Ripensare il volto digitale nella Silver Age

This paper presents a novel exploration of applied semiotics in the design of di- gital technologies aimed at the elderly, particularly through the development of a social media platform tailored to their needs. Building on Umberto Ecoís semiotic framework and addressing the progressive aging of the population alongside the ubiquity of digital technology, we propose a shift in how digital platforms are de- signed for senior users. The research identi es a gap in current digital solutions, which often overlook the elderly, resulting in a digital divide exacerbated by the recent COVID-19 pandemic. By rethinking digital platforms with a focus on the digital representation of faces, we aim to foster intergenerational connections that transcend mere syntactic links, emphasizing semantic relationships built on sha- red narratives and memories. This endeavor is grounded in a critical literature review that intersects elderly individuals, digital technology, and face representa- tion, highlighting current limitations while offering recommendations for future directions. A semiotic perspective on technology design for the elderly is propo- sed, promising a more inclusive digital landscape that acknowledges the elderly not just as users but as active participants in a socially connected community. The proposed platform focuses on preserving and sharing elderly memories with extended families, leveraging the centrality of the face in digital communication to promote genuine intergenerational engagement. The signi cance of this work lies in its methodological and cultural objective to rede ne ìappliedî in semio- tics, advocating for a design that impacts real-life through digital innovation in harmony with technical and engineering knowledge. By prioritizing narrative and emotional connections, the project endeavors to restore semantic depth to digital face representations, challenging the prevailing commercial nature of social plat- forms and envisioning a digital space that values authentic human connections over quantitative interactions.