Designing technologies for ageing: is simplicity always a leading criterion?

In this paper, we reflect on ecological criteria for designing ICT-based tools for ageing. An ethnographic research in 150 homes of older persons has been conducted in order to better understanding their relationship with technologies. Results show that elderly people seem to develop idiosyncratic representation of technology use in connection with their stage of life, their social environment, their personal needs. The concept of simplicity, so often evoked in design for ageing, need to be complemented by more complex insights on the relationship of ageing and technology use.