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A master's thesis from Aalborg University
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Familiearkivet

Translated title

Familiearkivet: System that supports the caretaker

Authors

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Term

4. Term

Publication year

2022

Submitted on

Pages

85

Abstract

Objects can carry meaning beyond their material value because memories and family histories are embedded in them. This thesis examines such “inalienable objects” in Danish families and characterizes the people who manage them as caretakers rather than owners, as they feel responsible for ensuring that the objects and their stories remain within the family. We identify challenges in displaying and using these objects in everyday life—such as fragility, aesthetic mismatch in modern homes, or fear of theft—which can hinder intergenerational storytelling. To address this, we designed and implemented Familiearkivet, a system comprising a mobile app and a digital picture frame. Caretakers can register objects in the app with photos, audio stories, and short facts for family members to explore; picture frames in all participating households display the same selected image. The work includes related literature, interviews, iterative design phases, implementation, and an evaluation through a pilot test and a short field deployment. Preliminary findings indicate that registering objects in Familiearkivet increases receivers’ awareness and knowledge of selected items, supporting caretakers in conveying their importance. A key limitation is the short usage period available in the project; the system’s full potential is expected to emerge over time as stories and memories are preserved across generations.

Genstande kan have stor betydning ud over deres materielle værdi, fordi minder og familiehistorier er indlejret i dem. I dette speciale undersøger vi sådanne “umistelige genstande” i danske familier og beskriver personer, der forvalter dem, som plejere snarere end ejere, fordi de føler et ansvar for, at genstandene og deres historier videreføres i familien. Vi identificerer udfordringer ved at vise og bruge disse genstande i hverdagen, for eksempel skrøbelighed, manglende æstetisk pasform i hjemmet eller frygt for indbrud, hvilket kan hindre historiefortælling på tværs af generationer. For at adressere dette har vi designet og implementeret Familiearkivet, et system bestående af en mobilapp og en digital billedramme. Plejere kan registrere genstande i appen med billeder, lydfortællinger og korte fakta, som familier kan udforske; billedrammer i alle husholdninger viser det samme valgte billede. Arbejdet omfatter relateret litteratur, interviews, iterative designfaser, implementering og en evaluering med pilottest og kort feltforløb. Vores foreløbige resultater peger på, at registrering i Familiearkivet gør modtagere mere opmærksomme på udvalgte genstande og øger deres viden, hvilket understøtter plejerens arbejde med at formidle betydningen af genstandene. En væsentlig begrænsning er den korte brugsperiode i projektet; systemets fulde potentiale forventes at fremstå over tid, når historier og minder bevares på tværs af generationer.

[This apstract has been generated with the help of AI directly from the project full text]