research-article

Effects of Extended Use of an Age-friendly Computer System on Assessments of Computer Proficiency, Attitudes, and Usability by Older Non--Computer Users

Authors:

Jerad H. Moxley,

Walter R. Boot,

Wendy A. Rogers,

Sara J. CzajaAuthors Info & Claims

ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing (TACCESS), Volume 12, Issue 2

Article No.: 9, Pages 1 - 28

https://doi.org/10.1145/3325290

Published: 11 June 2019 Publication History

Abstract

This study examined the impact of use of a computer software application designed specifically for older people known as PRISM—a Personal Reminder Information and Social Management system—which was installed on a computer that was placed in the homes of adults aged 65 to 98 years, who were at risk for social isolation and had minimal or no computer skills and no computers in their homes. Participants received face-to-face training on the system in their homes over several days and a variety of measures were collected at baseline and at 12 months. A growth mixture model applied to participants’ usage of the system over the course of 12 months revealed two distinct subpopulations of users—less-frequent users and more-frequent users—who after one year of exposure to the system differed in computer proficiency, attitudes toward computers, and ratings of system usability. These two groups did not differ on computer proficiency and computer attitude measures at baseline. The more-frequent user group, however, had significantly higher fluid cognitive abilities. Additional analytical models were used to further examine the relationships among the study measures. The implications of the findings are discussed in terms of the importance of usability for promoting initial engagement with a system and that increased engagement with the system can instill beliefs in these older adults that they can successfully transition to other computer-based technologies and applications. The results also underscore the importance of the user-centered design approach and designing highly usable systems for older adults with low technology proficiency.

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Cited By

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Index Terms

Effects of Extended Use of an Age-friendly Computer System on Assessments of Computer Proficiency, Attitudes, and Usability by Older Non--Computer Users
1. Human-centered computing
2. Social and professional topics
  1. User characteristics
    1. Age
      1. Seniors

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Published In

cover image ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing Volume 12, Issue 2

Special Issue on ASSETS'17 and Regular Papers

June 2019

145 pages

ISSN:1936-7228

EISSN:1936-7236

DOI:10.1145/3340326

Editors:
Matt Huenerfauth
Rochester Institute of Technology, USA
,
Kathleen F. McCoy
University of Delaware, USA

Issue’s Table of Contents

Copyright © 2019 ACM.

Permission to make digital or hard copies of all or part of this work for personal or classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation on the first page. Copyrights for components of this work owned by others than ACM must be honored. Abstracting with credit is permitted. To copy otherwise, or republish, to post on servers or to redistribute to lists, requires prior specific permission and/or a fee. Request permissions from [email protected]

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Publication History

Published: 11 June 2019

Accepted: 01 February 2019

Revised: 01 January 2019

Received: 01 July 2018

Published in TACCESS Volume 12, Issue 2

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Project CREATE III—Center for Research and Education on Aging and Technology Enhancement
National Institute on Aging/National Institutes of Health

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Cited By

Kainiemi ESaukkonen PVirtanen LVehko TKyytsönen MAaltonen MHeponiemi T(2023)Perceived benefits of digital health and social services among older adults: A population-based cross-sectional surveyDIGITAL HEALTH10.1177/205520762311735599Online publication date: 4-Jun-2023
https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076231173559
Taqi FBatool SArshad A(2023)Examining differences in perceived usability of Google Drive among public library usersLibrary Hi Tech10.1108/LHT-05-2022-0275Online publication date: 30-Jun-2023
https://doi.org/10.1108/LHT-05-2022-0275
Zhang SBoot W(2023)Predicting Older Adults’ Continued Computer Use After Initial AdoptionInnovation in Aging10.1093/geroni/igad0297:4Online publication date: 23-Mar-2023
https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igad029
Zhang SBoot WCharness N(2021)Does Computer Use Improve Older Adults’ Cognitive Functioning? Evidence From the Personal Reminder Information and Social Management TrialThe Gerontologist10.1093/geront/gnab18862:7(1063-1070)Online publication date: 23-Dec-2021
https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnab188
Sharit JMoxley JCzaja S(2021)Investigating Older Adults’ Willingness to Invest Time to Acquire Technology Skills Using a Discounting ApproachInnovation in Aging10.1093/geroni/igab0175:2Online publication date: 20-May-2021
https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igab017
Choi EWisniewski KZelinski E(2021)Information and communication technology use in older adultsComputers in Human Behavior10.1016/j.chb.2021.106813121:COnline publication date: 1-Aug-2021
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1016/j.chb.2021.106813
Marston HIvan LFernández-Ardèvol MRosales Climent AGómez-León MBlanche-T DEarle SKo PColas SBilir BÖztürk Çalikoglu HArslan HKanozia RKriebernegg UGroßschädl FReer FQuandt TButtigieg SSilva PGallistl VRohner R(2020)COVID-19: Technology, Social Connections, Loneliness, and Leisure Activities: An International Study ProtocolFrontiers in Sociology10.3389/fsoc.2020.5748115Online publication date: 19-Nov-2020
https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2020.574811

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