Experiential Value of Technologies: A Qualitative Study with Older Adults

Shital Desai, Colleen McGrath, Heather McNeil, Heidi Sveistrup, Josephine McMurray and Arlene Astell
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Shital Desai: Social and Technological Systems Lab, School of Arts Media Performance and Design, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
Colleen McGrath: School of Occupational Therapy, Western University, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
Heather McNeil: SE Research Centre, SE Health, Markham, ON L3R 6H3, Canada
Heidi Sveistrup: School of Rehabilitation Services, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
Josephine McMurray: Lazaridis School of Business & Economics, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON N2L 3C7, Canada
Arlene Astell: Department of Occupational Sciences & Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1V7, Canada

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 4, 1-20

Abstract: This study investigated the experiences of older adults with technologies they own and determined how they value them. Thirty-seven older adults participated in a Show and Tell co-creation session at a one-day workshop. Participants described why they loved or abandoned technologies they own. Their responses were recorded and analysed using Atlas.ti 22.0.0. Seven main themes representing experiential value in older adults emerged from the analysis: Convenience, Economy, Learning and Support, Currency of Technology, Privacy and Security, Emotions and Identity aspects of their experiences. This qualitative study has resulted in implications to design that recommends (a) Design for product ecosystems with technologies and services well-coordinated and synchronized to facilitate use of the technology (b) Create awareness and information on privacy and security issues and technical language associated with it (c) Make anti-virus and anti-phishing software accessible to older population (d) Design technologies as tools that allow older adults to identify themselves in the community and family (e) Create services that make technologies and services in the ecosystem affordable for the older adults. The outcomes of this study are significant as they provide recommendations that target systemic issues which present barriers in the use of technology.

Keywords: experiential value; technology; co-creation; aging well; user-centred design (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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