Sara J. Czaja
Abstract
Two major demographic trends underscore the importance of considering adaptation to technology by older adults: the aging of the population and rapid dissemination of technological innovations. In the past decade, developments in computer and information technologies have occurred at an unprecedented rate and technology has become an integral component of work, education, communication and entertainment. Technology is also increasingly used within the health care arena for service delivery, in-home monitoring, interactive communication (e.g., between patient and physician), transfer of health information and peer support. For example, in 2003, 76 % of Americans reported that they used the Internet and 65% have Internet access at home (UCLA Internet Report -- "Surveying the Digital Future", 2003). Use of automatic teller machines, interactive telephone-based menu systems, cellular telephones, and VCRs is also quite common. Furthermore, telephones, television, home security systems and other communication devices are becoming more integrated with computer network resources providing faster and more powerful interactive services. In essence in order to function independently and successfully interact with the environment, people of all ages need to interact with some form of technology.
- Administration on Aging. (2002). A profile of older Americans: 2002. U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. Washington. D.C.Google Scholar
- Alzheimer's Association (2205). Statistics about Alzheimer's Disease. Alzheimer's Association. Chicago, Illinois.Google Scholar
- Czaja, S. J. (2001). Technological change and the older worker. In J. E. Birren & K. W. Schaie (Eds.) Handbook of psychology of aging (5th ed., pp. 547--555). California: Academic Press.Google Scholar
- Czaja, S. J. & Sharit, J. (1999). Performance of a Complex Computer-Based Troubleshooting Task in the Bank Industry. International Journal of Cognitive Ergonomics and Human Factors, 3, 1--22.Google ScholarCross Ref
- Czaja, S. J. & Lee, C. C. (2002). Designing computer system for older adults. J. Jacko & A. Sears (Eds.) Handbook of Human-Computer Interaction. New York: Lawrence Erlbaum and Associates (IEA). Google ScholarDigital Library
- Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics. Older Americans 2000: Key Indicators of Well-Being. Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics, Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. August 2000.Google Scholar
- Mead, S. E. & Fisk, A. D. (1998). Measuring skill acquisition and retention with an ATM simulator: The need for age-specific training. Human Factors, 40, 516--523.Google ScholarCross Ref
- Park, D. C. (1992). Applied cognitive aging research. In F. I. M. Crail and T. A. Salthouse (Eds.) The handbook of aging and cognition (pp. 449--494). New Jersey: Laurence Erlbaum Associates Pub.Google Scholar
- Park, D. C. (1994). Aging, cognition, and work. Human Performance, 7, 181--205.Google ScholarCross Ref
- Pew Internet and American Life Report (2004). Older Americans & the Internet. Pew Internet & American Life Project: Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
- Proctor, R. W. & Vu, K. L. (2003). Human information processing: An overview for human-computer interaction. In J. A. Jacko & A. Sears (Eds.), The human computer interaction handbook: Fundamentals, evolving technologies and emerging applications (pp. 35--51). New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Rogers, W. A. & Fisk, A. D. (2000). Human factors, applied cognition, and aging. In F. I. M., Craik, & T. A. Salthhouse (2nd Eds.), The handbook of aging and cognition (pp 559--592). New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.Google Scholar
- The UCLA Internet report -- "Surveying the Digital Future" (2003). UCLA Center for Communication Policy, Box 951586, Los Angeles, CA 90095--1586. Accessed from: http://www.ccp.ucla.edu/pdf/UCLA-Internet-Report-Year-Three.pdf, 8/14/2003.Google Scholar
Index Terms
- The impact of aging on access to technology
Recommendations
The impact of aging on access to technology
The number of people over the age of 65 is increasing worldwide with the fastest growing subgroup those aged 80+ years. Computer and information technologies hold promise in terms of increasing the quality of life for older people. However, successful ...
Impact of monitoring technology in assisted living: outcome pilot
This paper describes a study designed to assess the acceptance and some psychosocial impacts of monitoring technology in assisted living. Monitoring systems were installed in 22 assisted living units to track the activities of daily living (ADLs) and ...
Comments