Deployment Health Clinical Center

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Older Users The Web
Technology and Older Adults Evolution, Myths,
and Revolution Roger W. Morrell,
Ph.D. Director of Research, GeroTech
Corporation Adjunct Faculty, School of Nursing,
Johns Hopkins University Director, Aging
Technology Institute
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Outline ? Myths ? Evolution in Research ?
Revolution in Use of Electronic Technology
by Older Adults ? Recent Projects Resulting from
the Research ? Briefly Back to Myths
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The Myths
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The Myths

? In the beginning, electronic products were
designed by young people to be used by young
people. ? Video games ? Computers introduced into
schools ? Few advertising efforts were made to
interest older adults. ? Training opportunities
were geared toward younger people.
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The Myths

• ? 1) Older adults are less interested in
  learning how to use these technologies.
• ? 2) Older adults simply cannot learn how
• to use these technologies.
• ? 3) Older adults are more anxious and
• have poorer attitudes toward computer
• use relative to younger adults which ultimately
  leads to nonuse.

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The Evolution of Research For a more detailed
discussion of this research Older Adults and
Information Technology A Compendium of
Scientific Research and Web Accessibility
Guidelines Morrell, Dailey, Feldman, Mayhorn,
Echt, Podany, 2003 Available through the
National Institute on Aging Checklist is also
available
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Evolution

? Initial research focused on older adults
attitudes toward the use of electronic technology
and their level of anxiety toward the use of
electronic technology (primarily computers). ?
The research began in 1984. ? Most researchers
found no age differences in attitudes.
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Evolution

? Most older adults have positive attitudes
toward the use of computers and other types of
electronic technology. ? Anxiety level did not
seem to affect performance. ? Older adults did
not seem to be more anxious than younger adults
in learning how to use electronic technology.
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Evolution

? We also found that attitudes could be
modified under certain circumstances. ? Longer
training periods led to more positive attitudes
and better performance in the training sessions
led to more positive attitudes. ? But the
effects were small.
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Evolution

? At the same time, research was focusing on how
older adults learn to use electronic technology
(computers) relative to younger adults. ?
Research began in 1985. ? Cognitive aging
researchers and researchers in Human Factors
focused on how they learned and how best to train
them. (about 15 studies)
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Evolution

• ? We looked at their use of word processing and
  spreadsheet software, Line Editors,
• Bulletin Boards, interactive computer
• programs, and how to acquire basic computer
  skills.
• ? Our research question was How do they perform
  relative to younger adults?

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Evolution

• ? We found that older adults made more mistakes
  and took more time to learn how to
• use these products than younger adults.

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Evolution

? We also searched to find the optimal training
method for teaching computer skills to older
adults. ? We looked at advanced organizers,
modeling, manual, and interactive techniques. ?
We did not find an optimal training method.
However, self-pacing and peer interaction seemed
to help.
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Evolution

? We then went on to look to see if they could
learn and retain skills over time. ? They can!
We showed that adults ranging in age from 60 - 88
could be taught skills and return 1 - 2 weeks
later and be able to perform these skills.
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Evolution

? More recent research has shown that older
adults can acquire memory training techniques and
software skills, and also glean information on
career development, pre-retirement, and/or health
issues using CD-ROMS. (Mahoney, Tarlow, Jones,
2002 Stoltz-Loike, Morrell, Loike, 2004 Plude
Schwartz, 1996 Echt Kressig, 2001).
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Evolution

• ? As the Internet became more and more popular,
  research focused on older adults
• ability to use the Internet.
• ? These studies began In 1995.
• ? Through systematic studies and usability
  studies.

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Evolution

• ? Through systematic studies we again found that
  older adults take more time and make more
  mistakes when conducting searches.
• ? The more steps included in a search more
  mistakes
• (the complexity hypothesis which says the more
  difficult the task the greater the age
  differences in performance).

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Evolution

? Through usability studies we found that
navigation on most web sites was a problem. ?
The greater the depth of a web site (the number
of levels) the more trouble older adults had in
navigation. Scrolling was also a problem. ? We
also found that normal age-related differences in
vision, memory, comprehension, and motor skills
affected performance.
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The Revolution in Use of Electronic
Technologies
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Revolution

• How are Older Adults Using Electronic Technology?
• ? In general, it is still true that older adults
• use electronic devices less than younger adults.
  However, the fastest growing segment
• of Internet users are people over the age of 60
  relative to new users in other age groups.

