Disrupting Ageism in Design via Playful Platforms and Techniques

Aging research is loaded with myths suggesting older adults are frail, cognitively impaired, passive, and fear digital technologies. This leads to aging technologies designed to fix deteriorating mind-bodies. In contrast, our ABLE Village project is co-led by risk-friendly older adults, who eagerly experiment with digital technologies, games, and art practices that support growing while aging. This workshop busts aging myths and then invites you to prove us right. Together, participants will play games together in our digital village, to explore the digital play experiences. We hope to discover the unexpected, to manifest digital neighbours, and capture your notes to feed back into ABLE Village’s design. Bring your tablet or borrow one from us to participate in Playing with Age!

Host or Publisher engAGE: Centre for Research on Aging