Objective To assess the usability and acceptance of activity tracking technologies by older adults. Method First in our multi-method approach, we conducted heuristic evaluations of two activity trackers that revealed potential usability barriers to acceptance. Next, questionnaires and interviews were administered to 16 older adults (Mage=70, SDage=3.09, rangeage= 65-75) before and after a 28-day field study to understand facilitators and additional barriers to acceptance. These measurements were supplemented with diary and usage data and assessed if and why users overcame usability issues. Results The heuristic evaluation revealed usability barriers in System Status Visibility; Error Prevention; and Consistency and Standards. The field study revealed additional barriers (e.g., accuracy, format), and acceptance-facilitators (e.g., goal-tracking, usefulness, encouragement). Discussion The acceptance of wellness management technologies, such as activity trackers, may be increased by addressing acceptance-barriers during deployment (e.g., providing tutorials on features that were challenging, communicating usefulness).

Individuals are becoming more involved in managing their own health. Health self-management technologies have the potential to help older adults remain well by promoting exercise and a good diet. However, older adults may or may not decide to adopt wellness management technologies. Adoption is a process and the intent to adopt may change over time. Sixteen older adults (8 females; M age =70.06, SD=3.09; range=65-75) used one of two wellness management technologies (the Fitbit One or myfitnesspal.com) over a 28-day period. Initially, all participants were open or neutral to adopting their technologies. After 28 days, 12 participants intended to adopt and 4 participants did not intend to adopt. The diary data revealed that over time, adopters made more positive comments than non-adopters. Both adopters and non-adopters mentioned perceived ease of use praises and complaints, whereas only adopters mentioned praises regarding usefulness. Results are interpreted within the frameworks of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (Venkatesh et al., 2003) and the diffusion of innovation (Rogers, 2003). Changes in intent to adopt suggest that experience is important in the adoption decision. Adoption of wellness management technologies by older adults may increase if designers attend to the perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness factors identified in this study.

Experienced users of everyday technologies may perceive automation errors. This paper examines how those users know an automation error has occurred and with what level of detail users interpret those errors. Thirty participants were interviewed about incidents when their activity trackers made an error. Participants described interpreting those errors to various extents, with causal interpretations being the most frequent, but comprising only 46% of their interpretations. Participants used a variety of cues to understand errors. These cues related to context, measurement comparison, device mental models, checking their device, consistency, component information, and information provided about their device. The types of cues were related to the types of interpretations made by the participants. Additionally, participants sometimes provided multiple interpretations for the same error. Understanding what types of cues promote what types of interpretations is the first step in determining what information to provide to users to help them troubleshoot automation errors efficiently and effectively.

Older adults may benefit from using activity monitoring technologies to support health and wellness management. However, adoption of such technologies is contingent upon ease of use considerations. Age-related changes in cognitive and physical capabilities impact usability. Heuristic evaluation of two such technologies revealed important ease of use design issues that may be particularly problematic for this user group. Case studies of four older adults’ usage experiences over a two-week period revealed additional usability challenges. Human factors involvement in product development should address these issues to enable older adults to use these potentially beneficial technologies.

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