No full-text available
To read the full-text of this research,
you can request a copy directly from the authors.
Age Related Cognitive Impairments and Diffusion of Assistive Web-Base Technologies
Abstract
Several researchers argue that age related cognitive impairments have detrimental affect on use of web services by older adults.
However little and systematic applied research has been conducted on how age related cognitive impairments might affect the
usage of web services by older adults. Undoubtedly, understanding the relationship between the cognitive changes that accompany
aging and their impact on older adults’ usage of web services will be beneficial for designing web services for this group.
The paper demonstrates how such understanding has been employed to develop an assistive technology in order to improve older
adults’ interaction with online forms (e.g. state benefit application form). However the paper acknowledges that this new
assistive technology does not guarantee that people with age related cognitive impairments accept it, as diffusion of innovation
research shows that getting a new technology adopted even when it has noticeable advantage is often very difficult. Consequently
the paper identifies critical factors that need to be considered when adopting this new assistive technology, drawing on Rogers
(2003) theory of Diffusion of Innovations.
... errorless learning methods) (Clare et al., 2000;Hertzog et al., 2008). Although there is very little research examining how such difficulties can be minimised, some authors suggest that age-related cognitive decline can be mediated by the manner in which web services are designed (Fernando et al., 2009). Therefore, specific web accessibility guidelines for this target group have been developed (Friedman and Bryen, 2007). ...
... As summarised, current studies show an effect of specific declined cognitive capacities on web performance. However, only little to no systematic applied research has been conducted on the effects of age-related cognitive impairment on the use of web services or other information systems (Czaja et al., 2006;Fernando et al., 2009). Moreover, these studies analysed specific tasks and not typical website features. ...
Purpose
– Cognitive changes occur with age and cognitive limitations can negatively influence computer use. Human-interaction studies show that especially older adults benefit considerably from using web platforms. The purpose of this paper is to measure the possible impact of cognitive impairment in web usability and to analyse the differences between older adults with and without cognitive impairment.
Design/methodology/approach
– In the presented pilot study, 50 older adults tested a web-based interface on a PC and tablet computer that was designed based on a styleguide for this specific user group. In two sessions participants had to conduct six tasks. In a third session older adults were left unsupervised in the laboratory where they were confronted with unexpected events triggered by a principal investigator.
Findings
– The performance results differed significantly between the two groups. Older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) needed more time and were more likely to make mistakes when using a web platform. After analysing error data, it became apparent that errors made by older adults with MCI occurred due to a lack of orientation in websites.
Originality/value
– Little is known about web performance of older adults with cognitive impairment. The authors present valid data of this interesting target group and reveal their specific problems when handling a new online platform. The importance of a flat website hierarchy can be essential in developing senior friendly web pages. The authors also highlight methodological issues and illustrate the importance of qualitative information of the usability data, e.g. the different types of problems or errors.
The increase of life expectancy has arisen new challenges related with the amount of resources required to attend elderly
people with cognitive disabilities. These requirements, such as medical staff and financial resources, have been multiplied
in the last years, and this tendency will continue in the forthcoming ones. In order to reduce these requirements, the introduction
of new technologies will be a key aspect. In this paper we propose a test-question-based memory game that collects the answers
given by patients and facilitates access to this information to caregivers and relatives.
An abstract is not available.
This paper describes the recently published Technical Specification ISO 16071 from the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), along with the process through which the document has been developed. ISO TS 16071 contains guidelines on designing accessible software. This paper also relates the activities within ISO to other ongoing standardisation activities, within, for example, W3C and ETSI. Scope, contents, guidelines and the definition of accessibility in ISO 16071 are discussed in relation to other definitions. Finally, the process of turning the technical specification (TS) into an international standard (IS) is discussed.
Two major demographic trends underscore the importance of considering adaptation to technology by older adults: the aging of the population and rapid dissemination of technological innovations. In the past decade, developments in computer and information technologies have occurred at an unprecedented rate and technology has become an integral component of work, education, communication and entertainment. Technology is also increasingly used within the health care arena for service delivery, in-home monitoring, interactive communication (e.g., between patient and physician), transfer of health information and peer support. For example, in 2003, 76 % of Americans reported that they used the Internet and 65% have Internet access at home (UCLA Internet Report -- "Surveying the Digital Future", 2003). Use of automatic teller machines, interactive telephone-based menu systems, cellular telephones, and VCRs is also quite common. Furthermore, telephones, television, home security systems and other communication devices are becoming more integrated with computer network resources providing faster and more powerful interactive services. In essence in order to function independently and successfully interact with the environment, people of all ages need to interact with some form of technology.
