Get older adults involved: Participatory design of assistive robots for older adults using the Context-based Design Toolkit (CoDeT)

Socially assistive robots (SARs) have the potential to significantly enhance the quality of life for older adults by addressing their unique needs and challenges. This study employs a Context-based Design Toolkit (CoDeT) to gather input from older adults for three types of SARs: a Medical Assistant Robot (MAR), a COVID-19 Officer Robot (COR), and a Personal Assistant Robot (PAR). CoDeT, which includes tangible cutouts of robotic components, facilitates participatory design (PD) sessions, allowing users to express their needs and concerns effectively. Three PD groups engaged with the toolkit to create new robot models, while two PD evaluation groups assigned each model to specific use cases. The tangible nature of the toolkit improved engagement and communication, leading to user-centered designs. The findings underscore the importance of context-driven design, with distinct recommendations for each use case to ensure the robots meet user needs and contextual requirements. The study involved five sessions with older adults, including three PD workshops and two evaluation sessions. Participants aged 75–92 contributed to the design process by selecting visual qualities such as structure, morphology, and color. The outcomes were analyzed to form a design space model for each use case, highlighting the significance of user-centered and context-driven design in developing effective SARs. This research demonstrates the value of involving older adults in the design process to create practical and empathetic SARs that address their specific needs and preferences. • We used the Context-based Design Toolkit to gather input from older adults for designing robots in different contexts. • Five sessions involving older adults were conducted: three participatory design workshops and two evaluation sessions. • The tangible nature of the toolkit improved engagement and communication among participants. • The results highlighted the importance of context-driven design with distinct recommendations for each use case. • The paper shows the value of involving older adults in designing practical robots that meet their needs and preferences.