Technology Acceptance and Quality of Life among Older People Using a TUI Application

Abstract

Good quality of life is important for healthy ageing. Studies have shown that although information and communication technology can improve older people’s quality of life, their technology acceptance level is rather low. Tangible user interfaces (TUIs) enable people to interact with the digital world through everyday physical objects, thus offering more intuitive digital environments for older people. In this study, we employ a TUI prototype to investigate the relationship between older people’s technology acceptance and quality of life, the changes in these outcome measures after using TUI, and the associations between them. The TUI prototype, Tangible Cup was used by 20 older participants over a period of three months. Data were collected using the technology acceptance model (TAM) questionnaire, the older people’s quality of life (OPQOL) questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. The results showed some positive changes in technology acceptance after the use of Tangible Cup. However, no change in the quality of life was found. While statistically significant correlations between the change in technology acceptance and the change in quality of life were observed, limitations such as small sample size and participants not accurately representing the target population should be noted. Thus, further research is needed to better understand the associations between the change in technology acceptance and the change in quality of life.

Designing Nostalgic Tangible User Interface Application for Elderly People

“…Tangible user interface (TUI) allows the users to interact with the digital information using everyday physical objects [ 2 ], which can result in more intuitive and effortless use of ICT. It has therefore been identified as having the potential in addressing elderly people’s challenges in accepting and using new technology [ 3 – 5 ].…”

Quality of Life: The Interplay between Human Behaviour, Technology and the Environment

“…In a special issue of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health on "Quality of Life: The Interplay between Human Behaviour, Technology and the Environment", a total of eighteen papers [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] were recently published on different topics that are related to this subject matter.…”

“…Three papers [17][18][19] were published on special care environments and their design, and how the design influences the users of such environments. Finally, four papers [20][21][22][23] were published on the design and implementation of assistive technologies, which lead to a better fit between the technology and the end-users.…”

“…The last set of four papers [20][21][22][23] deals with the design and implementation of assistive devices and prosthetics and orthoses. First of all, Holtkamp et al [20] present a paper regarding non-satisfaction with assistive devices.…”

“…The fourth paper by Bong et al [23] dealt with tangible user interfaces, which enables people to interact with the digital world through everyday physical objects. Such interfaces should offer more intuitive digital environments for older people.…”