Young computer scientists’ perceptions of older users of smartphones and related technologies

Abstract

A study was undertaken with 61 computer science students to assess their perceptions of older people as users of desktop and laptop computers and smartphones. They were shown a picture of either a young or old woman or man and asked to assess the likelihood that this person would use these technologies and their level of expertise in them. The results showed that the students did have negative perceptions of the older people in comparison to young people, but that they did not have negative perceptions of women, and there was no evidence of a “double standard” of older women being perceived particularly negatively.