Enhancing historical tours for older adults with augmented reality technology a case study
Keiko Ishihara*, Minoru Kuramoto, Chihaya Konishi, Shigekazu Ishihara
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AbstractBackground: Research in Japan shows that the older people get, the more they look for- ward to traveling as a way of life in their old age, and among those who have traveled domestically and internationally, those in their 60s and 70s account for a large percent- age, which has a significant economic impact on the travel industry. Kure City in Hiro- shima Prefecture is aging and has a declining population. Still, it was once an important center for the rapid development and dissemination of advanced science and technology throughout Japan. The authors, in collaboration with industry and academia, planned a boat tour using augmented reality (AR) technology to help visitors rediscover the history of Kure Bay. The tour was incorporated on a trial basis into some of the historical exploration tours of the Kure area offered by a major travel agency from the Tokyo metropolitan area and other major cities and was conducted five times.
Objective: Although participants were assumed to be men and women in their 60s when the plan was formulated, most participants were older, ranging from their late 60s to 80s, with the oldest in their 90s. Approximately 30% of the initial participants complained in the post-program questionnaire that they found the AR equipment difficult to use and could not see. Therefore, this study aimed to explore what improvements and support would satisfy the older participants.
Methods: In the second and subsequent trials, changes were made, such as replacing the explainer, reducing the equipment used, and changing the explanation method. The total number of valid responses for the five trials was 83.
Results: Complaints decreased after the third session when staff familiar with older people were also familiar with the equipment, and the explanations were more concise. Also, after the fourth session, when the equipment was made more succinct, the desired price, assuming a charge, was statistically significantly higher than before the third session. Conclusion: Although we are still determining what caused older people to fail to operate the system, staff accustomed to dealing with older people provided concise explanations and friendly operating assistance, which reduced the frustration caused by their failures. In addition, by reducing the number of devices, making the AR content appear larger, and showing the university's involvement, the enjoyment and satisfaction of the project increased, and the desire to use it increased even more.Keywords: leisure, tourism, AR technology, usability, questionnaire survey
Keiko Ishihara*, Minoru Kuramoto, Chihaya Konishi, Shigekazu Ishihara (2025). Enhancing historical tours for older adults with augmented reality technology a case study. Gerontechnology, 24(2), 1-9
https://doi.org/10.4017/gt.2025.24.2.1173.02