The Lab
The challenge
Create an interactive, user-friendly digital portal that connects elderly Croatian islanders with their families, friends on the mainland, and the Croatian diaspora in Australia, Canada, and other countries. The portal should focus on enabling elderly users from Lastovo to share their rich history, personal stories, and experiences of life before modernization and digitalization. By using this platform, elderly individuals will proudly explore and share their knowledge with others, bridging generations and preserving their cultural heritage through digital means.
Possible solutions
The application should include the following features, with an emphasis on history and storytelling:
- Content sharing platform:
Focus on providing elderly users with an easy way to upload and share photos, stories, and videos about the rich history of Lastovo and their personal experiences. The interface should be simple, with large, easy-to-understand buttons and minimal text for ease of use.
- Virtual storytelling and history sharing events:
Facilitate virtual gatherings where users can participate in or host storytelling sessions, lectures about Lastovo’s history, and discussions about life before the digital age. This will allow elderly users to share their life stories, traditions, and experiences with others in the community and the diaspora.
- Discussion and support groups:
Create spaces where users can join interest-based groups focused on island history, family genealogy, and storytelling, encouraging deeper engagement with the past. These groups will also offer emotional support and foster connections based on shared cultural roots.
- Family and friend connectivity:
Simple communication tools like messaging and commenting on shared stories will allow elderly users to stay connected with family, friends, and the diaspora, deepening their relationships through shared experiences of Lastovo’s history.
- Event calendar for storytelling sessions:
A shared calendar to keep track of upcoming virtual storytelling events, historical talks, and family meet-ups, ensuring that users can continue to engage with the rich cultural history of Lastovo.
- Donation option:
Include a feature for users, particularly those from the diaspora, to donate to the Lastovo community. These donations could support local initiatives, assist those in need, and help preserve the island’s cultural heritage. This further strengthens the bond between the diaspora and their place of origin.
The Context
On the island of Lastovo, the elderly are deeply connected to the history of their community. They have a strong desire to share their stories about life before modern digitalization. Many have rich experiences and knowledge about local traditions, customs, and the way of life that existed in previous decades. This platform will allow them to embrace digital tools as a means to proudly share these stories, helping to preserve the cultural heritage of Lastovo. Meanwhile, families and the diaspora seek to connect with their roots, and this platform provides a bridge for that cultural exchange. This platform is essential for elderly individuals on Lastovo, as it allows them to reconnect with their families and communities by sharing stories from their past, fostering a sense of pride and belonging. For families, both locally and abroad, the portal strengthens intergenerational bonds, offering deeper connections with their elders. Beyond the diaspora, it also benefits families on the mainland, reducing isolation and promoting regular communication. The platform supports the mental and emotional well-being of elderly users by providing a space for cultural exchange and meaningful interaction.
Prerequisites and boundary conditions
- Low level of digital literacy:
The portal must prioritize a user-friendly design, with clear instructions, large icons, and minimal text, catering to elderly users with limited digital skills.
- Cultural and historical focus:
The content should center around storytelling and sharing experiences from Lastovo’s past, with an emphasis on preserving history and connecting generations through digital means.
- Hands-on assistance:
Family members or caregivers should assist elderly users with the initial setup, while ongoing technical support should be available to ensure ease of use.
- Security and data protection:
Since personal data and potentially sensitive stories will be shared, the solution must include strong data protection features to safeguard privacy. The donation feature should also ensure secure handling of financial transactions.
Excluded technologies
Complex systems requiring advanced digital skills, regular updates, or maintenance are unsuitable for this challenge. The solution must remain simple and require minimal ongoing effort from users.
Existing technologies / System to integrate the solution
The platform should integrate with widely used video conferencing tools (e.g., Zoom, Skype) for virtual storytelling sessions, allowing easy participation in these events without needing to learn new software. The donation feature should integrate secure, user-friendly payment gateways.
What else do we need to know?
The portal must be reliable, secure, and easily accessible, enabling elderly users to proudly share their knowledge of Lastovo’s rich history. This solution should not only help preserve the island’s cultural heritage but also facilitate meaningful social engagement between generations, both on the island and within the global Croatian diaspora. The donation feature provides an opportunity for the diaspora to contribute to local community projects, further strengthening connections to Lastovo.