Curriculum Design and Program to Train Older Adults to Use Personal Digital Assistants

Abstract

The PDA, supported with well-designed software and well-executed training, can provide unique benefits to older adults.

Participatory approaches for technology and autonomous living

“…Moreover, the feeling of constantly lagging behind a rapidly improving and changing technological world has been identified as discouraging (e.g. Sterns 2005, Hiemstra 1991). …”

Age- and experience-related user behavior differences in the use of complicated electronic devices

“…Previous studies found that differences in experience were an important factor in efficient computer interaction (Birdi et al, 1997;Sjo¨linder et al, 2005) and that practice by older adults resulted in age-related performance improvements in the use of personal digital assistants (PDAs) (Mayhorn et al, 2005;Sterns, 2005). In addition, computer use and/or training over multiple weeks was found to improve the negative attitudes of older people toward technology (Danowski and Sacks, 1980;Jay and Willis, 1992), and diminish their anxiety levels (Charness et al, 1992).…”

Elder research: filling an important gap in psychology and law

“…Vividness of autobiographical memories also declines with age (Nigro & Neisser, 1983) as does prospective memory (Maylor, 1998), which is defined as the memory that enables a person to remember to do something as part of a set of ongoing cognitive tasks. Fortunately, memory aids, such as writing down information (Hartley, 2002) or the innovative use of personal digital assistants (PDAs) with elders (Sterns, 2005), can often ameliorate the impact of some of these changes.…”