CHANGES IN THE TECHNOLOGICAL LANDSCAPE OVER TIME: RELEVANCE AND DIFFICULTY LEVELS OF EVERYDAY TECHNOLOGIES AS PERCEIVED BY OLDER ADULTS WITH AND WITHOUT COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT

Background: Everyday technology, ET (e.g. computers, cell phones, TV’s and vending machines) perceived as relevant and used in everyday activities change continuously. Not being able to keep up with these changes may hinder... [ view full abstract ]

Background:
Everyday technology, ET (e.g. computers, cell phones, TV’s and vending machines) perceived as relevant and used in everyday activities change continuously. Not being able to keep up with these changes may hinder participation in activities. The aim with this study was to investigate stability and change in perceived relevance of ET, and in levels of perceived ET difficulty across two different occasions in time and between two similar samples of older adults with and without cognitive impairment.
Method:
Data of perceived relevance and difficulty in ET use in two similar samples of older adults with and without cognitive impairment (n = 157/118), collected with the Everyday Technology Use Questionnaire (ETUQ) was investigated.
Results:
All of the 47 ETs examined were perceived as similar or as more relevant at the second occasion in time compared to the first occasion. Thirty-three (70%) of the ETs in the ETUQ significantly increased in relevance. The perceived levels of difficulty were statistically similar in 40/47 ETs (85%) across the two time occasions.
Conclusion:
The perceived relevance of ET among older adults with and without cognitive impairment was indicated to increase over time, but the levels of perceived levels of difficulty of ETs did not change as much.
Application to Practice:
The findings could be used to support and facilitate ET use in the aging population, and in general to influence society’s view of older people as active users of ET in activities at home and in public spaces.