Research Through Design 2013

Interactive Teaware: Sharing Experiences in Old Age

Thomas Dykes
Northumbria University
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 8ST UK
thomas.dykes@northumbria.ac.uk

Jayne Wallace
Northumbria University
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 8ST UK
jayne.wallace@northumbria.ac.uk

Tim Regan
Microsoft Research Cambridge
21 Station Road
Cambridge
CB1 2FB UK
timregan@microsoft.com

Abstract
Interactive Teaware was designed to support conversation and
socialisation while having tea and coffee. We discuss themes
emerging from the design of Interactive Teaware in order to
propose characteristics that we believe constitute appropriate,
meaningful and useable interaction design for older people living in
care homes. These include the integration of digital artefacts into a
residents daily life, as opposed to scheduled activities. Given that
life in the care home is often associated with disempowerment, we
propose augmenting residents existing abilities. We also assert
that digital artefacts need to avoid negative stigmas through
medical styling and instead enforce a positive and familiar identity
through the use of associated materials, such as porcelain.
Implications for design stem from insights gained through time
spent in the care home.

on the saucer, and your tea cup gently moved, emotive

combinations of words subtly appear as projections at random
locations on the tablecloth (Figures 2 & 4). The greater the
duration of movement the more words appear. These words fade
in to white and then fade out. They vary in size and orientation and
appear as part of the fabric surface (Figure 4).

Author Keywords
Elderly, Care Home, Conversation, Ceramic, Digital Artefacts,
Design, Dignity, Communication

Introduction
Interactive Teaware (Figure 1) was designed to encourage
conversation while care home residents are having tea and coffee
at the dining table. The set consists of a table, tablecloth, cups and
saucers. The cups and saucers are made of porcelain and have
aluminium radial patterns on their surfaces. Upon the underside of
the cup is a small copper protrusion (Figure 6). On the table is a
cotton cloth thats eggshell in colour and sewn onto this are three
black felt pads with two grey semi-circular patches on top of each
(Figure 8). When the saucer is sat on the felt pad, the cup placed

Figure 1. Interactive Teaware

Designing to support the social lives of older people has become a

pertinent issue in HCI and design. However, other than Blythe et
al. (2010), Gaver et al., (2011) and Wallace et al. (2012), few digital
design studies focus specifically on care home residents. This is
despite writers such as Wilson et al. (2012) emphasising the
prominence of loneliness and isolation, and a lack of support
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Research Through Design 2013

around sociability. Moving to the care home is a significant life
transition that impacts upon long term relationships and often
involves residents striving to form new friendships with other
residents and staff. This endeavour can be hampered by sensory,
cognitive and communication problems and the prevalence of overworked staff who in turn neglect meaningful social contact (Wilson,
et al. 2012). Difficulties in forming relationships, resulting in
isolation, may contribute to research demonstrating that up to 40%
of people living in care homes suffer from depression (LlewellynJones et al. 1999).

Figure 2. Example words.

oh is anything happening
today, no it just really doesn't
work, the weather and that sort of
thing, arent the trees blowing
Figure 3. Maureen discussing the lack of
stimulating conversation

Consequently we were motivated to explore and expand on the

roles and forms that digital design to support sociability might
assume within care homes. In order to do this we spent time in
Pebble Glen House getting to know a small number of residents,
staff and the care home environment. Our experiences in Pebble
Glen House then informed a design and making process. This
paper discusses aspects of our design rationale in order to
contribute characteristics we believe are appropriate to designing
digital artefacts for the care home. These put the humanity of the
residents in the foreground and offer new ways for sociability and
relationships to develop and be supported.

Design Rationale

Figure 4. Words appear on the table cloth

surface. We selected thick cotton from a
series of materials as this made the
projection textured and appear more like
it was printed on the surface.

Our design rationale was informed by a series of semi-structured

interviews with a small number of residents, opportune
engagements with staff members and observations while in Pebble
Glen House. The interviews were on occasions supported by
visual and audio prompts, which included old photos of areas that
residents had spoken of and historical radio broadcasts. The most
insightful engagements took place while drinking tea in the
communal area as our discussions were often more relaxed, and
because we were able to observe in a natural manner the workings
of the care home. One resident (Maureen) is referred to on a
number of occasions as she became a key informant and
inspiration in the design of Interactive Teaware.

The principal motivation for Interactive Teaware was that

conversations were often restricted to the weather or the meal
itself. This was highlighted when one staff member suggested that
a poster stating todays weather was visible in the care home since
residents were always asking about the weather during breakfast.
While discussing the poster we felt this staff member had shown
some animosity towards the repetitiveness of this question and in
turn misinterpreted a classic opening to conversation. Maureen
also directly pointed out a lack of conversation while dining and
expressed a desire to learn more about those she shared the care
home with (Figure 3).
A series of considerations informed our decision to have words
gently appear on the table cloth (Figures 2 & 4). While talking with
two other residents, Maureen gained our attention and abruptly got
involved in the discussion by announcing her love of words, thus
changing the topic of conversation. In turn we proceeded to talk
about words and Maureens love of words, which included
fascinating words, long words and crosswords. We reflected that
perhaps Maureen had wanted to share this with us, yet had not
found an appropriate opportunity to introduce the topic.
When starting a conversation with someone we are not well
acquainted with, we commonly find a ticket to talk (Svensson &
Sokoler, 2008). A ticket to talk involves using something in our
environment to begin a conversation, from which other themes can
be introduced. Even while dining with friends, we may refer to the
menu, the dcor or a picture on the wall. Our environment naturally
helps us find or introduce topics of discussion. As the care home
communal area was unchanging, repetitive and impersonal we
wanted to introduce opportunities to engage in novel and varying
conversations while having tea and coffee.
The notion of a ticket to talk and Maureens love of words led us to
consider the use of diverse and emotive combinations of words that
would gently fade onto the tablecloth. These words are taken from
poems and peoples reminiscences (Figures 2 & 4). As with other
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Research Through Design 2013

tickets to talk the words can be referred to in an open-ended way.
For example, they might offer ways into new conversations (other
than the weather), be formed as questions by staff members or
inspire the topics of stories amongst residents.

designing our sensor we referenced existing ceramics, whilst also

considering how these designs might equate to a sensor that is
able to detect movement.

