| Sumario: | Purpose This paper describes an investigation into the theoretical gains that can be made by combining conceptual and theoretical insights harvested from social gerontology and related scientific and technological studies when combined with gerontechnological theory. Method This paper aims to make a theoretical contribution. It does not present any new empirical material, but draws on empirical material from previously published studies. Results & Discussion This paper presents a theoretical model which simulates the relationship between designers and users as reciprocal and evolving over time1. The connection between design and use is made via the script concept2 whereas the connection between use and design is made via the user representation concept3 (both pertaining to actor-network theory). Acceptance is seen as dependent on technological literacy, technology generations4, perceived stigmatisation5, perceived benefit6 and domesticability7 of a technology. Older users are seen as potentially active actors who are enabled and constrained by gerontechnologies at the same time5,7. However, older users are also constrained within their context (having to act their age, bounded within pension systems, care relations, etc.). This evolution of the connection between older users and the technology can subsequently be followed over time, which allows for conceptualizing the life course8 as a user-technology hybrid. While our model is essentially circular, it does draw attention to the fact that user representations often do not stem from information about actual use practices but from other social and cultural sources, which illustrates the need to engage with theory from social gerontology. Results & Discussion This model sensitises us to the critical analysis of the origins of user representations of older people, how the constraining and enabling effects of age scripts5 are designed and the ability of older people to act as active technology users who change and circumvent such scripts. It thus allows a deeper and theoretically more refined understanding of the ageing-technology nexus. We explore implications for policy making, health technology assessment and design of our model.
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