Nettle: An Exploration of Communication Interface Design for Older Adults

Telecommunication with family and friends is often offered as a solution for aging adults facing social isolation. While strengthening existing ties is important, it fails to address the importance of spontaneous community interactions. This paper presents Nettle, a system that is designed to build casual human connection into one's daily routine. Nettle is based on the artist's alternate vision of smart home design where interfaces are playful, based on familiar household forms and warmly inviting. The audience will observe a performance where Nettle fosters a spontaneous spoken conversation alongside the process of making a pot of tea.