Table 5 Example quotes of Theme 4. Facilitating social interaction.

4.1 I could see it being used by others in different circumstances to myself

“I could see it maybe being useful for somebody that's… See I can still carry bags, you know. Because I can still sort of carry stuff so… Yeah, if somebody is a bit… their mobility has gone a little bit and move on a stick, then you've got one less hand, haven’t you? But at the moment, touch wood, you know my health’s not too bad, but if your health declined, then it could be useful.”—F4, Aged 62

“Oh, I think is it's really good for the older generation. Let’s face it, we're living longer. But, and we have this talk quite frequently in places like the WI, as you get older… I mean, I’m one of the lucky ones that I can still get around, I can still do everything. But, as you become more limited, you're looking for things that are going to help.”—F6, Aged 70

“I’ve got a friend with terminal cancer, who is quite weak. She goes into remission but, even when she's in remission she's quite weak. Something like that would be brilliant. I’ve got other friends who have got Parkinson’s who would find this ideal.”—F6, Aged 70

“Once you've got hold of a guide dog, and if you have to have a stick as well, then your hands are full and I can imagine that it’d be very good for people who are blind. Or people who are unable to… You know, have that cognitive reaction, you know with that with them. Yeah, I think it could be very useful […] For people who are indoors a lot and are frightened to go out because they can't manage a stick and a bag.”—F2, Aged 72

“I’m just thinking though, it might be useful in a hospital setting where, you know, you have, you know, people that are not fully mobile and, you know, that they want to do some exercise around the hospital and they can just follow them around and make sure that, you know, they’ve got their own possessions, or the medication that they need, you know behind them, and they can take a rest whenever they need to

Something like that I could see. You know, that might be a really useful thing, application of it. But in a setting where that's going to be much more acceptable and where you're not going to get any stairs or steps or anything like that.”—M6, Aged 61

[F11] “I think if it's in an area where there was a large elderly complex of, not just bedrooms, but their own sort of front door

[Interviewer] “Yeah, like the kind of assisted living?”

[F11] “Yes. Then having one or two for people to use, I think would be quite useful. […Suppose] you wanted to go out for a shop, you could actually say “Right , I’m gonna pick this one […] I can pick this and go to do my little shop or walk or whatever. And I’ve got a seat there if need be. If I get tired, I can sit and rest. I can carry a bottle of juice or water or whatever in it.” You know, that sort of thing. And then come back again, so I do think that there would be a use for them in that sort of situation.”—F11, Aged 69

4.2 Not suited to me

“I’m quite sceptical as to the benefits that I would gain from use of the Gita. I am very fortunate, in that, for my age, I am comparatively active and able to get a good amount of exercise.”—M5, Aged 79

"I wouldn't have any use for it at all. Fairly straightforward, because at the moment, touch wood, I haven’t got any problems. But you never know what lies in the future, do you?!”—M4, Aged 82

4.3 I would use it in the future

“I think… If I wasn’t allowed to drive […] then yes. Something like this would be… well what’s the alternative? Plod along the road carrying two bags. And something like this, that does the bag carrying, yes please.”—M1, Aged 75

“…it would be when I had a problem carrying weights. Or I’d lost my driving licence. Or could no longer afford a car, you know. Couldn't see properly to drive, anything like that. Any reason I couldn’t drive. I’d probably be interested in that it could take the load off me.”—F11, Aged 69

“I expect that, as I get a bit older, I will want to live somewhere which is much nearer to shops, and then it would become more useful because I would probably be less able.”—F2, Aged 72