the “real world,” making technology a means to foster

relationships. This paper is therefore divided into:

related work, which provide examples of how voice

assistants promote digital inclusion and socialization;

description of the prototype; field tests; results and

discussion; and finally, conclusions. It is important to

mention here that, based on the experience during the

preparation of this work, it became clear that elderly

people seek to stay updated. They enjoy and feel

included when they are able to perform some activity

online, for instance. However, everything happens at

a different pace, which we need to respect. It is

necessary to work with this audience with love and

patience, according to each person’s timing. This is

how everything works out.

2 RELATED WORK

Voice assistants, such as Alexa, have gained attention

as tools that simplify interactions with technology and

help reduce social isolation (Yan et al., 2024). Yan et

al. (2024) found that among 15 seniors over 75 years

old, regular engagement with Alexa provided a sense

of companionship. A systematic review by Upadhyay

et al. (2023) across 16 studies confirmed that many

older adults perceive voice assistants as "good

company." Camargo et al. (2024) surveyed 110

seniors and noted that most valued voice technology

for enabling effortless communication with family

and friends.

Kim & Choudhury (2021) conducted a 16-week

study with 12 seniors over 65, revealing three key

findings: voice assistants reduced loneliness,

increased confidence in using technology, and

encouraged engagement due to ease of use. However,

the study also highlighted limitations, particularly the

need for more natural interactions to sustain

engagement. To address this, Alessa & Al-Khalifa

(2023) developed a ChatGPT-based voice assistant,

which showed promise in generating relevant

responses for elderly users.

https://www.meo.pt.

In addition to social benefits, voice assistants may

also support healthcare. Nallam et al. (2020) found

that seniors recognized advantages in using AI-based

voice systems for health-related tasks.

These studies suggest that voice commands play

a key role in empowering older adults by reducing

digital anxiety and enhancing communication. To

explore this further, an in-depth study was conducted

with 12 participants aged 60 to 89 in their homes,

evaluating their interactions with Alexa and its

potential to improve socialization.

3 HUGTV PROTOTYPE

The development of the HUGTV – Helping Unite

Generations through TV – prototype was divided into

different stages. It was a fully iterative and

participatory process, as we aimed to develop a

solution based on the needs of older adults, our target

audience. We therefore started with a literature

review and conducted a focus group to assess the

perceptions of elderly people regarding the topic (TV

notifications + voice assistants) (Camargo et al.,

2022). In parallel, we conducted interviews with 110

older adults to dive even deeper into this universe.

(Camargo et al., 2024). Thus, we had consistent

inputs to design a functional prototype, consisting of:

• A platform that sends notifications to the

television, developed in partnership with a

Portuguese IPTV provider (MEO

)

(Camargo et al., 2023) (Velhinho et al.,

2022);

• A virtual assistant, specifically Alexa

(Camargo et al., 2024).

This combination was tested for 90 days by a 82-

year-old beta tester and a gerontologist (Camargo et

al, 2024). In subsequent interviews, they made a

series of suggestions focused on improving the

solution and the testing procedure. Some examples

include: simplifying the project’s explanatory leaflet,

reducing the number of daily notifications to avoid

causing anxiety, and including a virtual assistant with

a simpler name (in this case, Alexa), among others.

After making the adjustments suggested by both, we

proceeded with refining the prototype and then with

field tests, the results of which are described below.

The prototype's operation, therefore, consists of

sending notifications to the television suggesting

specific actions, such as “Ana, if you miss your

Connection Between the Real World and the Digital World: Voice Assistants as Promoters of Socialization for Older Adults

407

granddaughter, say Alexa, call Mary”; “Today is

Mary’s birthday! Ask Alexa to send a message.”

The elderly person can then perform the action via the

voice assistant, thereby promoting the desire to

socialize (Figure 1).