Discussion

Figure 5. The radial pattern on the

saucer is designed to reflect a modern
ceramic and yet is able to detect the
movement of the cup on its surface.
Each alternate line is a switch contact,
when two neighbouring lines are
contacted with a protrusion under the cup
(Figure 4) we are able to calculate the
rate at which the switches are contacted
using a microcontroller (a basic rotary
encoder). This equates to the speed at
which the cup is turned on the saucer.

Figure 6. The protrusion on the cup is

made of copper which is able to connect
the switches on the saucer surface. This
is shaped to sit on the inside rim of the
saucer surface.

Informing our design was awareness that gadgets or screens are

often understood as inappropriate at the dining table.
Consequently we focused on augmenting existing aspects of the
table setting, ensuring we did not create a distracting focal point.
For example, the table cloth is used as a surface onto which words
appear, thus they are not directly in ones line of sight. Additionally,
as we never wanted to impose sociability and since quiet time can
also be desirable whilst having tea and coffee, the words are not
always shown. Instead by gently moving the cup on the saucer
residents are able to conjure, or stir up conversation when its
desirable to do so. The greater the duration of movement the more
words appear.
In designing this interaction we observed people drinking tea and
found that it is common to fiddle with the cup. The tactile qualities
of ceramic, its clinking sound and other feedback can encourage us
to play with them. While experience prototyping kinds of
interactions, we found that the cup affords spinning on the saucer,
while holding its handle. We therefore reasoned that fiddling could
offer a means of integrating technology without understanding how
something works. Instead one can learn by play, feedback from the
table surface and the affordances already presented by the cup on
the saucer. Fiddling is also a behaviour that happens when we are
restless and bored, perhaps when there is little conversation.
In designing the cups and saucers we wanted to create a sensor,
whilst also achieving a unique and striking lustre design. In order
that the cup and saucer can be drunk from, washed and dried as
normal, we could not use existing electronic components. Rather
we explored the use of conductive lustre, which could be used to
create a simple sensor (Figure 5) that would be manufactured
using processes already prevalent in the ceramics industry. In

Through Interactive Teaware we have expanded on the roles and

forms that digital technology to support sociability might assume
within the care home.
The true reason for the poster stating the current weather, as
mentioned previously, may have been a form of psychological
treatment for confusion known as reality orientation (RO). RO
involves continually reminding residents of basic information, such
as the weather, current date, who they are etc. Patton (2006)
draws attention to a lack of contemporary research around the
benefits of RO and therefore doubts its effectiveness alongside
contemporary approaches to care. Being continually reminded of
basic information could contribute to a stigmatising environment
that stifles normal conversation. In fact, MacDonald & Settin (1978)
found that their research participants became dissatisfied and
bored during RO. In contrast to RO, this work advocates support
for genuine conversation through the introduction of diverse and
changing stimulation in care home communal areas.
In the care home we encountered reminiscence sessions. These
are able to support conversation and storytelling (Astell et al. 2010).
In contrast to these scheduled activities we propose that digital
design supports socialisation in daily life, by subtly integrating
technology. Rather than attending activities, residents could be
encouraged to lead their own social lives, which may be less
stigmatising and appropriate for some care home residents. This
can be achieved by further investigating existing social etiquettes
and situations which residents encounter on a daily basis.
Interactive Teaware avoids traditional notions of technology and
manufacture and instead looks towards augmenting artefacts that
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Research Through Design 2013

are familiar. The care home environment tends to disempower
residents. The room temperature, times of dining and visiting hours
may all be dictated by staff. Many residents are still able to drink
tea and handle the cup, however. By augmenting this ability we are
building on existing capacities and enabling individuals to affect
their social interaction with other residents and staff.

Figure 7. The underside of the saucer

has two semi-circular contacts on its
central rim that lead to either of the two
sets of radial switch contacts on its
surface.

Figure 8. A conductive fabric pad on the

table cloth connects the saucer to a
microcontroller on the table. The semicircular grey sections match with the
underside of the saucer. Using soft
conductive fabric allows the rigid ceramic
to make good electrical contact.

Through the use of porcelain and our lustre design, we are

conveying to residents that they are valued. As discussed, there is
a dynamic in care homes generally where residents are largely
disempowered and unable to alter the environment in which they
live. Given that our homes tell us about who we are through the
messages they afford (Rubinstein, 1989), we believe that attention
should be paid to not inflicting negative identities on residents (i.e.
patient). Rather by creating captivating artefacts for the care home
it may be possible to enhance an individuals sense of pride in the
space.
An elder in his or her own room has prompts to introduce topics of
conversations that are meaningful to him/her. We experienced this
first hand during our visits when Maureen became fluent, engaged
and enthusiastic while surrounded by her belongings. The
familiarity of her objects enabled her to easily direct the
conversation. As visitors we were also supported in getting to know
Maureen as we could ask about objects in the environment. While
we used words, other table cloth designs might include personal
content (i.e. photos, maps) by using cups that can be uniquely
identified. As such residents could extend the familiarity of their
personal space to their interactions with others in communal areas.
In essence the communal areas could become transient to the
needs of individual residents. Currently we are working with
individuals in dementia care to expand on both the content and the
ways in which we might integrate and individualise tickets to talk in
the communal areas.

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References
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