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Augmented reality (AR) is becoming a heartbeat focus as AR enabled platforms are gaining importance in all domains of technology (Liarokapis & De Freitas, 2010). The ageing populace does not make up a homogenous entity (Rose et al., 2012). It is in this context that the success and integration of the AR system must be determined. There is an increasing trend of mobile usage among the elderly population. It acts as credible evidence that there is adequate scope for using AR system in ensuring greater independence and mobility among the elderly population (Arbeláez, Viganò, & Osorio-Gómez, 2019). However, there is an apparent lacuna in existing solutions that can meet the experience and requirements of such demographic. On a global scale, society as a whole faces a newer challenge with the rapidly growing elderly population (WHO, 2015). The demographic statistics reveal that population is aging rapidly both in developing countries (Shetty, 2012) and in developed countries (Vaupel, 2010).
As the elderly are not a homogenous or static group of people, also services and up-do-date solutions made for their well-being require understanding and skills from versatile areas of knowledge (Mäkimattila, Melkas & Uotila, 2017). The major problems that are faced include physical as well as mental deterioration, along with degradation of senses and loss of memory, among others. The combined effect of all these factors ends up exerting an adverse impact on the overall quality of life (Pandya et al., 2020). It is in this aspect that AR and other associated technologies can address the challenges that the elderly population face (Pulli et al., 2011; Azimi et al., 2017). It should be duly noted that there is a dearth of research which is necessary to zero in on a suitable theoretical framework or guidelines about human factors. Such a framework would have enabled AR designers to create appropriate applications addressing the specific issues faced by the particular population (Ahir et al., 2020). Internet of things (IoT) provides means to offer services remotely utilising novel technologies (Azimi et al., 2017). IoT enables smart ambient environment that is based on sensors, continuous detection and efficient information transfer between applications and devices. Smart ambient environment has increasingly been seen valuable when designing functional and safe living environments for elderly, where the role of AR is significant and can be applied with several every-day activities and functions (Yamamoto et al., 2010).