Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: ELAINE FEITOSA DA SILVA

Uma banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO de MESTRADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : ELAINE FEITOSA DA SILVA
DATE: 31/10/2023
LOCAL: videoconferência
TITLE:

ELDERLY PEOPLE AND SMARTPHONE IN THE COVID19 PANDEMIC: study of recent transformations in the symbolic value of the artifact in the capital of Paraíba.

KEY WORDS:

elderly person; smartphone; Covid-19; sociability, family.

PAGES: 85
BIG AREA: Ciências Sociais Aplicadas
AREA: Desenho Industrial
SUMMARY:

In recent decades, the expression of the challenges related to aging has become more effective for the Brazilian population, which had never seen such a high growth in the number of elderly people. On the other hand, social distancing to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic affected the entire world population and, more effectively, elderly people, who would, according to information published in the media, be more susceptible to the virus than other parts of the population. . Fortunately, due to communication technologies and the forms of socialization that virtual spaces potentially provide, there has not been complete social isolation around the world. This study aims to analyze the use of smartphones by elderly people, in the city of João Pessoa, during the period of social isolation caused by Covid-19, addressing the symbolic dimension of this use in terms of communication needs and sociability relationships with families, friends and others. groups by this age segment, taking into account the specificities relating to the social, cultural, environmental, economic and technological context that marked this use. Considering that this age segment was, like the general population, called upon to manipulate technological artifacts, such as smartphones, in search of meeting health needs, daily survival and sociability with family and friends, often without experience of using technology of consolidated digital communication, we assume that dealing with this equipment constituted a barrier to be overcome. Our hypothesis is that the symbolic value of the artifact (smartphone) became associated with the fact that it was important to maintain the sociability and communication of these people with family, friends and other relationships, assuming relevant functions during the pandemic period; and that, even in the face of difficulties, a sociocultural gap was opened for greater acceptance of the use of this category of artifacts by the aforementioned age segment. To construct the theoretical framework, references were researched relating to the themes of aging, elderly people, covid19, family and sociability, contemporary individualism, in addition to works specifically focused on the use of smartphones by elderly people. The project proposes a qualitative approach to ethnographic field research, using the techniques of participant observation, semi-structured interviews with different social categories involved with the problem and the holding of workshops in institutional spaces supporting the elderly, aiming for a more comprehensive perception. specific information on the most recent transformations regarding the symbolic value of the use of smartphones by elderly people. As a result, in addition to understanding the more specific issues addressed, it is expected to produce useful reflections in the field of inclusive design proposals, regarding elderly people.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Externa ao Programa - 1721820 - ANA BEATRIZ GOMES PIMENTA DE CARVALHO - nullInterna - 3331601 - AUTA LUCIANA LAURENTINO
Presidente - 1133992 - KATIA MEDEIROS DE ARAUJO