The Internet has the potential to fundamentally change the structure of marketing channels, but only if consumers choose to adopt electronic channels. Thus, this paper aims to develop a more nuanced understanding of consumer channel choices. Specifically, it contends that it is important to examine consumers' intent to adopt electronic channels, not as a monolithic decision, but as a choice they make at each of four stages in the purchase process: requirements determination, vendor selection, purchase, and after-sales service. Innovation diffusion theory suggests that consumers make adoption decisions based on their perceptions of the relative advantage of the innovation. The relative advantage of electronic channels is conceptualized as a multidimensional construct involving a cumulative assessment of the perceived relative merits of channels on three dimensions: convenience, trust, and efficacy of information acquisition. Combining the multidimensional nature of relative advantage with the multistage purchase process, the central assertion, and intended contribution, of this paper is to show that the relative advantage of electronic channels, and the influence of each dimension of relative advantage on the adoption of electronic channels, will vary across the different stages of the purchase process. Survey data were collected from faculty and staff at a large university about their intention to use the web for auto insurance transactions. The results provide support for the multidimensional nature of relative advantage, although the emergent factors do not align neatly with the hypothesized dimensions (convenience, trust, and efficacy of information acquisition) or stages. Results of the study support three conclusions. First, the dimensions along which consumers assess relative advantage blend hypothesized dimensions such as trust and convenience with stages of the purchase process. Second, consumers consider the relative advantage of channels at two distinct stages of the purchase process: gathering information and executing the transaction. Third, different dimensions of relative advantage are critical in predicting consumer channel choice at each stage.
The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) has received considerable research attention in the IS field over the past decade, placing an emphasis on the roles played by perceived ease-of-use and perceived usefulness in influencing technology adoption decisions. Meanwhile, alternative sets of antecedents to adoption have received less attention. In this paper, sets of antecedent constructs drawn from both TAM and the Perceived Characteristics of Innovating (PCI) inventory are tested and subsequently compared with one another. The comparison is done in the context of a large-scale market trial of a smart card-based electronic payment system being evaluated by a group of retailers and merchants. The PCI set of antecedents explains substantially more variance than does TAM, while also providing managers with more detailed information regarding the antecedents driving technology innovation adoption.
Two experiments are reported in which age differences in working memory performance are explored. In the first study, young and older adults held 2, 3, 4, or 5 unrelated words in mind while verifying a single or complex sentence. An age-related decrement was found in subsequent serial recall of the words, and this decrement was larger with longer word lists. Experiment 2 confirmed the interaction between age and list length, using list lengths of 4, 6, and 8 words and a free-recall procedure. There was no interaction between age and divided attention in either experiment. Surprisingly, sentence complexity had a greater detrimental effect on recall in the younger group. The results are discussed in terms of articulatory rehearsal being augmented by using secondary memory in the case of younger subjects.
Because of the increased presence of computers in work and everyday life and the demographic "graying" of America, there is a need for interface designs that promote accessibility for older people. This study examined age differences in the performance of basic computer mouse control techniques. An additional goal of the study was to examine the influence of age-related changes in psychomotor abilities on mouse control. A total of 60 participants in 3 age groups (20-39 years, 40-59 years, and 60-75 years) performed 4 target acquisition tasks (pointing, clicking, double-clicking, and dragging) using a computer mouse. The data indicated that the older participants had more difficulty performing mouse tasks than the younger participants. Differences in performance attributable to age were found for the more complex tasks (clicking and double-clicking). Furthermore, age-related changes in psychomotor abilities were related to age differences in performance. We discuss applications to computer interface designs. Actual or potential applications of this research include specifications for computer mouse design to accommodate older populations.