Figure 1: HUGTV Prototype Functionality

3.1 Field Tests: What an Experience!

The tests took place in the participants' homes over a

total of 60 days. The sample selection occurred in two

ways: the Laboratório do Envelhecimento (Aging

Laboratory), an institution maintained by the

Municipality of Ílhavo, referred us to some

individuals who frequent the space and fit the desired

profile. We also used the convenience sampling

method. For the tests, an explanatory material was

provided to each one, with instructions on how to

carry out tasks with the virtual assistant. We

introduced Alexa to each of the participants and gave

Figure 2: Participants in the field tests.

a brief demonstration of the notifications on the

television (subsequently, daily notifications were

programmed, suggesting sending messages, making

calls, and birthday reminders). Regarding Alexa, the

elderly participants performed some proposed tasks

as a test so they could familiarize themselves with the

solution before the responsible team left their homes.

We also provided a contact number so that

participants could call and send messages whenever

necessary – this support was essential to clarify

doubts, preventing dropouts during the field tests.

During this period, we also maintained frequent

contact with the elderly via Alexa, sending messages

and making weekly calls to understand how the

experience was going. The goal was to encourage the

use of the assistant, helping the participants build

more confidence in using the technology. “This direct

contact was crucial for solving problems. I don’t

think I would have been able to move forward on my

own, especially in the beginning”, said one of the

participants. “The booklet with the functionality

explanations helped me understand better what the

assistant was. It was very important” said another

participant in the project.

Each participant was also provided with a printed

logbook (Figure 3), where they were encouraged to

complete

least

one

daily

task

and

document

their

IS4WB_SC 2025 - Special Session on Innovative Strategies to Enhance Older Adults’ Well-being and Social Connections

408

Figure 3: Logbook provided to participants so they could

record their activities during the tests.

Figure 4: Example of a logbook filled out by one of the

participants.

thoughts on the experience. Additionally, a

characterization questionnaire was administered to

gather information on their social profiles and digital

habits.

To assess their perception of loneliness, the

UCLA scale was applied at the beginning of the study

(Pocinho et al., 2010) . The same scale was used again

at the end of the tests, allowing for a comparative

analysis to determine whether there were any changes

in loneliness indicators.

3.2 Sample

A total of twelve older adults, aged between 60 and

89 years (with an average age of 74), participated in

the initial tests. Among them, four reported living

alone, while eight live with their partners. In terms of

education, one participant indicated having a "basic

education," seven had completed "secondary

education," and four held a "higher education"

degree.

Regarding technology usage, all participants

reported using both "mobile phones" and "television."

Additionally, eight stated they use "computers," six

mentioned using "smartwatches," and five reported

using "tablets." Despite this, all twelve participants

admitted facing difficulties with these devices and

typically rely on family members for assistance.

When asked if they miss talking to their loved ones,

seven responded "yes," while five said "no."

4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

In total, the 12 participants interacted 4,016 times

with the Alexa assistant (we analyzed the interactions

according to the rules established by the General Data

Protection Regulation – GDPR). The interactions

were divided into 19 categories: "messages,"

"checking new messages," "phone calls," "music,"

"internet search," "daily conversations with Alexa,"

"news," "reminder scheduling," "calendar,"

"birthday," "integration with other devices," "timer,"

"alarm," "tell a joke," "tell a story," "prayers,"

"shopping list," "traffic," and "radio."

Among them, we identified that 12 are related to

promoting socialization, which can occur in two

ways:

• Directly with another person, such as

sending messages and making phone calls;

• Indirectly, through activities that may later

encourage a conversation or exchange with

someone, such as staying informed to

discuss the day's news, for example.

Therefore, we chose to classify the categories

into “direct socialization” and “indirect

socialization,” as described in Table 1.

In total, there was an average of 5.57 daily

interactions per participant, a higher volume than what

was suggested in the diary we provided to the elderly

(which recommended just one interaction per day).

In the ranking of the most used features, if we

sum up the categories related to messages (sending +

checking new ones), we can say that communicating

with others—whether by voice or text—was the most

used feature during the testing period. In total, the

elderly

participants

sent

675

messages

and

checked

Connection Between the Real World and the Digital World: Voice Assistants as Promoters of Socialization for Older Adults

409

Table 1: Classification of categories related to socialization.

