Reconceptualizing the Engagement of Older Adults in the Use of Interactive Technology

Population aging in the twenty-first century is one of the most significant social transformations. Technology use is essential for the senior community to integrate with the world outside their community. The shift in demographics and the current COVID-19 pandemic has caused healthcare providers, researchers, and designers to place their focus on improving the quality of life instead of extending the lifespan of the population. However, the focus of recent research in designing technology for older adults is on usability and health monitoring. Despite the increasing number of studies in the field of aging and technologies, there is limited research on understanding the practical issues related to user focus, adoption, and engagement with respect to interactive technologies among older adults. In this study, we use four technological interventions (Move and Paint, Savi, uDraw, and GrandPad) that are novel for older adults on stimulating and increasing initial engagement to use technology.
We use a mixed-method approach such as focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, observations, and diary study to understand technology-related perceptions and behaviors of older adults and identify factors affecting the initial engagement of older adults in the use of interactive technology. The results of this study highlight the lack of research on initial engagement, which is more important than need and usability, affects long-term engagement, and poses different challenges to older adults based on their behavior towards interactive technology. The contributions of this study include the following: 1) a new model of engagement that goes beyond need and usability to address the gap in studying older adults’ initial engagement with interactive technology; 2) an active–passive spectrum of the behaviors of older adults towards technology relevant to their initial engagement with interactive technology; and 3) the identification of the key factors that influence the initial engagement of older adults. It presents new expectations of initial engagement in HCI along with suggestions for new research directions in the use of interactive technology by older adults.