How to create a bond in a neighbourhood

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"Whatever its perceived shortcomings, technology offers endless possibilities for facilitating social connection — not as a replacement for human contact, but as a vehicle for developing and reinforcing relationships."

Hello everyone!

This is my first blog in term 2 of Tech Tuesday - I am so excited about the new period and incoming journey :)
We all know that technology impacts our daily life - it has lots of positive influence and of course has a dark side too. In this blog, I will be trying to find a way how technology can improve connecting, communicating and bonding in a local community.

"Stichting Circulo" is a foundation in a Drents Drop district in Eindhoven with own Facebook and website page. Clue part of their daily activity is to create a space for sharing ideas, developing talents, spending great, joyful and inspiring time together! Members of this foundation are familiar with some technology but unfortunately, it is impossible for them to be in touch with all people in the neighborhood... Our Intervention is to organize a party and find a way for connecting with locals - technology is a great "tool" for such activity!

We will have our first meeting tomorrow - I cannot wait for it!
In order to find a way how to improve current situation (by using technology), we need to be aware of actual problem and needs - I am sure that one area of our activity will be related to marketing- and we can find many pieces of information how to adapt marketing strategies to people with different age - without a big problem we can find and implement various tools.

An important aspect which needs to be taken into consideration is an age of our locals - there is a big group of people who are more than 60 years old and not all of them is "fan" of technology. I was speaking with my grandfather and from his perspective any tool should be as simple as possible - and visible - size of font is a key for him... Referring to the HR technology flake model, if we would like to implement technology for daily use by this locals, then it needs to be really useful and easy to use for them. We need to also think whether it should be a smartphone app, online platform/website/forum or any other. What need additional attention are tips from Smashing Magazine - one states that we should pay attention of content or functionality which suggest that someone is young or at a certain stage in life - what seems to be “normal and understandable” for me, does not to be these same for 60 years old lady.

Finding a way for connection is a challenge - no matter how suitable technology toll we can have, how many efforts we put or how great party and workshops we organize - there is always a “human part” - we are unable to force anyone to join our community and spend time in Stichting Circulo against their will… Keep fingers cross!

Cheers,
Natalia


References:
Campbell, O. (2018). Designing For The Elderly: Ways Older People Use Digital Technology Differently. [online]  Smashing Magazine.  Available at: https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2015/02/designing-digital-technology-for-the-elderly/ [Accessed 8 May 2018].

Smith, A. (2018). Attitudes, Impacts, and Barriers to Adoption. [online] Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech. Available at: http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/04/03/attitudes-impacts-and-barriers-to-adoption/ [Accessed 8 May 2018].



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