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Prolonged sedentary behavior poses significant health risks, calling for interventions that promote active lifestyles. For older adults, every physical activity, no matter how small or significant, plays a vital role in their quality of life. However, many interventions aimed at reducing sedentary behavior have overlooked the unique needs and preferences of older adults. In this study, we explore design opportunities for supporting behavior displacement---replacing sedentary time with active movements---as a potential strategy for intervening sedentary time among older adults. Through a 7-day diary study and interviews with 13 participants, we uncovered key factors, such as attention demand, productivity and quality of activities, physical fatigue, as well as social norms, that influence their decisions to engage in displacement. We also identified sequential and concurrent displacement strategies and the contexts in which each was employed. Our findings highlight the need for designing personalized, adaptive interventions that respect the diverse preferences and agency of older adults.more » « lessFree, publicly-accessible full text available September 3, 2026
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Activity tracking has the potential to promote active lifestyles among older adults. However, current activity tracking technologies may inadvertently perpetuate ageism by focusing on age-related health risks. Advocating for a personalized approach in activity tracking technology, we sought to understand what activities older adults find meaningful to track and the underlying values of those activities. We conducted a reflective interview study following a 7-day activity journaling with 13 participants. We identified various underlying values motivating participants to track activities they deemed meaningful. These values, whether competing or aligned, shape the desirability of activities. Older adults appreciate low-exertion activities, but they are difficult to track. We discuss how these activities can become central in designing activity tracking systems. Our research offers insights for creating value-driven, personalized activity trackers that resonate more fully with the meaningful activities of older adults.more » « less
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