We conducted a survey to document World Wide Web use patterns in middle-aged (ages 40-59), young-old (ages 60-74), and old-old adults (ages 75-92). We conducted this survey of 550 adults 40 years old and over in southeastern Michigan, and the overall response rate was approximately 71%. The results suggested that (a) there are distinct age and demographic differences in individuals who use the Web; (b) middle-aged and older Web users are similar in their use patterns; (c) the two primary predictors for not using the Web are lack of access to a computer and lack of knowledge about the Web; (d) old-old adults have the least interest in using the Web compared with middle-aged and young-old adults; and (e) the primary content areas in learning how to use the Web are learning how to use electronic mail and accessing health information and information about traveling for pleasure. This research may serve as a preliminary attempt to ascertain the issues that must be faced in order to increase use of the World Wide Web in middle-aged and older adults.
The successful adoption of technology is becoming increasingly important to functional independence. The present article reports findings from the Center for Research and Education on Aging and Technology Enhancement (CREATE) on the use of technology among community-dwelling adults. The sample included 1,204 individuals ranging in age from 18–91 years. All participants completed a battery that included measures of demographic characteristics, self-rated health, experience with technology, attitudes toward computers, and component cognitive abilities. Findings indicate that the older adults were less likely than younger adults to use technology in general, computers, and the World Wide Web. The results also indicate that computer anxiety, fluid intelligence, and crystallized intelligence were important predictors of the use of technology. The relationship between age and adoption of technology was mediated by cognitive abilities, computer self-efficacy, and computer anxiety. These findings are discussed in terms of training strategies to promote technology adoption.
Using a comparative neuropsychological approach, the authors compared performance of younger and healthy older adults ages 65 and over on tasks originally developed to measure cognition in animals. A battery of 6 tasks was used to evaluate object discrimination, egocentric spatial abilities, visual and spatial working memory, and response shifting. Older adults performed more poorly than younger adults on tasks that evaluate egocentric spatial abilities, response shifting, and to a lesser extent object recognition. The two groups did not differ for tasks that evaluate spatial working memory and object discrimination. The impairments the authors observed in tasks that evaluate response shifting and object recognition are consistent with those found in canines and primates as well as those found in Alzheimer's disease. The results are consistent with the notion that cognitive processes supported by the amygdala and the orbitofrontal cortex are among the first to decline with increasing age in both humans and animals.
As individuals age, many begin to perceive a loss of control in their personal and social lives. To regain some of that control, individuals are buying computers and going on the Internet. The authors suggest that individuals who go on the Internet are empowering themselves because they are participating with others in a community and increasing personal control over their lives. They discuss potential empowerment themes developed from a convenience sample of older individuals (i.e., 50 or older) by analyzing their comments on how the Internet has influenced their personal and social lives. Emerging empowerment themes include the power of change, information, guilt, and how the Internet has enriched lives and expanded worldviews. What respondents told the authors has implications for funding and development of public policy including health and quality-of-life issues.
This paper presents an empirical investigation of age and cognitive ability as predictors of computerized information retrieval. Upon the basis of age-related changes in cognitive ability, hypotheses were generated relating to the effects of database structure (linear, hierarchical, or network) and node selection method (explicit or embedded menu). In keeping with previous research in other areas of human-computer interaction, there was a significant main effect of age, with older subjects performing more slowly. However, interactive effects of ‘question block’ indicated that older subjects were at a particular disadvantage in the early stages of task performance. Age differences in processing speed and/or psychomotor skill appeared to be a particularly important factor. Whilst the effects of cognitive ability were generally weak, spatial memory and logical reasoning scores were negatively correlated with information retrieval response times. Although interactions were not significant, trends in the data for all dependent measures suggested that older subjects may be at a disdvantage when using a network structure.
Memory impairment is of great concern to middle-aged and older adults as well as their families. Memory is related to the ability to successfully perform tasks of daily living and to live independently. Longitudinal studies report conversion rates from mild cognitive impairment to a diagnosis of dementia of approximately 10% per year. Memory interventions focusing on modeling and practicing strategies specific to memory tasks show that memory decline can be retarded or reversed. Although memory interventions are often implemented outside of medical office visits because of time constraints, an office visit is a natural venue for the intervention of memory-related problems raised during the course of the visit. This article outlines the procedure for an advanced practice nurse (APN) to implement a memory intervention within the context of a 3-session office visit. Prevalence rates and risk factors for memory impairment are presented, assessments described, and treatment options offered. Strategies common to all memory tasks, as well as those specific to certain types of memory (eg, memory for names, memory for lists) are described. Case vignettes describe various types of memory impairment. Clinical implications and the role of the APN are discussed.
