connecting technology and older adults technology and older adults: evolution, myths, and revolution...

Connecting Technology and Older Adults

Technology and Older Adults:Evolution, Myths, and Revolution

Roger W. Morrell, Ph.D.

Director of Research, GeroTech CorporationAdjunct Faculty, School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University

Director, Aging & Technology Institute

Older Users & The Web


Outline Myths Evolution in Research Revolution in Use of Electronic Technology by Older Adults Recent Projects Resulting from the Research Briefly Back to Myths


The Myths


The Myths

In the beginning, electronic products were designed by young people to be used by young people. Video games Computers introduced into schools Few advertising efforts were made to interest older adults. Training opportunities were geared toward younger people.


The Myths

1) Older adults are less interested in learning how to use these technologies.

2) Older adults simply cannot learn how to use these technologies.

3) Older adults are more anxious and have poorer attitudes toward computer use relative to younger adults which ultimately leads to nonuse.


The Evolution of ResearchFor a more detailed discussion of this research:Older Adults and Information Technology: A Compendium of Scientific Research and Web Accessibility GuidelinesMorrell, Dailey, Feldman, Mayhorn, Echt, & Podany, 2003

Available through the National Institute on AgingChecklist is also available


Evolution

Initial research focused on older adults’ attitudes toward the use of electronic technology and their level of anxiety toward the use of electronic technology (primarily computers).

The research began in 1984.

Most researchers found no age differences in attitudes.


Evolution

Most older adults have positive attitudes toward the use of computers and other types of electronic technology.

Anxiety level did not seem to affect performance.

Older adults did not seem to be more anxious than younger adults in learning how to use electronic technology.


Evolution

We also found that attitudes could be modified under certain circumstances.

Longer training periods led to more positive attitudes and better performance in the training sessions led to more positive attitudes.

But the effects were small.


Evolution

At the same time, research was focusing on how older adults learn to use electronic technology (computers) relative to younger adults.

Research began in 1985.

Cognitive aging researchers and researchers in Human Factors focused on how they learned and how best to train them. (about 15 studies)


Evolution

We looked at their use of word processing and spreadsheet software, Line Editors, Bulletin Boards, interactive computer programs, and how to acquire basic computer skills.

Our research question was: How do they perform relative to younger adults?


Evolution

We found that older adults made more mistakes and took more time to learn how to use these products than younger adults.


Evolution

We also searched to find the optimal training method for teaching computer skills to older adults.

We looked at advanced organizers, modeling, manual, and interactive techniques.

We did not find an optimal training method. However, self-pacing and peer interaction seemed to help.


Evolution

We then went on to look to see if they could learn and retain skills over time.

They can! We showed that adults ranging in age from 60 - 88 could be taught skills and return 1 - 2 weeks later and be able to perform these skills.


Evolution

More recent research has shown that older adults can acquire memory training techniques and software skills, and also glean information on career development, pre-retirement, and/or health issues using CD-ROMS.

(Mahoney, Tarlow, & Jones, 2002; Stoltz-Loike, Morrell, & Loike, 2004; Plude & Schwartz, 1996;

Echt & Kressig, 2001).


Evolution

As the Internet became more and more popular, research focused on older adults’ ability to use the Internet.

These studies began In 1995.

Through systematic studies and usability studies.


Evolution

Through systematic studies we again found that older adults take more time and make more mistakes when conducting searches.

The more steps included in a search = more mistakes

(the complexity hypothesis which says the more difficult the task the greater the age differences in performance).


Evolution

Through usability studies we found that navigation on most web sites was a problem.

The greater the depth of a web site (the number of levels) the more trouble older adults had in navigation. Scrolling was also a problem.

We also found that normal age-related differences in vision, memory, comprehension, and motor skills affected performance.


The Revolution in Use of Electronic Technologies


Revolution

How are Older Adults Using Electronic Technology? In general, it is still true that older adults use electronic devices less than younger adults. However, the fastest growing segment of Internet users are people over the age of 60 relative to new users in other age groups.


Revolution

In 1984, about 2.5% of individuals over 55 owned computers. In 1998, about 25% owned them. And they are purchasing them with rapid speed so this percentage is increasing.

(Department of Commerce, 1999, 2002)

In a recent survey over 70% of elderly computers owners reported that they have Internet access and 80% said they have accessed it in the past month

(SeniorNet, 1998; Adler, 2002)


Revolution

It is predicted that Internet use by the elderly will increase as much as 358% from 3.7 million users in 2001 to 17.3 million in 2005.

