IMPEDIMENTS IN THE ADOPTION OF NEW TECHNOLOGY AMONG ELDERLY

Abstract

A Smartphone is a mobile phone that allows you to do more than just make and receive phone calls and text messages. Smartphones are computer-like in that they can access the Internet and run software programmes. Users interact with smartphones via a touch screen. Thousands of smartphone apps are available, including games, personal-use apps, and business-use apps. The elderly have always had a lot of difficulties adopting new technology. However, as the world's population grows, seniors are increasingly adopting more digitally connected lifestyles. According to American research, more than half of older people who own cell phones now own a Smartphone, up from 23% in 2013. The percentage of seniors who own a smartphone varies greatly by age. Smartphones are owned by 59% of people aged 65 to 69, and 49% of people aged 70 to 74. This significantly decreases in the mid-70s and beyond. Previously, mobile phone applications could only make and receive calls and text messages. Modern phones, on the other hand, go far beyond their traditional functions and provide a diverse range of applications. It could be linked to self-management activities like instrumental daily living activities, increasing social contacts among older people to reduce loneliness, and expanding access to knowledge. It has recently been used to communicate with health experts, as well as to increase autonomy and self-care. However, the aforementioned pastimes remain the most popular among the elderly (Subramanyam, 2018).