Advisor: Martin Sharp. Paper (M. Ed.)--Pennsylvania State University, Great Valley, 1995.
This paper looks at different ways of personalising web page presentation to alleviate functional impairments in older people. The paper considers how impairments may be addressed by web design and through various personalisation instruments: accessibility features of standard browsers, proxy servers, assistive technology, application adaptors, and special purpose browsers. A pilot study of five older web users indicated that the most favoured personalisation technique was overriding the CSS (cascading style sheet) with a readily available one using a standard browser. The least favoured one was using assistive technology. In a follow-up study with 16 older web users, performing goal-directed browsing tasks, overriding CSS remains the most favoured. Assistive technology remains the least favoured and the slowest. Based on user comments, one-take-home message for web personalisation instrument developer is that the best instrument for older persons is one that most faithfully preserves the original layout while requiring the least effort.
This paper reports on the development of an instrument designed to measure the various perceptions that an individual may have of adopting an information technology (IT) innovation. This instrument is intended to be a tool for the study of the initial adoption and eventual diffusion of IT innovations within organizations. While the adoption of information technologies by individuals and organizations has been an area of substantial research interest since the early days of computerization, research efforts to date have led to mixed and inconclusive outcomes. The lack of a theoretical foundation for such research and inadequate definition and measurement of constructs have been identified as major causes for such outcomes. In a recent study examining the diffusion of new end-user IT, we decided to focus on measuring the potential adopters' perceptions of the technology. Measuring such perceptions has been termed a "classic issue" in the innovation diffusion literature, and a key to integrating the various findings of diffusion research. The perceptions of adopting were initially based on the five characteristics of innovations derived by Rogers (1983) from the diffusion of innovations literature, plus two developed specifically within this study. Of the existing scales for measuring these characteristics, very few had the requisite levels of validity and reliability. For this study, both newly created and existing items were placed in a common pool and subjected to four rounds of sorting by judges to establish which items should be in the various scales. The objective was to verify the convergent and discriminant validity of the scales by examining how the items were sorted into various construct categories. Analysis of inter- judge agreement about item placement identified both bad items as well as weaknesses in some of the constructs' original definitions. These were subsequently redefined. Scales for the resulting constructs were subjected to three separate field tests. Following the final test, the scales all demonstrated acceptable levels of reliability. Their validity was further checked using factor analysis, as well as conducting discriminant analysis comparing responses between adopters and nonadopters of the innovation. The result is a parsimonious, 38-item instrument comprising eight scales which provides a useful tool for the study of the initial adoption and diffusion of innovations. A short, 25-item, version of the instrument is also suggested.
Age differences in the use of telephone menu systems were investigated in two experiments. Participants from three age groups (younger: 18-39; middle-aged: 40-59; older: 60+ years) were required to obtain specified information or perform some action using simulated voice menu systems. Measures reflecting task performance, menu navigation, and subjective responses were collected. The focus in Experiment 1 was on examining the effect of speech rate. Data from 196 participants indicated age differences in performance, especially for complex problems. There was no effect of speech rate on any of the performance measures. Experiment 2 examined two types of support devices: a screen phone and a graphical aid. Data from 114 participants indicated that the screen phone provided some benefits in navigational efficiency. In terms of performance, the older participants benefited more from the graphical aid and the younger participants performed better with the screen phone. Actual or potential applications of this research include guidance in the use of support devices that can reduce memory demands and the identification of appropriate speech rates.
Information systems and older adults
- S J Czaja
- C C Lee
- S.J. Czaja
An Aging World. US Government Printing Office
- K Kinsella
The epidemiology of aging Brocklehurst's Textbook of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology
- E Grundy
Information technology for cognitive support
- A F Newell
- A.F. Newell
Brocklehurst’s Textbook of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology
- E Grundy
- E. Grundy
The effect of age and environmental support in using telephone voice menu systems
- J Sharit
- J. Sharit
Psychology: The science of mind and behaviour
- R Gross
- R. Gross