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This research explores how context sensing and ubiquitous communication media can support remote family members with new ways of caringfor each other using awareness systems. An important design dimension in awareness systems is reflected by the concepts of symmetry andsocial translucence. We explore the effect of ensuring symmetry versus ensuring social translucence upon the social connectedness and the privacy satisfaction that people experience through the use of anawareness system. We built the SoPresenT prototype which uses audioand video technologies to support these concepts. We are currently investigating these through controlled experiments.

An awareness system was designed to provide peace of mind and a sense of connectedness to adults who care for an elderly parent living alone. The iterative design of the Aurama awareness system showed andour empirical research, including field trials ranging from four tosix months, confirm the potential of awareness systems to support both generations suggesting that future research should examine, firstly, how to convey long-term trends regarding the wellbeing of the elderly and, secondly, how to intertwine the communication of awareness information with expressive forms of communication. We further explore the role that formal care providers can play when caring for the elderly using the awareness system. We discuss implications of our studies for the design of ambient intelligent systems supporting awareness between elderly, their adult children and care providers, and derive several lessons learned in conducting long-term field trials.