Community-dwelling older adults' acceptance of smartwatches for health and location tracking

Abstract

Background: Despite rapid growth in the popularity of smartwatches, evidence lacks regarding older adults’ acceptance of smartwatches. Since most wearable sensors are not designed specifically for older adults, there is a need to examine wearability and usability challenges of wearable sensing devices faced by older adults to facilitate the use of objective measurements of health and mobility. Objectives: We aimed to examine older adults' perceptions of GPS-enabled smartwatches and to identify potential barriers and facilitators of smartwatch and sensor data use. Methods: As part of a larger feasibility study, we conducted a mixed-methods study that included a descriptive content analysis of interviews and a brief usability survey with 30 participants aged 60 years and older after they had used a smartwatch for 3 days. Results: Most participants perceived wearable activity trackers including smartwatches and sensor-based data as useful for tracking health, finding activity patterns and promoting healthy behaviours. Privacy was of little concern, leading to willingness to share activity and location data with others. Participants identified barriers to usability as clumsy design, lack of aesthetic appeal, and difficulty reading the display and using the GPS tracking function. In contrast, identified facilitators of adoption included a big display, high-tech look, self-awareness and possible behaviour change. Conclusions: Smartwatches have the potential of personalised detection of health deterioration and disability prevention, based on analysis of older adults' activities in free-living environments. The usefulness of this technology for older adults can be significantly increased by addressing usability issues and providing instructions on challenging features. Implications for Practice: To support sustained self-monitoring behaviours through wearable sensor devices in older adults, it is critical to examine how they perceive those devices and identify factors affecting technology acceptance that can maximise adoption.