HiStory
01. Introduction
The HiStory project aimed to foster social inclusion, cognitive activity and well-being among older adults through storytelling. By creating a platform that allows people to tell, share and consume stories, HiStory promotes collective and active oral history making. The project also explored potential applications in tourism, education, and culture, enhancing both community and individual engagement.
02. Summary of the project aims and objectives
The primary goal of the HiStory project was to create a storytelling solution that brings older adults together, both physically and digitally, to share personal stories and life experiences. The project aimed to combat social isolation by encouraging older adults to participate in structured storytelling sessions, fostering connections with others and maintaining cognitive engagement.
03.Product development and key features
Main Product: HiStory Platform
The HiStory platform allows older adults to share their stories both in person and digitally. Participants gather in small groups to tell stories, often bringing memorabilia to support their narratives. These stories are then encapsulated into digital capsules on the HiStory website, where they can be shared publicly or privately with family members.
Key Features
- Storytelling sessions: Structured activities where older adults share personal stories.
- Digital capsules: Story recordings saved on the platform, accessible to family and the community.
- Hybrid approach: Combines face-to-face interaction with digital preservation, fostering both social engagement and cultural heritage preservation.
- Custom themes: Story capsules can be organised around themes like favourite places, childhood memories or significant life events.
04. Partners
The HiStory project involved 8 partners from multiple countries
- NOUS Wissensmanagement GmbH (SME, Austria) [Coordinator]
- Lucerne University of Applied Arts & Sciences-iHomeLab (R&D, Switzerland)
- Austrian Institute of Technology (R&D, Austria)
- National Foundation for the Elderly (End-user, Netherlands)
- Studio Dankl (SME, Austria)
- Vicino (End-user, Switzerland)
- Ijsfontain (SME, Netherlands)
- City Council Zutphen (End-user, Netherlands)
05.Impact on participating in an AAL project
Key takeaways
- The AAL project allowed NOUS to develop a deeper understanding of the older adults' market, which significantly differs from other demographics.
- The hybrid approach combining real-life storytelling with digital preservation proved highly successful, especially during and after the pandemic.
- AAL enabled NOUS to expand its portfolio into healthcare and social care sectors, fostering long-term growth.
06. Main learnings from developing a solution through an AAL project
Organisational impacts
- Gained knowledge on how to market solutions for older adults.
- Gained insights on user needs through collaborative testing and feedback.
- Established new partnerships and improved the organisation’s visibility.
- Enhanced understanding of how to design culturally sensitive and inclusive digital tools.
07. Impact on networking and collaboration
Building partnerships
- AAL facilitated collaboration between Austrian, Swiss, and Dutch partners, creating a new network of expertise.
- Established new connections with institutions and care centres interested in cultural storytelling as a therapeutic activity.
08. Perceived benefits of participating in AAL Support Actions
- Participation in AAL2Business improved NOUS’s ability to develop business models targeting older adults.
- AAL Forum participation strengthened networking opportunities and provided a platform to share insights on social inclusion.
09. How AAL supported development and market adoption
User involvement
- User testing with diverse groups highlighted the importance of combining in-person and digital storytelling.
- AAL support accelerated product development and validated the hybrid approach as a feasible model for social engagement.
10. Challenges encountered
- Market Barriers: Difficulty in convincing traditional care institutions to adopt innovative storytelling solutions.
- Financial barriers: Limited external funding to support commercialisation beyond the project scope.
- Adoption barriers: Resistance from care institutions to implement new digital practices.
11. Actions needed to launch the product
- Establish partnerships with larger strategic partners to expand market reach.
- Develop a commercialisation strategy tailored to both care centres and cultural institutions.
- Increase awareness through demonstrations and workshops at museums and care centres.
12. Next steps
Target end-users
- Primary: Older adults in care centres and social institutions.
- Secondary: Museums using storytelling as a cultural engagement tool.
Commercial Strategy
- Launch in Austria, followed by the Netherlands.
- Develop spin-offs to address the growing market for storytelling in healthcare and cultural settings.
- Establish subscription models for care institutions and museums to sustainably implement the platform