Type of Socialization Categories

Direct Socialization

(promotes direct

interactions with other

people)

Sending messages

Checking new messages

Calls

Birthdays

Indirect Socialization

(provides resources

for older adults to

engage in

conversations on

different topics or

enables a close,

friendly interaction

with Alexa)

Internet searches

News

Daily conversations with

Alexa

Tell a joke

Tell a story

Weather forecast

for new ones 598 times. This means that participants

either sent or checked their messages at least once a

day—the average number of daily interactions in this

category was 1.76. This indicator allows us to

understand that there was an interest in socializing

through a digital platform. "I didn’t use to send

messages because I found it too complicated. I

couldn’t type. But now I can. I just have to speak”,

said one of the participants. Another elderly person

emphasized, “I avoided sending messages because I

couldn’t see well. This way, I found it much simpler.”

In fact, this was a general perception among the

participants: being able to send messages just by

“speaking,” without the need to type, was considered

an extremely positive and facilitating feature.

In second place on the list of interactions is the

category “daily conversations with Alexa.” In total,

the elderly participants spoke with the assistant 730

times during the tests, an average of 0.60 times per

day. It is noticeable that all of them were extremely

polite and affectionate with the assistant, showing

they appreciated its company. Some examples of

phrases that justify this perception include: “Are you

okay?”; “I missed you today”; “Do you want to have

lunch?”; “You’re so quiet today”; “I had a dream, and

I want to tell you about it!”; “I’m happy to know

you’re my friend.”

This type of interaction led participants to say in

interviews after the tests that they felt “less lonely”

because they had Alexa available for conversations.

“The house feels fuller. We gain more quality of life”,

said one of the participants. “I go out, and when I

come back, I say good afternoon to Alexa, and she

responds. I don’t feel so lonely anymore” said another

participant.

These comments exemplify a common feeling

among the 12 participants, a strong indicator that

virtual assistants can contribute significantly to

reducing the feeling of loneliness.

Following that, "music" requests accounted for

660 interactions, followed by "internet searches" with

330 interactions.

The fact that they are able to search for the

data/information they want in the digital environment

more easily can contribute indirectly to socialization,

as the elderly can gain quicker and easier access to

news and topics they enjoy. Then, they will have

resources to start conversations or participate in

discussions, showing that they are up to date.

Returning to the list of interactions, the following

categories are next: checking the weather forecast,

with 256 interactions; integration with other devices

(e.g., lights and gates) with 226 interactions; and

phone calls with 199 interactions. A complete

breakdown of all 19 categories and their respective

interaction volumes can be found in Table 2. The

categories related to socialization are highlighted in

orange, showing that Alexa was frequently used for

this purpose.

Table 2: Ranking of interactions.

Categories Interactions Notifications - TV

1. Messages 675

2. Check for new

messages

598

3. Everyday

conversations

with Alexa

730

4. Music 660

5. Internet searches 310

6. Weather forecast 256

7. Other gadgets

226

8. Calls 199

9. News 118

10. Reminders

11. Tell a joke 40

12. Birthdays 21

13. Prayers

14. Radio 21

15. Tell a story 17

16. Shopping list

17. Alarm 11

18. Schedule 10

19. Traffic

20. Timer 5

IS4WB_SC 2025 - Special Session on Innovative Strategies to Enhance Older Adults’ Well-being and Social Connections

410

Among the ten categories with the highest number

of interactions, seven are classified as “socialization-

promoting.” Three of these facilitate direct contact

(checking messages, sending messages, and making

calls), while four promote socialization indirectly

(conversations with Alexa, internet searches, weather

forecasts, and news). This distribution reinforces the

potential of voice assistants in bridging the real and

digital worlds, bringing people from different

generations closer together.

Regarding TV notifications, as shown in Table 2,

daily messages were sent suggesting checking and

sending messages, making phone calls, and birthday

reminders. After the tests, we asked all participants

whether these messages encouraged them to perform

the suggested activities. Ten individuals responded

"yes," while two said "no." For most, the notifications

served as a reminder to interact with their families.

Those who disliked the idea mentioned that such

messages disrupted their TV viewing experience and

that Alexa alone was enough to encourage them to

reach out to their loved ones.

