U.S. Older Adults’ Willingness to Use Emerging Technologies that have Health Enhancing Affordances

• In Event: 3260 - Emergent Perspectives on Age and Aging

Abstract

Increasing numbers of older adults will experience chronic health issues that can threaten quality of life. We investigated older adults’ intentions to use six emerging technologies - autonomous vehicles (AVs), assistive robots, virtual reality (VR), Internet connected cameras for home monitoring, Internet connected appliances, and smart homes with built-in personal digital assistant, which can allow older adults to better manage their health and maintain independence. Data were collected through a large-scale online survey (N=1,148) of U.S. older adults that use the Internet. Our sampling frame was based on the 2010 US census. Outcomes included older adults’ willingness to use six emerging technologies. Predictors included health status, sociodemographic characteristics, and previous technology use. A series of nested binary logistic regression models were used to assess intentions to use each type of technology. Nineteen percent of participants were willing to use AVs, 24% assistive robots, 37% Internet connected home appliances, 48% Internet connected cameras for home monitoring, 29% a smart home with a built-in personal digital assistant, and 15% were willing to use VR. Health variables had significant associations with willingness to use certain emerging technologies, such as autonomous vehicles and assistive robots; few significant sociodemographic variations were observed. Health variables (e.g., limitations in instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) and self-reported health status (SRHS)), had statistically significant associations with intentions to use emerging technologies, such as assistive robots (IADLs: Exp. (B) = 1.50, SE = 0.26, p = .02; health: Exp. (B) = 0.82, SE = 0.07, p = .02) and AVs (IADLs: Exp. (B) = 1.68, SE = 0.31, p = .005). Our study highlights factors that influence older adults’ willingness to use specific emerging technologies, which may help guide future interventions aimed at enhancing health and independence for older adults. Recommendations for healthcare providers and study limitations are discussed.

Authors

• Travis Kadylak, Michigan State University

• Shelia R. Cotten, Michigan State University