Effective use of information technologies by seniors: the case of wearable device use

Abstract

Healthcare is an area that has benefitted from the developments in wearable device technology. Seniors, who usually suffer from multiple comorbidities, are among the target users of these devices, and research has shown potential health benefits for seniors when they use these devices effectively. However, the adoption rate of wearable devices is low, especially among seniors, preventing the full utilisation of their data in healthcare. In this study, we interviewed forty-four seniors across North America and collected data from their wearable devices to develop a theoretical affordance network-based model to explain seniors’ effective use of wearable devices. Our model indicates that despite the apparent simplicity of wearable devices, they have multiple affordances that help seniors achieve several goals, including activity monitoring, activity planning, and activity improvement. Furthermore, we identified factors that enable seniors to actualise the affordances of wearable devices and achieve their goals. The results of this study suggest a strong relationship between seniors’ mental and physical capabilities and their willingness to use and benefit from wearable devices. We join other researchers in their call for a contextual study on consumer technology use.