At present, it is estimated that about 22% of older adults are surfing the Web.

(Scanlon, 2001; Pew Internet & Life Project, 2004)


Revolution

This is not surprising because we knew almost 2 decades ago that computers could be introduced successfully into a variety of environments with older adults.

(Morrell, in press; Morrell, Dailey, Feldman, Mayhorn,

Echt, & Podany, 2003)

So, what are they doing on the Internet?


Revolution

They are spending more time online than other age groups (approximately 8.3 hours per week).

The are spending more money online than other age groups.

The most common items purchased are clothing, music and compact discs, computer hardware, books, and computer software (in that order)!

(e-Marketer, 2000, Greenfield Online, 2000, Willis, 2003)


Revolution

A survey that my colleagues and I conducted revealed that middle-aged adults (ages 40 - 59), young-old adults (ages 60 - 74), and old-old adults (ages 75+) most wanted to learn how to do the same things on the Internet, but they ranked their choices differently.

(Morrell, Mayhorn, & Bennett, 2000)


Use of Information Technology

Preferences for Web Use by Age Group

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Middle-Aged Young-Old Old-Old

Age Groups

%EmailTravelHealth

Preferences in Web Use by Middle Aged,Young-Old, and Old-Old Adults

(Morrell, Mayhorn, & Bennett, 2000)


Revolution

The reasons they were not accessing the Internet were:1) No access to a computer2) No training opportunities or information

But just as important:3) They did not know what they could do on the Internet or how to find what they wanted to know suggesting there is a motivational issue here.


Projects as a Result

of the Research


The NIH Senior Health Project


Projects

The NIH Senior Health Project was jointly sponsored by the National Institute on Aging and the National Library of Medicine.

Other institutes at the National Institutes of Health are will post components on the web site in the future on other health issues concerning older adults.


Projects

The project had two goals in its inception.

1. To identify the basic and applied research in cognition and aging, perception and aging, and human factors and aging that could be used to form the basis of a set of guidelines to guide the construction of a web site that met the needs of older adults. (Guidelines can also be applied to other electronic products)

2. Apply the guidelines in the construction of an actual web site that would be accessible for older adults.


Projects

The NIH Senior Health Project employed scientific findings from basic and applied systematic research in cognition and aging and human factors and aging to guide the design of the web site for use by older adults.

The web site was designed to serve as a model that meets elderly accessibility requirements and also 508 accessibility standards, those recently mandated for persons with disabilities


Projects

Age-related changes in vision have implications on how a web site is designed for older adults. In particular they affect:

the typeface, type size, and type weight used; the amount of contrast between the type and backgrounds; the spacing of the type and justification; and and the use of color.

(Hartley, 1999; Morrell, et al., 2003)


Projects

Age-related changes in certain aspects of cognition (verbal and spatial working memory, text comprehension ability, and perceptual speed) may affect how well an individual can perform web navigation tasks.

(Craik & Salthouse, 2000; Salthouse, 1991)

These changes are usually not dramatic but their presence might interfere in the performance of computer tasks.(Morrell & Echt, 1996, 1997; Morrell, 1997, 2002;

Morrell et al. 2003)


Projects

Design Implications Writing the Text

StylePhrasingComplexityOrganization of the material

Incorporating Other MediaIllustrations and PhotographsAnimation, Video, and AudioText Alternatives

(Park, 1992; Holt, 2000; Morrell, et al., 2003)


Projects

There are other aspects of web site construction that should be taken into consideration to help older adults navigate a web site.

Consistent Layouts Navigation that is simple and straightforward Style and Size of Icons and Buttons Scrolling or the lack of scrolling Site Maps Allow for pages to be read again

(Holt & Morrell, 2002; Morrell, 2002;Morrell, Mayhorn, & Bennett, 2002; Morrell, et

al., 2003)


Unique Aspects and Features of the www.NIHSeniorHealth.gov

Web Site


Projects


Projects

This is the “Talking Web”.


Projects

Type size can be immediately enlarged.


Projects

Page contrast can be changed.


Projects

Example of normal page.


Projects

Example of page using the Contrast Feature.


Projects

The navigation system is readily apparent and consistent.


Projects

Large buttons are easy to click on.


Projects

The typeface and type size used are easy to read.


Projects

The videos are a popular feature.


Projects

The videos are easy to use.


Projects

The videos feature audio and open captioning.


Projects

Animations are used to illustrate textual concepts.


