Towards a deeper understanding of the challenges in digital technology adoption by older adults

Dharini Balasubramaniam; Jodie Williamson; Yusuf Farag; Gopichand Narra; Kenneth Mark Boyd

Abstract

The rapid digitalisation of essential services, accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic, has highlighted the digital divide in our communities. This divide particularly affects older adults, who are less likely to use digital technologies and yet have to increasingly rely on them to maintain their independence and wellbeing [1]. Population ageing [2] and fast-changing technologies exacerbate this problem.
Literature, such as [3], already identifies some of the challenges older adults face in adopting digital technologies, including lack of access to devices or broadband, lack of training and support, lack of motivation, lack of digital literacy, lack of confidence and skills, concerns regarding security and privacy, inaccessible interfaces, and the perceived lack of relevant content online. However, an in-depth and nuanced understanding of these challenges is required to develop appropriate solutions to overcome them.
This presentation will discuss the insights gained from small but detailed user studies conducted with older adults in our local community over the past year to better understand the complex challenges involved in digital adoption from their perspectives, and the competing concerns and trade-offs that need to be considered when addressing these challenges. The presentation will also outline the overarching approaches to reducing the digital exclusion of older adults emerging from our work.

[1] Age UK. Digital Inclusion Evidence Review 2018. URL: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/globalassets/age-uk/documents/reports-and-publications/age_uk_digital_inclusion_evidence_review_2018.pdf

[2] United Nations. World Population Prospects 2022. URL: https://www.un.org/development/desa/pd/sites/www.un.org.development.desa.pd/files/wpp2022_summary_of_results.pdf

[3] Sebastiaan TM Peek et al. Older adults’ reasons for using technology while aging in place. In: Gerontology 62.2 (2016), pp. 226–237. URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1159%2F000430949

Original language	English
Publication status	Published - 3 Jul 2024
Event	53rd Annual Conference of the British Society of Gerontology - Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom Duration: 3 Jul 2024 → 5 Jul 2024 Conference number: 53 https://www.britishgerontology.org/events-and-courses/past-conferences/2024-newcastle-university

Conference

Conference	53rd Annual Conference of the British Society of Gerontology
Abbreviated title	BSG 2024
Country/Territory	United Kingdom
City	Newcastle
Period	3/07/24 → 5/07/24
Internet address	https://www.britishgerontology.org/events-and-courses/past-conferences/2024-newcastle-university

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@conference{a29291d12f6a4188b5cf04f39af6889a,

title = "Towards a deeper understanding of the challenges in digital technology adoption by older adults",

abstract = "The rapid digitalisation of essential services, accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic, has highlighted the digital divide in our communities. This divide particularly affects older adults, who are less likely to use digital technologies and yet have to increasingly rely on them to maintain their independence and wellbeing [1]. Population ageing [2] and fast-changing technologies exacerbate this problem. Literature, such as [3], already identifies some of the challenges older adults face in adopting digital technologies, including lack of access to devices or broadband, lack of training and support, lack of motivation, lack of digital literacy, lack of confidence and skills, concerns regarding security and privacy, inaccessible interfaces, and the perceived lack of relevant content online. However, an in-depth and nuanced understanding of these challenges is required to develop appropriate solutions to overcome them. This presentation will discuss the insights gained from small but detailed user studies conducted with older adults in our local community over the past year to better understand the complex challenges involved in digital adoption from their perspectives, and the competing concerns and trade-offs that need to be considered when addressing these challenges. The presentation will also outline the overarching approaches to reducing the digital exclusion of older adults emerging from our work. [1] Age UK. Digital Inclusion Evidence Review 2018. URL: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/globalassets/age-uk/documents/reports-and-publications/age\_uk\_digital\_inclusion\_evidence\_review\_2018.pdf [2] United Nations. World Population Prospects 2022. URL: https://www.un.org/development/desa/pd/sites/www.un.org.development.desa.pd/files/wpp2022\_summary\_of\_results.pdf [3] Sebastiaan TM Peek et al. Older adults{\textquoteright} reasons for using technology while aging in place. In: Gerontology 62.2 (2016), pp. 226–237. URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1159\%2F000430949 ",

author = "Dharini Balasubramaniam and Jodie Williamson and Yusuf Farag and Gopichand Narra and Boyd, \{Kenneth Mark\}",

year = "2024",

month = jul,

day = "3",

language = "English",

note = "53rd Annual Conference of the British Society of Gerontology, BSG 2024 ; Conference date: 03-07-2024 Through 05-07-2024",

url = "https://www.britishgerontology.org/events-and-courses/past-conferences/2024-newcastle-university",

