“A Painless Way to Learn:” Designing an Interactive Storytelling Voice User Interface to Engage Older Adults in Informal Health Information Learning

We present “Mystery Agent,” an interactive storytelling voice user interface (VUI) equipped with self-regulated learning strategies to deliver informal health-related learning to older adults through a murder mystery story. We conducted a mixed methods user study with 10 older adults to evaluate Mystery Agent, using usability and perception-based questionnaires, followed by a semi-structured interview and co-design activity to generate design insights and identify design priorities. We found older adults had a positive experience interacting with Mystery Agent and considered storytelling to be an appropriate and engaging way to learn health information. However, older adults identified credibility, compassion, and control as crucial factors influencing long-term use. To address this, we present design guidelines using Mystery Agent as an example to help practitioners and researchers devise novel solutions to address the informal health information learning needs of older adults.