Digital Media Usage and the Engagement of Older People from Rural Areas in Technological Projects: Co-design Sessions

Abstract: The question posed in the call “How the widespread of new technologies are changing the norms and practices of the later life? ” was transformed in the main motivation to write the paper. LOCUS scientific research project addresses the subjects of Internet of Things, its impact in maintenaince and sustainability of Cultural Heritage and the important role of older generations to these operations. What the research team noticed is that sometimes it is the dissemination of technologies (and accompanying infrastructures) that promote their use and the creation of the need. And when the technologies do not exist, the infrastructures are compromised and/or nonexistent. It is considered that there is a before and an after period in the way in which the implementation of technological projects influences rural areas and older people. This also means that there is a high relevance in the second question of the call “How social actors, groups, institutions and mainstream media provide, spread or constrain ways of growing older via digital devices? ” But also, a high importance of the project developed for the scientific knowledge advancement in the study areas (Communication, Technology, Sociology, Demography, Geography, etc.). The main conclusions of the paper are that digital technologies contributes to those Cultural Heritage maintenaince and sustainability, however, this is only possible with the mediation of oler people. Consequently, those people need to know or learn how to manage digital media and technology in order to contribute for the projects and technology development. Older people aim to participate in these projects and that also influences on their proficiency on technologies (on a win-win basis). Keywords: elderly, digital technologies, rural areas, action-research projects, co-design projects *** Utilisation des medias numeriques et engagement des personnes âgees des zones rurales dans les projets technologiques: sessions de co-design Resume: La question posee dans l'appel a articles a ete le principal declencheur de motivation pour la redaction de cet article. Le projet de recherche scientifique LOCUS aborde les sujets de l'Internet of Things, son impact dans la maintenance et la durabilite du patrimoine culturel et le role important des generations plus âgees dans ces processus. L'equipe de recherche a remarque que c'est parfois la diffusion des technologies (et des infrastructures d'accompagnement) qui favorisent leur utilisation et la creation du besoin. Et lorsque les technologies n'existent pas, les infrastructures sont compromises et / ou inexistantes. On considere qu'il existe une periode avant et apres dans la maniere dont la mise en œuvre des projets technologiques influence les zones rurales et les personnes âgees. Cela signifie egalement qu'il y a une grande pertinence dans la deuxieme question de l'appel. Mais aussi, une grande importance du projet developpe pour l'avancement des connaissances scientifiques dans les domaines d'etude (communication, technologie, sociologie, demographie, geographie, etc.). Les principales conclusions du document sont que les technologies numeriques contribuent a la conservation et a la durabilite du patrimoine culturel, mais cela n'est possible qu'avec la mediation de personnes plus âgees. Par consequent, ces personnes ont besoin de savoir ou d'apprendre a gerer les medias et les technologies numeriques afin de contribuer aux projets et au developpement technologique. Les personnes âgees visent a participer a ces projets et cela influe egalement sur leur maitrise des technologies (sur une base gagnant-gagnant). Mots-cles: personnes âgees, technologies numeriques, zones rurales, projets de recherche-action, projets de co-conception