FLOW pillow: exploring sitting experience towards active ageing

Abstract

In this paper, we present an exploratory study of the prototype of FLOW, a portable exercise platform that aims at aiding sedentary behavior among elderly people by offering them a more active sitting experience in their daily routines. We designed FLOW based on three iterations, revolving technology implementation, interaction design, and user experience design. With our prototype, we conducted a pilot study with elderly people (n=5) in a care center in the Netherlands. We evaluated user experiences and interactions with the FLOW pillow through observation, interview, and questionnaire techniques from Flow Theory. By analyzing the obtained data from the pilot study, we discussed the opportunities of FLOW in motivating active sitting behaviors for elderly and implications for future works.