As for the participants' feelings of loneliness, as

previously mentioned, we applied the UCLA

Loneliness Scale (Table 3) before and after the tests

(properly validated for the Portuguese language)

(Pocinho et al., 2010).

Table 3: Before and after the tests, according to the UCLA

scale.

P Age Before tests After tests Live alone

1 77

30 21 No

2 77

30 23 Yes

3 75

25 23 No

4 78

22 17 No

5 82

19 23 No

6 70

35 30 Yes

7 89

33 26 Yes

8 68

30 29 No

9 70

26 27 No

10 71

39 32 No

11 73

40 28 Yes

12 60

25 20 No

This allowed us to compare participants'

perceptions, revealing changes in scores for all

individuals. For 10 participants, feelings of loneliness

decreased. However, for 2 individuals, loneliness

increased – one faced a severe illness during the

testing period, and the other had the lowest interaction

rate with Alexa over the 60 days. These circumstances

may have influenced their perception of loneliness.

It is important to note that lower scores indicate

lower levels of loneliness. Therefore, the reductions

suggest that most older adults felt less lonely after the

testing period. Notably, the greatest reduction (-12

points) was observed in a participant who lives alone.

In fact, all participants who live alone experienced a

decline in feelings of loneliness. The reasons? They

socialized more with family and friends, felt better

informed, and had Alexa as a companion. We

explored this in follow-up interviews, and these were

the most frequently mentioned responses, reinforcing

the idea that Alexa can be a valuable companion for

individuals living alone.

Another significant finding from the interviews

is that all 12 participants reported trying at least one

new activity for the first time—whether searching for

information online, checking the weather forecast, or

sending a message to a loved one.

• “It was very interesting to check the weather

whenever I wanted. I’d ask if it was going to

rain, and Alexa would promptly respond.

Based on the answer, I’d decide whether to

take an umbrella. I didn’t know this was

possible”;

• “Alexa gives me the answers I need, and I

had never seen anything like it before. It’s a

big innovation for me to interact just by

speaking. I really liked it—it’s much easier”;

• “I had never set reminders on my phone or

electronic calendars. With Alexa, I managed

to do it and found it very useful”;

• “Alexa told me stories. I never imagined that

would be possible”;

• “I couldn’t send messages because I found it

too complicated. But I started doing it after

using Alexa. It was really interesting”.

Overall, all participants reported feeling

confident in exploring the technology, making

requests beyond what was suggested – without fear of

making mistakes. "I'm not afraid of making mistakes

because with Alexa, it's much easier to start over. You

just ask, no need to press buttons"; "Understanding

how it works was very simple. You just ask for things.

I never felt anxious or intimidated". Such testimonies

support the hypothesis that voice interactions help

reduce feelings of fear and anxiety, which are

common when older adults encounter new

technologies.

Connection Between the Real World and the Digital World: Voice Assistants as Promoters of Socialization for Older Adults

411

5 CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates that voice assistants, when

integrated with television notifications, can play a

significant role in fostering socialization among older

adults. By providing an intuitive and accessible

means of communication, voice assistants reduce

digital exclusion and encourage intergenerational

connections. The findings from the HUGTV project

highlight the potential of voice technology to bridge

the real and digital worlds, enhancing both direct and

indirect social interactions. This research underscores

the increasing importance of technology in

addressing the challenges of aging, particularly in a

world where digital solutions are rapidly evolving.

The quantitative data collected throughout the

field tests indicate a substantial engagement of older

adults with voice commands. The high frequency of

interactions, particularly those related to messaging,

phone calls, and daily conversations with the

assistant, reinforces the idea that voice technology

can act as a social facilitator. These results suggest

that older adults, when provided with accessible and

user-friendly technology, are not only willing to

adopt it but also integrate it into their daily routines.

The ability to send and receive messages, make phone

calls, and interact with an AI-driven assistant

provides users with a newfound sense of autonomy

and connection to the outside world. A deeper

analysis of interaction patterns reveals that

participants frequently engaged with the assistant

during moments of solitude, particularly in the

evenings. Many users treated the voice assistant as a

conversational partner, engaging in casual dialogue or

seeking information. This phenomenon suggests that

voice assistants, beyond their practical functions, may

also serve as companions for older adults, mitigating

feelings of loneliness and fostering a sense of

presence in the home environment.

