Intergenerational User Experience with Digital Memorial Artefacts

This study investigates the generation gap in the modernized mourning ritual involving communicational technology such as SNSs. Current mourning ritual has evolved using technology as a medium, but research in improving the young and old's user experience in the field of thanatosensitivity is limited. Diary study and semi-structured interviews were conducted to find design considerations that can be suggested to improve the user's digital interaction between the young and old generations. Four major design considerations were found: familiarity, continuing bond, flexibility, and affective-cognitive experience. Although there are differences between these two generations, desire for continuing bond and leaving a life experience legacy are the same. Flexibility in design is desired, particularly in terms of portability and connecting globally. Lastly, affective-cognitive experience stems from the sensorial connection seen in both generations. Keywords: Death, Design, Memorial Artefacts, Thanatosensitivity, Generation Gap, User Experience