‘I need to be convinced that I need to become smart’: older adults views on consumer products with internet connectivity

James Nicholson, Rhian Skye Lukins, Lynne Coventry, David Buil-Gil, Stefanie Kuenzel, Ruth Blackwell, Sameh Zakhary and Daniel Tilley

Journal of Risk Research, 2025, vol. 28, issue 2, 169-176

Abstract: Smart devices are increasingly being adopted in households, yet older adults appear reluctant to use energy-focused smart devices despite being known for being energy conscious. In this paper we investigate whether highlighting the benefits of energy-focused smart devices can motivate older adults to consider using these devices and avoid feeling unjustifiably disadvantaged compared to others. We conducted workshops with 15 community-dwelling older adults in a simulated smart home to explore their experiences and opinions of domestic smart devices. Participants were introduced to a range of consumer products with internet connectivity and discussed their experiences and expectations of these devices. A framework analysis revealed that labelling a device as ‘smart’ was a deterrent for older adults, largely due to their previous experiences with smart meters, where their energy saving expectations were not met. Additionally, we found that participants who received smart devices as gifts often replaced existing devices out of a sense of obligation rather than genuine desire. Adoption of these devices was not accompanied by necessary security procedures, such as password protection. We outline psychological harms that emerged during these discussions. While participants did not explicitly acknowledge these harms as barriers to adoption, they significantly influenced decisions about purchasing or using smart devices.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1080/13669877.2025.2496232

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