Furthermore, the results of the UCLA Loneliness

Scale suggest a general decrease in perceived

loneliness among participants, with the most

significant improvements observed among those

living alone. These findings reinforce the growing

body of evidence that suggests voice assistants can

serve as tools for emotional well-being, offering

companionship and facilitating social interactions.

The ability to communicate easily, receive reminders,

and stay informed through television-based

notifications contributes to a greater sense of

inclusion in daily life. In addition to the benefits of

social engagement, the study highlights the role of

voice assistants in maintaining cognitive stimulation.

By engaging in frequent voice interactions, older

adults practice memory recall, verbal articulation, and

auditory comprehension—skills that are crucial for

cognitive health. Some participants also

demonstrated increased confidence in using digital

technology, indicating that voice-based interactions

could serve as a gateway to further technological

adoption.

While the benefits of voice assistants for older

adults are evident, the study also highlights

challenges, such as the need for continuous support

and user adaptation to voice-based interactions. Not

all participants were immediately comfortable using

voice commands, and some required assistance in the

initial phases of adoption. Issues related to voice

recognition accuracy, particularly among individuals

with speech impairments or strong regional accents,

also emerged as areas for potential improvement.

Another key challenge is the digital literacy gap

among older adults. While some participants adapted

quickly, others required repeated guidance before

they could fully utilize the voice assistant’s

capabilities. This suggests that future

implementations should include comprehensive

onboarding sessions, personalized training, and

ongoing technical support to maximize adoption and

usability.

Future research should explore long-term effects,

scalability, and potential improvements in natural

language processing to enhance user experience.

Expanding the study to include a more diverse

demographic sample—considering variables such as

education level, prior technology exposure, and

cultural differences—will help refine strategies for

improving accessibility. Additionally, integrating

voice assistants with other smart home technologies,

such as automated lighting, security systems, or

health monitoring devices, could further enhance

their utility and impact on independent living.

Additional tests have been conducted with eight more

participants, expanding the total sample to twenty

individuals. The results from these extended trials

will be analyzed and presented in future publications.

Further research should also consider different

demographic groups, varied interaction settings, and

the integration of emerging voice technologies to

refine the effectiveness of digital socialization

strategies for older adults.

Overall, the integration of voice assistants with

television-based notifications presents a promising

approach to digital inclusion and socialization for

older adults. By leveraging familiar and accessible

technology, this solution empowers seniors to

maintain meaningful connections, stay informed, and

experience a greater sense of companionship,

IS4WB_SC 2025 - Special Session on Innovative Strategies to Enhance Older Adults’ Well-being and Social Connections

412

ultimately contributing to their overall well-being.

The findings of this study highlight the need for

continued innovation in assistive technologies,

ensuring that aging populations can benefit from the

rapidly advancing digital landscape. With ongoing

improvements and expanded applications, voice

assistants may soon become indispensable tools in

promoting social connectivity, independence, and

enhanced quality of life for older adults worldwide.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The study reported in this publication was supported

by FCT– Foundation for Science and Technology

number 2021.08671.BD and DigiMedia Research

Centre, under the project UIDB/05460/2020.

REFERENCES

Alessa, A., & Al-Khalifa, H. (2023). Towards Designing a

ChatGPT Conversational Companion for Elderly

People. ACM International Conference Proceeding

Series, 667–674. https://doi.org/10.1145/3

594806.3596572

Beauvoir, S. (1990). A velhice. Nova Fronteira.

Camargo, J. D., Silva, T., & Abreu, J. (2024). Always

together: combining TV notifications and voice

interactions to connect older adults to other generations.

