Abstract

This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and mixed reality technologies in addressing the social disconnectedness and isolation felt among older adults. Literature underlines older adults’ eagerness to adopt social technology, especially visual communication tools, as a means to stay connected with others (Wilson et al. 2023). However, barriers such as fear of using technology, impaired vision and hearing, limited mobility, and difficulties with hand/finger dexterity (Wilson et al. 2023)—particularly when using smaller tablet and mobile devices—, coupled with cognitive decline (Murman 2015) pose significant obstacles to older adults’ active participation in online activities. While studies have reported conflicting results regarding the effectiveness of digital social participation among older adults (Goodarzi et al. 2023), this study contends that mixed reality serves as an effective digital medium for addressing older adults' social participation needs. Extant research suggest that within mixed reality environments, individuals’ ideas, responses, and memories can be enhanced through the feedback process (Dietrichkeit et al. 2020). This study contends that AI, by providing rapid assessments of current emotional states of individuals and proposing responses to sustain conversational flow, is poised to enhance the cognitive abilities of older adults by assisting in information processing within mixed reality environments. With AI’s assistance, the enhanced cognition experienced by users is expected to improve interactions among older adults and elevate their social participation experience, ultimately alleviating feelings of loneliness. The findings of this study will significantly contribute to the literature by elucidating the impact of AI and mixed reality on the intricate interplay between users' cognition and their social participation experiences within digital environments. This study's practical implications are particularly noteworthy as they cater to the needs of older adults and address the challenges of population aging, with a focus on fostering healthy social lives and reducing their loneliness. By adopting a novel approach, this research seeks to empower older adults intrinsically, leveraging mixed reality technology and AI to mitigate social disconnectedness and combat isolation effectively.

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