Development and evaluation of an accessible mobile application to create intergenerational pairs and connect with agricultural initiatives

Masdevall Lara, Arnau

Development and evaluation of an accessible mobile application to create intergenerational pairs and connect with agricultural initiatives

Citation

Masdevall Lara, A. Development and evaluation of an accessible mobile application to create intergenerational pairs and connect with agricultural initiatives. 2021. handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10230/48228

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Abstract

Cities concentrate more than half the total population on Earth and by 2050 two out of every three people in the world are expected to live in urban areas. Furthermore, most of the vegetable products we consume are the result of an agroindustrial system of production that is responsible for around 50% of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions. The present pandemic shows that sustainable ways to produce food are essential to avoid undesired transmission of diseases and that social isolation can be very detrimental to our wellbeing. Apart from its environmental and mental health benefits, urban agriculture represents an opportunity to improve nutrition and food security in urban areas. With a growing gentrification and life expectancy it is important to implement strategies that allow cities to reduce their environmental footprint and people to be more connected with nature and their communities. In order to take advantage of the benefits of intergenerational interactions and the increasing adoption of technology among older adults, in this work an accessible1 mobile application prototype to create intergenerational connections between people interested in agriculture and nearby initiatives that promote the connection with nature was conceptualized and developed with the feedback of 10 volunteers ranging from 22 to 80 years old. Moreover, the potential acceptability and perceived usefulness of the platform was evaluated with a survey of 50 people comprising 10 participants of every societal generation. Although the prototype still needs further improvement and a deeper evaluation of its usefulness should be made, most older adults in this study still faced difficulties with the accessible design but reckoned they would be able to use it if taught how to do so. Additionally, 66% of the participants in the survey perceived that using the platform would improve their quality of life and 58% expressed will to use it if available.