Gerontechnology 

About: Gerontechnology is an academic journal published by International Society for Gerontechnology. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Medicine & Computer science. It has an ISSN identifier of 1569-1101. Over the lifetime, 1506 publications have been published receiving 10556 citations.

Predicting the use of technology: Findings from the center for research and education on aging and technology enhancement (CREATE)

Abstract: The successful adoption of technology is becoming increasingly important to functional independence. The present article reports findings from the Center for Research and Education on Aging and Technology Enhancement (CREATE) on the use of technology among community-dwelling adults. The sample included 1,204 individuals ranging in age from 18-91 years. All participants completed a battery that included measures of demographic characteristics, self-rated health, experience with technology, attitudes toward computers, and component cognitive abilities. Findings indicate that the older adults were less likely than younger adults to use technology in general, computers, and the World Wide Web. The results also indicate that computer anxiety, fluid intelligence, and crystallized intelligence were important predictors of the use of technology. The relationship between age and adoption of technology was mediated by cognitive abilities, computer self-efficacy, and computer anxiety. These findings are discussed in terms of training strategies to promote technology adoption.

Assistive social robots in elderly care: a review

Abstract: Assistive social robots, a particular type of assistive robotics designed for social interaction with humans, could play an important role with respect to the health and psychological well-being of the elderly. Objectives Assistive social robots are believed to be useful in eldercare for two reasons, a functional one and an affective one. Such robots are developed to function as an interface for the elderly with digital technology, and to help increase the quality of life of the elderly by providing companionship, respectively. There is a growing attention for these devices in the literature. However, no comprehensive review has yet been performed to investigate the effectiveness of such robots in the care of the elderly. Therefore, we systematically reviewed and analyzed existing literature on the effects of assistive social robots in health care for the elderly. We focused in particular on the companion function. Data Sources A systematic search of MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, The Cochrane Library databases, IEEE, ACM libraries and finally Google Scholar was performed for records through December 2007 to identify articles of all studies with actual subjects aimed to assess the effects of assistive social robots on the elderly. This search was completed with information derived from personal expertise, contacts and reports. Study Selection and Data Extraction Since no randomized controlled trials (RCT)’s have been found within this field of research, all studies reporting effects of assistive robotics in elderly populations were included. Information on study design, interventions, controls, and findings were extracted for each article. In medical journals only a few articles were found, whereas about 50 publications were found in literature on ICT and robotics. Data Synthesis The identified studies were all published after 2000 indicating the novelty of this area of research. Most of these publications contain the results of studies that report positive effects of assistive social robots on health and psychological well-being of elders. Solid evidence indicating that these effects can indeed be attributed to the actual assistive social robot, its behavior and its functionality is scarce. Conclusions There is some qualitative evidence as well as limited quantitative evidence of the positive effects of assistive social robots with respect to the elderly. The research designs, however, are not robust enough to establish this. Confounding variables often cannot be excluded. This is partly due to the chosen research designs, but also because it is unclear what research methodology is adequate to investigate such effects. Therefore, more work on methods is needed as well as robust, large-scale studies to establish the effects of these devices.

A review of technology acceptance by older adults

Abstract: We present a review of empirical research on technology acceptance by older people based on 19 published studies, analyze the results, and evaluate findings and limitations. Research on technology usage and acceptance by older people has not yet given sufficient consideration to age-specific or age-related factors. We conclude that the technology acceptance model (TAM) is a useful model, but to better understand technology acceptance behavior of older people, additional variables are to be included, related to biophysical and psychosocial characteristics, abilities and problems experienced by older people.

Senior gamers : preferences, motivations and needs

Abstract: Digital games hold the potential to enhance seniors’ leisure time and social connectedness, and provide a mental and even physical workout. However, most digital games that are currently on the market are targeted at the younger audience and contain content that generally does not resonate well with seniors. Senior gamers do exist, yet little is known about them. It is unclear what motivates them to engage in digital gaming, what type of games they play, what problems they face with game interfaces, and what their perceptions and attitudes are towards digital gaming. By gathering an in-depth understanding about senior gamers, future digital games could be designed in such a way that they are usable, engaging and fun to the senior population. By means of two focus groups and four contextual inquiries, rich, qualitative insight was gained about senior gamers. Results indicate that digital game play offers many benefits to seniors, and in the paper a number of potential strategies are discussed to increase the positive return from digital game play and to appeal a wider senior audience.

Technology generation and age in using layered user interfaces

Abstract: Why do older adults encounter more difficulties than younger persons do in using present electronic devices? Two factors may play a role: (1) Age-related decline in ability; (2) Generation-related lack of earlier experience with such user interfaces. In two experiments, performance was compared of four age groups when using simulations of devices with software style user interfaces in one, two, and three menu layers. For task duration only an age effect was found. However, for mode error performance a generation effect appeared in that subjects who experienced software style user interfaces in early adulthood performed better than older subjects who did not have such earlier experience. Within the older subjects, no age effect in error performance was found. The results are interpreted in terms of the generation theory as known from sociological studies in that experiences in the formative period before the age of 25 yrs are more persistent than later ones.