Presentation
DH14 - Usability Assessment of a Conversational Agent Among Older Adults Ages 65+: Gender and Marital Status Differences
DescriptionThis research study aimed to investigate the usability of a conversational agent among older adults aged 65 and above, specifically focusing on how gender and marital status might influence their interaction with this technology. This presentation will provide an overview of the research topic, its significance, the background leading up to the study, and the key takeaways.
With the aging population, there is a growing need to understand how technology can enhance their well-being, independence, and overall quality of life. Conversational agents, such as Google Home, Apple Homepod, and Echo Dot, have gained popularity in recent years, offering potential benefits in providing information, companionship, and assistance with daily tasks (Zubatiy et al., 2021). However, ensuring these technologies are designed and implemented to accommodate older adults' diverse needs and preferences is crucial.
Rapid technological advancements have led to a digital divide among older adults, with many struggling to adapt to and adopt new technologies (Hargittai et al., 2019). While smart technologies, including conversational agents, seem promising to improve older adults' lives, it is important to consider that existing research has indicated that the psychosocial experience that users have when interacting with technology can influence adoption and use (Day & Jutai, 1996; Hargittai et al., 2019).
Abundant research supports that mortality rates are lower for married couples than for unmarried couples (Robards et al., 2012; Verbrugge, 1979). Moreover, married couples often tend to have better physical and mental health outcomes than their unmarried counterparts (Robards et al., 2012). While abundant literature assesses marital status on health outcomes, there is less information on differences in male and female marital status and user experience. However, one study captured qualitative data that indicated that spousal care partners play a crucial role in fostering successful use of technology among older adults with mild cognitive impairment (Gleaton et al., 2023). This study found that the spouses assisted the participants throughout the study with tasks that involved interacting with a wearable fitness and sleep tracker. The spouses also provided emotional support and encouragement when the participant was frustrated with the technology. While the study made no statistical claims about the impact of spousal support, these results indicate that further research is necessary to understand the role of marital partners in shaping the user experience with technology.
To better understand if there are differences in the user experience of conversational agent technologies among older adults of different marital statuses and gender, a study of 194 older adult users of conversational agents was conducted. The presentation of this work will begin by introducing the topic, highlighting the importance of understanding the usability of conversational agents among older adults. It will discuss the existing literature on technology adoption and usability among older adults, emphasizing the limited research on gender and marital status differences. The presentation will then detail the methodology, including data collection methods, sample demographics, and usability measures employed in the study.
The main findings of the research will be presented, focusing on how gender and marital status influenced older adults' interactions with the conversational agent. Additionally, any notable differences in usability, satisfaction, and perceived benefits will be discussed. The presentation will conclude with practical implications for designing and implementing conversational agents for older adults, considering this demographic's diverse needs and preferences.
Key Takeaways:
1) Gender and marital status might influence how older adults interact with conversational agents.
2) The presentation will provide insights into how gender and marital status impact usability, satisfaction, and perceived benefits of conversational agents.
3) The presentation will offer practical recommendations to create technology solutions that are more inclusive and user-friendly for older adults.
In summary, this research study addresses a gap in our understanding of how gender and marital status influence the usability of conversational agents among older adults. The study contributes to developing more tailored and practical technology solutions to improve this growing demographic's well-being and quality of life.
With the aging population, there is a growing need to understand how technology can enhance their well-being, independence, and overall quality of life. Conversational agents, such as Google Home, Apple Homepod, and Echo Dot, have gained popularity in recent years, offering potential benefits in providing information, companionship, and assistance with daily tasks (Zubatiy et al., 2021). However, ensuring these technologies are designed and implemented to accommodate older adults' diverse needs and preferences is crucial.
Rapid technological advancements have led to a digital divide among older adults, with many struggling to adapt to and adopt new technologies (Hargittai et al., 2019). While smart technologies, including conversational agents, seem promising to improve older adults' lives, it is important to consider that existing research has indicated that the psychosocial experience that users have when interacting with technology can influence adoption and use (Day & Jutai, 1996; Hargittai et al., 2019).
Abundant research supports that mortality rates are lower for married couples than for unmarried couples (Robards et al., 2012; Verbrugge, 1979). Moreover, married couples often tend to have better physical and mental health outcomes than their unmarried counterparts (Robards et al., 2012). While abundant literature assesses marital status on health outcomes, there is less information on differences in male and female marital status and user experience. However, one study captured qualitative data that indicated that spousal care partners play a crucial role in fostering successful use of technology among older adults with mild cognitive impairment (Gleaton et al., 2023). This study found that the spouses assisted the participants throughout the study with tasks that involved interacting with a wearable fitness and sleep tracker. The spouses also provided emotional support and encouragement when the participant was frustrated with the technology. While the study made no statistical claims about the impact of spousal support, these results indicate that further research is necessary to understand the role of marital partners in shaping the user experience with technology.
To better understand if there are differences in the user experience of conversational agent technologies among older adults of different marital statuses and gender, a study of 194 older adult users of conversational agents was conducted. The presentation of this work will begin by introducing the topic, highlighting the importance of understanding the usability of conversational agents among older adults. It will discuss the existing literature on technology adoption and usability among older adults, emphasizing the limited research on gender and marital status differences. The presentation will then detail the methodology, including data collection methods, sample demographics, and usability measures employed in the study.
The main findings of the research will be presented, focusing on how gender and marital status influenced older adults' interactions with the conversational agent. Additionally, any notable differences in usability, satisfaction, and perceived benefits will be discussed. The presentation will conclude with practical implications for designing and implementing conversational agents for older adults, considering this demographic's diverse needs and preferences.
Key Takeaways:
1) Gender and marital status might influence how older adults interact with conversational agents.
2) The presentation will provide insights into how gender and marital status impact usability, satisfaction, and perceived benefits of conversational agents.
3) The presentation will offer practical recommendations to create technology solutions that are more inclusive and user-friendly for older adults.
In summary, this research study addresses a gap in our understanding of how gender and marital status influence the usability of conversational agents among older adults. The study contributes to developing more tailored and practical technology solutions to improve this growing demographic's well-being and quality of life.
Event Type
Poster Presentation
TimeMonday, March 254:45pm - 6:15pm CDT
LocationSalon C
Digital Health
Simulation and Education
Hospital Environments
Medical and Drug Delivery Devices
Patient Safety Research and Initiatives