How to Handle Data Management of Assisting Lifelogging Technologies from a User’s Point of View

A shift to higher proportions of older people and people in need of care requires new solutions and technologies with the potential to assist people in their everyday activities and to support them in being as independent and self-determined as possible. Lifelogging technologies have this potential by the collection, storage, and evaluation of personal data. Despite their potential, the users’ acceptance of such technologies is of great importance, in particular with regard to the technology’s handling of data security and privacy. For this reason, a quantitative study was carried out using an online questionnaire (N = 182), investigating two different application contexts of lifelogging technologies: a preventive context (frailty monitoring) and an assisting context related to patients suffering from dementia. Based on a preceding qualitative study, data access, purpose of data processing, duration as well as location of data storage were chosen as factors which were investigated, applying a conjoint analysis approach. The results revealed that the purpose of data processing and data access were the most decisive factors when users decide about the data management of lifelogging technologies and comparing the two contexts, contradicting decision patterns were found in particular for data access. Beyond these insights, user group specific decision patterns were identified for each of the application contexts. This study provides relevant insights into the users’ perspectives and requirements with regard to data management of lifelogging technologies, which should be taken into account for technology development and communication.