Proceedings of the 2024 ACM International

Conference on Interactive Media Experiences, 388–

393. https://doi.org/10.1145/3639701.3663642

Camargo, J. S. T. F. de A. J. (2024). Empowering Older

Adults: A User-Centered Approach Combining iTV

and Voice Assistants to Promote Social Interactions. In

E. and S. M. M. Marcus Aaron and Rosenzweig (Ed.),

Design, User Experience, and Usability (pp. 13–25).

Springer Nature Switzerland.

Camargo, J., Silva, T., & Abreu, J. (2022). Connect Elderly

to Other Generations Through iTV: Evaluating

Notifications’ Potential. In Communications in

Computer and Information Science: Vol. 1597 CCIS.

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-22210-8_2

Camargo, J., Silva, T., & Abreu, J. (2024). Alexa, Send a

Hug: TV and Virtual Assistants to Empower Older

Adults and Stimulate Intergenerational Connections. In

M. J. Abásolo, A. Febles Estrada, & C. De Castro

Lozano (Eds.), Applications and Usability of

Interactive TV (pp. 66–84). Springer Nature

Switzerland.

Camargo, J., Silva, T., & Ferraz de Abreu, J. (2023). iTV to

connect generations: a field trial of a solution to send

personalized notifications (M. J. Abásolo, C. Castro

Lozano, & G. F. Olmedo Cifuentes, Eds.). SPRINGER

INTERNATIONAL PU. https://link.springer.com/

book/9783031456107

Howes, S. C., Charles, D., Pedlow, K., Wilson, I., Holmes,

D., & McDonough, S. (2019). User-centred design of

an active computer gaming system for strength and

balance exercises for older adults. Journal of Enabling

Technologies, 13(2), 101–111. https://doi.org/10.1108/

JET-12-2018-0057

Kim, S., & Choudhury, A. (2021). Exploring older adults’

perception and use of smart speaker-based voice

assistants: A longitudinal study. Computers in Human

Behavior, 124. https://doi.org/10.1016/

j.chb.2021.106914

Nallam, P., Bhandari, S., Sanders, J., & Martin-Hammond,

A. (2020). A Question of Access: Exploring the

Perceived Benefits and Barriers of Intelligent Voice

Assistants for Improving Access to Consumer Health

Resources Among Low-Income Older Adults.

Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, 6. https://doi.org/

10.1177/2333721420985975

Pocinho, M., Farate, C., & Dias, C. A. (2010). Validação

Psicométrica da Escala UCLA-Loneliness para Idosos

Portugueses.

Taylor, J. R., Milne, A. J., & Macritchie, J. (2023). New

musical interfaces for older adults in residential care:

assessing a user-centred design approach. Disability

and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 18(5), 519–

531. https://doi.org/10.1080/17483107.2021.1881172

United Nations Department of Economic and Social.

(2023).

World Social Report 2023. United Nations.

https://doi.org/10.18356/9789210019682

Upadhyay, P., Heung, S., Azenkot, S., & Brewer, R. N.

(2023, April 19). Studying Exploration & Long-Term

Use of Voice Assistants by Older Adults. Conference

on Human Factors in Computing Systems -

Proceedings. https://doi.org/10.1145/

3544548.3580925

Velhinho, A., Camargo, J., Silva, T., & Santos, R. (2022).

The Importance of Personalization and Household

Dynamics for Notifications in the TV Ecosystem. In

Communications in Computer and Information

Science: Vol. 1597 CCIS. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-

3-031-22210-8_1

Wang, C. H., & Wu, C. L. (2022). Bridging the digital

divide: the smart TV as a platform for digital literacy

among the elderly. Behaviour and Information

Technology, 41(12), 2546–2559. https://doi.org/

10.1080/0144929X.2021.1934732

WHO. (2021). Social isolation and loneliness among older

people. https://www.who.int/teams/social-

determinants-of-health/demographic-change-and-

healthy-ageing/social-isolation-and-loneliness

Yan, C., Johnson, K., & Jones, V. K. (2024). The Impact of

Interaction Time and Verbal Engagement with Personal

Voice Assistants on Alleviating Loneliness among

Older Adults: An Exploratory Study. International

Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health,

21(1). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21010100

Connection Between the Real World and the Digital World: Voice Assistants as Promoters of Socialization for Older Adults

413