‘That's for old so and so's!’: does identity influence older adults’ technology adoption decisions?

Abstract

The role of identity in older adults’ decision-making about assistive technology adoption has been suggested but not fully explored. This scoping review was conducted to understand better how older adults’ self-image and their desire to maintain this influence their decision-making processes regarding assistive technology adoption. Using the five-stage scoping review framework by Arksey and O'Malley, a total of 416 search combinations were run across nine databases, resulting in a final yield of 49 articles. From these 49 articles, five themes emerged: (a) resisting the negative reality of an ageing and/or disabled identity; (b) independence and control are key; (c) the aesthetic dimension of usability; (d) assistive technology as a last resort; and (e) privacy versus pragmatics. The findings highlight the importance of older adults’ desire to portray an identity consistent with independence, self-reliance and competence, and how this desire directly impacts their assistive technology decision-making adoption patterns. These findings aim to support the adoption of assistive technologies by older adults to facilitate engagement in meaningful activities, enable social participation within the community, and promote health and wellbeing in later life.

Factors Affecting the Initial Engagement of Older Adults in the Use of Interactive Technology

“…Other studies have focused on factors that affect adoption of technology by older adults and its continued usage. Many scholars show a lower level of innovative technology adoption by older adults [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ]. To make interactive technologies more acceptable, the notions of usability [ 31 , 32 ], independence, convenience [ 33 , 34 ], devices to support physical activity [ 35 , 36 ], technology training and education [ 37 , 38 ], the role of caregiver [ 39 , 40 ], innovation (focus on developing new features) [ 41 , 42 , 43 ], affordability [ 44 , 45 ] and potential or continued benefit [ 28 , 29 ] have been explored by many scholars over the past decades.…”

Using Everyday Technology Independently When Living with Forgetfulness: Experiences of Older Adults in Barcelona

“…It comprises a wide range of technical, mechanical and electronic devices that are present in everyday life, such as white goods, walking and hearing aids, and computers and smartphones ( Nygård, 2008 ). To be able to engage with ET independently in later life can contribute to a sense of independence ( Schulz et al., 2015 ), which in turn is considered a key factor contributing to wellbeing and social participation in older adults ( Astell et al, 2019 ; Meijering et al, 2019 ).…”

Exploring How Persons with Dementia and Care Partners Collaboratively Appropriate Information and Communication Technologies

“…These differences have previously been attributed to the type of technology, specifically where actors associate mainstream and aesthetically "fashionable" products with positive self-images (e.g., independence, competence), and reject "assistive" technologies that they associate with negative stereotypes (e.g., dependence) [3]. Rosenberg & Nygård [62], who investigated the lived experiences of persons with dementia who were learning technology, found that how persons with dementia position themselves in the technological landscape seemed decisive for their learning.…”