The SiDE user panel

User Panels contribute to the formulation of SiDE research strategy, the design and delivery of research activities and the evaluation of research outputs, ensuring that all outputs are tangible, meaningful and usable. A workshop in January, 2011, brought together the full SiDE research team and User Panels constructed to provide specific insights about SiDE projects. Members of the Accessibility, Connected Community, Inclusive Transport, and Creative Industries extended teams each spent the day engaging with members of four User Panels from the SiDE Research Pool.

One panel provided input from the perspective of expert, confident older users of technology. All of these panel members were actively engaged in community activities, either through their local University of the Third Age, voluntary work, adult education or similar activities. They tended to enjoy technology and the newness of it.

The members of a second User Panel were older adults who consider themselves to be technology novices. They all used ICT to a certain degree, but felt left behind in the face of rapid changes in technology. Many considered their children and grandchildren to be motivators to try to get them to use computers or mobile phones.

A third User Panel consisted of older adults who were self-described as technology resistant. All felt that technology was “not for them.” They reported a variety of reasons for not engaging with technology, despite all admitting they can see the usefulness of it. Most of them had attended classes at some point, but felt unable to maintain their motivation. They were all active in their local communities in some way.

The final User Panel comprised representatives from local industry and the Dundee Innovation Portal, an organisation established to promote and foster productive knowledge transfer between the Universities of Dundee and Abertay, the SCRI (Scottish Crop Research Institute) and Scottish industry. The organisation’s aim is to improve the competitiveness of local businesses by bringing together innovative companies with scientists, technologists and engineering experts keen to apply their expertise to the needs of industry, http://www.innovationportal.co.uk.