Projects

BusinessThinking Products

Designed for Use by Mature Workers

SeniorThinking, LLCMarian Stoltz-Loike, Ph.D.

CEO and PresidentEmail: [email protected]

www.seniorthinking.com


Projects

The BusinessThinking products are e-learning courses on the use of software such as PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and also about how to use the Internet for people over the age of 50.

Other courses include Career Development, Job Finding, and Pre-Retirement Planning.

Additional courses are in the development stage on other issues of importance to older adults.


Projects

All products are designed in CD-ROM format and can engineered to be accessed through corporate/government intranets as well as on the SeniorThinking.com web site.

The products are designed to be used to alleviate the high costs of personnel training in traditional formats.

The design of all of the products is based on the guidelines for elder-accessibility developed by the National Institute on Aging.


Projects

An explanation is presented immediately on how to use BusinessThinking products.


Projects

All products begin with an Index.


Projects

All courses are carefully organized.


Projects

Illustrations and animations are used.


Projects

All procedures are presented in a step-by-step manner.


Projects

Design is consistent throughout all products.


Projects

The Research Component of BusinessThinking

Initial development was funded by the National Institute on Aging through an SBIR grant.

Usability tests were conducted on all products with mature adults (ages 50 – 69), individuals representative of older people still in the workforce.

Knowledge assessments were also conducted to determine if mature adults can learn from the products.


Projects

What we have found:

Application of the NIA guidelines have resulted in almost errorless performance of usability tasks.

In some instances, certain subcategories of information were hard to fine (this information was not crucial to navigation).


Projects

Improvement in knowledge acquisition improved 23% on information about career development when the CD-ROM was used alone.

We tested taking the CD-ROM home and using it for one week, adding an instructor-led Web-based component (via Webex), and adding a peer2peer component.

All methods resulted in 50%+ improvement in performance of tasks after only about 3-4 hours of instruction.


Projects

These results suggest that mature adults can learn from e-learning products whether they use the products by themselves alone, use them with two or more people in a small group, or use them via the Web in a classroom situtation.


Projects

Web Accessibility Tool Box

Annie BeckerProfessor of Computer Information

SystemsSchool of Management

Florida Institute of TechnologyEmail: [email protected]

www.cba.nau.edu/becker-a/Accessibilty/main.html


Projects

This series of products can be used to evaluate features of web sites for elder-accessibility.

Research was funded by the National Science Foundation

Dottie is similar to Bobbie which is used to determine how well web sites meet the 508 standards.


Projects

The Dottie Tool evaluates a Web Page for compliance with the NIA guidelines by generating a report on usability barriers.


Projects

The Readme Tool evaluates Web page content.

The Readme Tool generates statistics on reading grade level, syllables, word count, sentence counts, and average sentence length for a specified Web page.


Projects

The Readme Tool generates a printout.


Projects

The Aging Simulator tool demonstrates how darkening and yellowing of an image is seen by a 60 or 75 year old.


Projects

The Graphic Analyzer uses neural net technology to transform an image (gif file) onto one that is seen by a person with color deficiency.

The Usability Enforcer transforms a Web Page by enforcing usability rules associated with a user profile and computing environment.

The primary focus is on making a Web page usable for older adults.


Projects

In other work by Annie Becker, a usability study was conducted on 125 government, commercial, and nonprofit Web sites designed to provide health information.

The NIA guidelines and other factors were used as gauges to test the elder-accessibility of the sites.

Approximately 93% of the sites did not meet the requirements for elder accessibility.

(Becker, in press)


Back to the Myths


Back to the Myths

1) Older adults are interested in learning how to use these technologies.

2) Older adults can learn how to use these technologies and retain these skills.

3) Older adults are not more anxious and do not have poorer attitudes toward computer use relative to younger adults.


Back to the myths

Electronic products can and should be designed for the older user.


Reality Challenges

“If you build it, will they come?”

Probably not.

Lack of current use of government sites and lack of revisits to other sites.

This is a motivational issue.

This is a marketing issue.


Reality Challenges

There are substantial numbers of current Baby Boomers who do not use computers and have no intention of using the Web.

Use in diverse populations. Use by people with low computer, verbal, and health literacy.

Pilot and demonstration projects that disappear due to lack of funding. Research land is riddled with the ghosts of what could have been…


Thank you.

GeroTech Corporation2120 Greenwatch Way, Suite 200

Reston, VA 20191703.915.6046

[email protected]

connecting technology and older adults technology and older adults: evolution, myths, and revolution...

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