urStory : A Tool to Connect Generations Through Voice-Recorded Memories and Experiences

Sammanfattning: Over the last decades, there has been a decline in the recognition and prevalence of communication and interaction between people of different age groups. This change can be perceived as a loss of value in societies on several different levels while this societal segregation continues to create larger divisions within societies. These divisions in generations may have different causes such as different interests, lifestyles, values, technological developments, politics and so forth.  This dissertation focuses on exploring the social dynamics, connections and interactions between older and younger generations and the project is situated in Sweden. The project adopts a user-centred design approach with several participatory design methods such as omnipresent workshops with focus groups, anecdotes and interviews with participants from different age groups. It proposes urStory, a platform that enables individuals to share life experiences, stories and memories with their voices only. The concept also discovers the accessibility and usability of such tools across generations.      Findings from the workshops and interviews indicated the awareness and the recognised value of intergenerational interactions are limited. Addressing the reacquaintance between generations and mutual respect were requirements to foster meaningful connections. Results from the testing sessions and the follow-up discussions provided valuable insights including the aspects from alternative use cases and accesibility to moderation and safety of the platform.