What are the benefits and barriers experienced by older adults who live alone when using smartphones regularly?
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Date
2022-05
Department
University of Baltimore. Division of Science, Information Arts and Technologies
Program
University of Baltimore. Master of Science in Interaction Design and Information Architecture
Citation of Original Publication
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This item may be protected under Title 17 of the U.S. Copyright Law. It is made available by the University of Baltimore for non-commercial research and educational purposes.
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Abstract
Digital technology is abundant in the world today; however, there are many people who
do not use it comfortably. One main group that is sometimes uncomfortable with
technology is older users, and this is particularly true of older people who live alone and
have limited interaction with others. The goal of this project was to understand the
experiences of older users who live alone when using technology on a daily basis, and to
identify any barriers that may impact this group's usage, willingness, or motivation to
understand and use technology. A diary study was conducted where ten participants
answered daily questions through text message about their experiences using their
smartphone for the duration of two weeks. The results showed that these older users
knew the basic functionality of their smartphones; however, they felt pressure to learn
more about their phones, mostly to avoid feeling like a burden to their families. Living
alone places a unique burden on older adults because they felt that there was no
immediate help available for their issues, leading to feelings of frustration and reduced
motivation to continue trying to learn about smartphones.