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T1 - Towards a deeper understanding of the challenges in digital technology adoption by older adults

AU - Balasubramaniam, Dharini

AU - Williamson, Jodie

AU - Farag, Yusuf

AU - Narra, Gopichand

AU - Boyd, Kenneth Mark

N1 - Conference code: 53

PY - 2024/7/3

Y1 - 2024/7/3

N2 - The rapid digitalisation of essential services, accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic, has highlighted the digital divide in our communities. This divide particularly affects older adults, who are less likely to use digital technologies and yet have to increasingly rely on them to maintain their independence and wellbeing [1]. Population ageing [2] and fast-changing technologies exacerbate this problem. Literature, such as [3], already identifies some of the challenges older adults face in adopting digital technologies, including lack of access to devices or broadband, lack of training and support, lack of motivation, lack of digital literacy, lack of confidence and skills, concerns regarding security and privacy, inaccessible interfaces, and the perceived lack of relevant content online. However, an in-depth and nuanced understanding of these challenges is required to develop appropriate solutions to overcome them. This presentation will discuss the insights gained from small but detailed user studies conducted with older adults in our local community over the past year to better understand the complex challenges involved in digital adoption from their perspectives, and the competing concerns and trade-offs that need to be considered when addressing these challenges. The presentation will also outline the overarching approaches to reducing the digital exclusion of older adults emerging from our work. [1] Age UK. Digital Inclusion Evidence Review 2018. URL: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/globalassets/age-uk/documents/reports-and-publications/age_uk_digital_inclusion_evidence_review_2018.pdf [2] United Nations. World Population Prospects 2022. URL: https://www.un.org/development/desa/pd/sites/www.un.org.development.desa.pd/files/wpp2022_summary_of_results.pdf [3] Sebastiaan TM Peek et al. Older adults’ reasons for using technology while aging in place. In: Gerontology 62.2 (2016), pp. 226–237. URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1159%2F000430949

AB - The rapid digitalisation of essential services, accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic, has highlighted the digital divide in our communities. This divide particularly affects older adults, who are less likely to use digital technologies and yet have to increasingly rely on them to maintain their independence and wellbeing [1]. Population ageing [2] and fast-changing technologies exacerbate this problem. Literature, such as [3], already identifies some of the challenges older adults face in adopting digital technologies, including lack of access to devices or broadband, lack of training and support, lack of motivation, lack of digital literacy, lack of confidence and skills, concerns regarding security and privacy, inaccessible interfaces, and the perceived lack of relevant content online. However, an in-depth and nuanced understanding of these challenges is required to develop appropriate solutions to overcome them. This presentation will discuss the insights gained from small but detailed user studies conducted with older adults in our local community over the past year to better understand the complex challenges involved in digital adoption from their perspectives, and the competing concerns and trade-offs that need to be considered when addressing these challenges. The presentation will also outline the overarching approaches to reducing the digital exclusion of older adults emerging from our work. [1] Age UK. Digital Inclusion Evidence Review 2018. URL: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/globalassets/age-uk/documents/reports-and-publications/age_uk_digital_inclusion_evidence_review_2018.pdf [2] United Nations. World Population Prospects 2022. URL: https://www.un.org/development/desa/pd/sites/www.un.org.development.desa.pd/files/wpp2022_summary_of_results.pdf [3] Sebastiaan TM Peek et al. Older adults’ reasons for using technology while aging in place. In: Gerontology 62.2 (2016), pp. 226–237. URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1159%2F000430949

M3 - Abstract

T2 - 53rd Annual Conference of the British Society of Gerontology

Y2 - 3 July 2024 through 5 July 2024

ER -

Towards a deeper understanding of the challenges in digital technology adoption by older adults

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