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Revolution

? In 1984, about 2.5 of individuals over 55
owned computers. In 1998, about 25 owned them.
And they are purchasing them with rapid speed so
this percentage is increasing. (Department of
Commerce, 1999, 2002) ? In a recent survey over
70 of elderly computers owners reported that
they have Internet access and 80 said they have
accessed it in the past month (SeniorNet, 1998
Adler, 2002)
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Revolution

• ? It is predicted that Internet use by the
  elderly will increase as much as 358 from 3.7
  million users in 2001 to 17.3 million in 2005.
• ? At present, it is estimated that about 22 of
  older adults are surfing the Web.
• (Scanlon, 2001 Pew Internet Life Project,
  2004)

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Revolution

• ? This is not surprising because we knew
• almost 2 decades ago that computers could be
  introduced successfully into a variety of
  environments with older adults.
• (Morrell, in press Morrell, Dailey, Feldman,
  Mayhorn,
• Echt, Podany, 2003)
• ? So, what are they doing on the Internet?

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Revolution

? They are spending more time online than other
age groups (approximately 8.3 hours per week). ?
The are spending more money online than other
age groups. ? The most common items purchased
are clothing, music and compact discs, computer
hardware, books, and computer software (in that
order)! (e-Marketer, 2000, Greenfield Online,
2000, Willis, 2003)
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Revolution

? A survey that my colleagues and I conducted
revealed that middle-aged adults (ages 40 - 59),
young-old adults (ages 60 - 74), and
old-old adults (ages 75) most wanted to
learn how to do the same things on the Internet,
but they ranked their choices differently.
(Morrell, Mayhorn, Bennett, 2000)
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Use of Information Technology
Preferences in Web Use by Middle Aged, Young-Old,
and Old-Old Adults
(Morrell, Mayhorn, Bennett, 2000)
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Revolution

? The reasons they were not accessing the
Internet were 1) No access to a computer 2) No
training opportunities or information ? But just
as important 3) They did not know what they
could do on the Internet or how to find what they
wanted to know suggesting there is a motivational
issue here.
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Projects as a Result of the Research
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The NIH Senior Health Project
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Projects

? The NIH Senior Health Project was jointly
sponsored by the National Institute on Aging and
the National Library of Medicine. ? Other
institutes at the National Institutes of Health
are will post components on the web site in the
future on other health issues concerning older
adults.
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Projects
The project had two goals in its inception. ? 1.
To identify the basic and applied research in
cognition and aging, perception and aging, and
human factors and aging that could be used to
form the basis of a set of guidelines to guide
the construction of a web site that met the needs
of older adults. (Guidelines can also be applied
to other electronic products) ? 2. Apply the
guidelines in the construction of an actual web
site that would be accessible for older adults.

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Projects

? The NIH Senior Health Project employed
scientific findings from basic and applied
systematic research in cognition and aging and
human factors and aging to guide the design of
the web site for use by older adults. ? The web
site was designed to serve as a model that meets
elderly accessibility requirements and also 508
accessibility standards, those recently mandated
for persons with disabilities
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Projects

? Age-related changes in vision have
implications on how a web site is designed for
older adults. In particular they affect ?
the typeface, type size, and type weight used
? the amount of contrast between the type and
backgrounds ? the spacing of the type and
justification and ? and the use of
color. (Hartley, 1999 Morrell, et al., 2003)
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Projects

? Age-related changes in certain aspects of
cognition (verbal and spatial working memory,
text comprehension ability, and perceptual speed)
may affect how well an individual can perform
web navigation tasks. (Craik Salthouse, 2000
Salthouse, 1991)   ? These changes are usually
not dramatic but their presence might interfere
in the performance of computer tasks. (Morrell
Echt, 1996, 1997 Morrell, 1997, 2002 Morrell
et al. 2003)  
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Projects

? Design Implications ? Writing the
Text Style Phrasing Complexity Organiz
ation of the material ? Incorporating Other
Media Illustrations and Photographs Animatio
n, Video, and Audio Text Alternatives (Park,
1992 Holt, 2000 Morrell, et al., 2003)
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Projects

There are other aspects of web site construction
that should be taken into consideration to help
older adults navigate a web site. ? Consistent
Layouts ? Navigation that is simple and
straightforward  ? Style and Size of Icons and
Buttons ? Scrolling or the lack of scrolling ?
Site Maps ? Allow for pages to be read again
(Holt Morrell, 2002 Morrell, 2002 Morrell,
Mayhorn, Bennett, 2002 Morrell, et al.,
2003)  
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Unique Aspects and Features of the
www.NIHSeniorHealth.gov Web Site
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Projects

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Projects
? This is the Talking Web.
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Projects
? Type size can be immediately enlarged.
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Projects
? Page contrast can be changed.
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Projects
? Example of normal page.
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Projects
? Example of page using the Contrast
Feature.
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Projects
? The navigation system is readily apparent
and consistent.
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Projects
? Large buttons are easy to click on.
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Projects
? The typeface and type size used are easy to
read.
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Projects
? The videos are a popular feature.
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Projects
? The videos are easy to use.
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Projects
? The videos feature audio and open
captioning.
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Projects
? Animations are used to illustrate textual
concepts.
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Projects
BusinessThinking Products Designed for Use by
Mature Workers SeniorThinking, LLC Marian
Stoltz-Loike, Ph.D. CEO and President Email
mstoltz-loike_at_seniorthinking.com www.seniorthinkin
g.com
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Projects

• ? The BusinessThinking products are e-learning
  courses on the use of software such as
  PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and also about how to
  use the Internet for people over the age of 50.
• ? Other courses include Career Development, Job
  Finding, and Pre-Retirement Planning.
• ? Additional courses are in the development stage
  on other issues of importance to older adults.

