Living with Data: Exploring Physicalization Approaches to Sedentary Behavior Intervention for the Elderly

Abstract: Sedentary behavior is a critical health risk for older adults. While digital interventions exist, they often rely on screen-based notifications that feel clinical and are easily ignored. This paper presents a Research through Design inquiry into data physicalization as a humane alternative. We designed and deployed tangible artifacts that ambiently represent sedentary patterns in older adults' homes. These artifacts transform abstract data into aesthetic, evolving forms, becoming part of the domestic landscape. Through a long-term in-situ study, our analysis reveals these physicalizations fostered self-reflection, family conversations, and prompted reflection on activity. Our work contributes empirical design principles for tangible health interventions that are both evocative and actionable. We demonstrate how qualities like aesthetic ambiguity and slow revelation can empower older adults, fostering a reflective relationship with their wellbeing. We argue this approach signals a necessary shift from merely informing users to enabling them to live with and through their data.