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Projects

• ? All products are designed in CD-ROM format and
  can engineered to be accessed through
  corporate/government intranets as well as on the
  SeniorThinking.com web site.
• ? The products are designed to be used to
  alleviate the high costs of personnel training in
  traditional formats.
• ? The design of all of the products is based on
  the guidelines for elder-accessibility developed
  by the National Institute on Aging.

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Projects

? An explanation is presented immediately on how
to use BusinessThinking products.
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Projects

? All products begin with an Index.
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Projects

? All courses are carefully organized.
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Projects

? Illustrations and animations are used.
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Projects

? All procedures are presented in a step-by-step
manner.
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Projects

? Design is consistent throughout all products.
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Projects
The Research Component of BusinessThinking ?
Initial development was funded by the National
Institute on Aging through an SBIR grant. ?
Usability tests were conducted on all products
with mature adults (ages 50 69), individuals
representative of older people still in the
workforce. ? Knowledge assessments were also
conducted to determine if mature adults can
learn from the products.
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Projects
What we have found ? Application of the NIA
guidelines have resulted in almost errorless
performance of usability tasks. ? In some
instances, certain subcategories of information
were hard to fine (this information was not
crucial to navigation).
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Projects
? Improvement in knowledge acquisition improved
23 on information about career development
when the CD-ROM was used alone. ? We tested
taking the CD-ROM home and using it for one week,
adding an instructor-led Web-based component (via
Webex), and adding a peer2peer component. ?
All methods resulted in 50 improvement in
performance of tasks after only about 3-4 hours
of instruction.
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Projects
? These results suggest that mature adults can
learn from e-learning products whether they use
the products by themselves alone, use them with
two or more people in a small group, or use them
via the Web in a classroom situtation.
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Projects
Web Accessibility Tool Box Annie
Becker Professor of Computer Information
Systems School of Management Florida Institute
of Technology Email abecker_at_fit.edu www.cba.nau.e
du/becker-a/Accessibilty/main.html
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Projects

• ? This series of products can be used to
  evaluate features of web sites for
• elder-accessibility.
• ? Research was funded by the National Science
  Foundation
• ? Dottie is similar to Bobbie which is used to
  determine how well web sites meet the 508
  standards.

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Projects

• ? The Dottie Tool evaluates a Web Page for
  compliance with the NIA guidelines by generating
• a report on
• usability
• barriers.

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Projects

• ? The Readme Tool evaluates Web page content.
• ? The Readme Tool generates statistics on reading
  grade level, syllables, word count, sentence
  counts, and average sentence length for a
  specified Web page.

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Projects

• ? The Readme Tool generates a printout.

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Projects

• ? The Aging Simulator tool demonstrates how
  darkening and yellowing of an image is seen by a
  60 or 75
• year old.

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Projects

• ? The Graphic Analyzer uses neural net technology
  to transform an image (gif file) onto one that is
  seen by a person with color deficiency.
• ? The Usability Enforcer transforms a Web Page by
  enforcing usability rules associated with a user
  profile and computing environment.
• ? The primary focus is on making a Web page
  usable for older adults.

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Projects

• ? In other work by Annie Becker, a usability
  study was conducted on 125 government,
  commercial, and nonprofit Web sites designed to
  provide health information.
• ? The NIA guidelines and other factors were used
  as gauges to test the elder-accessibility of the
  sites.
• ? Approximately 93 of the sites did not meet the
  requirements for elder accessibility.
• (Becker, in press)

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Back to the Myths
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Back to the Myths
? 1) Older adults are interested in learning how
to use these technologies. ? 2) Older adults can
learn how to use these technologies and retain
these skills. ? 3) Older adults are not more
anxious and do not have poorer attitudes toward
computer use relative to younger adults.
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Back to the myths
? Electronic products can and should be
designed for the older user.
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Reality Challenges

• ? If you build it, will they come?
• ? Probably not.
• ? Lack of current use of government sites and
  lack of revisits to other sites.
• ? This is a motivational issue.
• ? This is a marketing issue.

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Reality Challenges

• ? There are substantial numbers of current Baby
  Boomers who do not use computers and have no
  intention of using the Web.
• ? Use in diverse populations. Use by people with
  low computer, verbal, and health literacy.
• ? Pilot and demonstration projects that disappear
  due to lack of funding. Research land is riddled
  with the ghosts of what could have been

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Thank you. GeroTech Corporation 2120
Greenwatch Way, Suite 200 Reston, VA
20191 703.915.6046 rmorrell_at_gerotech.com www.gerot
ech.com