Application of Cognitive Theory to Training and Design Solutions for Age-related Computer Use

1999 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 553-573 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sherry E. Mead ◽  
Peter Batsakes ◽  
Arthur D. Fisk ◽  
Amy Mykityshyn
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Computer Use ◽  
Cognitive Theory ◽  
Psychological Theory ◽  
Behavioural Science ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Training Materials ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
System Interfaces ◽  
And Training

As the prevalence of computer-based technologies increases throughout society, so does the likelihood that older adults will be required to interact with them. Unfortunately, such systems often appear to older adults to be too hard to use and too hard to learn. We provide examples highlighting the opportunities available to behavioural science to affect training and system design through practically relevant research. We focus on our research on ageing, computer use, and training to support our assertion that applied research aimed at designing training materials and system interfaces to enhance the performance of older adults can and should be driven by psychological theory. The data presented and studies reviewed here clearly demonstrate that theory is critical for predicting age differences in computer use, for guiding the development of both training and design interventions for older computer users, and for reconciling conflicting findings in the design-evaluation literature.

Can Undergraduate Students Help Change Older Adults’ Confidence for Making Nutrition-Related Decisions in a 45-Minute Nutrition Workshop?

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Rakhshan Kamran ◽  
Giulia Coletta ◽  
Janet M. Pritchard
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Cognitive Theory ◽  
Outcome Expectations ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Dietary Choices ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Impact

Purpose: The Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) suggests health behaviour can be modified by enhancing knowledge of health benefits and outcome expectations of changing behaviour, improving self-efficacy (confidence), and developing goals to overcome barriers to behaviour change. This study aimed to determine the impact of student-led nutrition workshops on participants’ confidence related to SCT constructs for making dietary choices that align with evidence-based nutrition recommendations. Methods: Level-4 Science students developed and delivered 9 workshops on nutrition recommendations for the prevention and management of age-related diseases. Participants attending the workshops completed pre- and post-surveys to assess SCT constructs. For each SCT construct, participants rated their confidence on a 10-point Likert scale. The number (%) of participants who rated their confidence as ≥8/10 on the pre- and post-surveys were compared using the χ2 test. Results: Sixty-three community members (60% female, mean ± SD age 71 ± 7 years) attended the workshops. The number of participants rating confidence as ≥8/10 for each SCT construct increased after the workshops (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Undergraduate students can positively influence community members’ confidence for making nutrition-related decisions. Involving students in interventions where SCT-structured workshops are used may help conserve health care resources and reach older adults who may not have access to dietitian services.

The Effects of Age and Atis Use on Driving Performance: A Simulator Study

1998 ◽  
Vol 42 (17) ◽  
pp. 1276-1280
Author(s):  
Jean E. Fox
Keyword(s):  
Driving Simulator ◽  
Driving Performance ◽  
High Fidelity ◽  
Traveler Information ◽  
Traveler Information Systems ◽  
Navigation Assistance ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Training Materials ◽  
And Training

Advanced Traveler Information Systems (ATIS) are in-vehicle computer systems that provide travel-related information (e.g., navigation assistance) to automobile drivers. ATIS has great potential to help drivers save time and money by leading them to their destination efficiently. However, there are great concerns that ATIS may interfere with driving performance. This study looked at the effects of ATIS use and the driver's age on driving performance in a high-fidelity driving simulator. The results indicate that ATIS use led to degraded driving performance in several measures. However, in some cases, the effects depended on age. Older drivers tended to be more cautious, while younger drivers tended to be more careless. These results suggest that ATIS systems and training materials may need to address the age-related differences in ATIS use and driving performance.

Computer Accessibility Issues for Older Adults with Disabilities: A Pilot Study

2005 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 55-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanya D. Marchant ◽  
Tina Marie Tiernan ◽  
William C. Mann
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Computer Use ◽  
Adults With Disabilities ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Workstation Design ◽  
Accessibility Issues ◽  
Performance Satisfaction ◽  
Perception Of Performance ◽  
Increased Susceptibility

The number of adults older than 65 years is expected to increase dramatically during the next 30 years. Older adults have been described as one of the fastest growing groups of computer users, and have been shown to uniquely benefit from computer use. Given their increased susceptibility toward disabling conditions and age-related decline, older adults often face challenges regarding computer use and accessibility. The purpose of this pilot study was to explore computer use and accessibility issues of older adults with disabilities, focusing on relationships between workstation, performance, satisfaction, and self-reported pain. A sample of 32 older adults with disabilities who owned and used a personal computer were interviewed in their homes and observed during performance of a familiar computer task. Their computer workstations were also assessed for adherence to ergonomic principles. Satisfaction with their computer ability was found to be positively correlated with workstation design, their perception of the importance of a computer, duration of use per week, and participants' perception of performance. No significant differences were found between older adults who did and did not report pain associated with computer use. Results suggest that older adults with disabilities are using computers for many tasks, consider their computers important, perceive their performance as relatively good, and are generally satisfied with their ability to use their computer. There is a need for further research examining the correlates of older adults' satisfaction with their ability to use their computer.

scholarly journals Association Between Components of Cognitive Reserve and Serum BDNF in Healthy Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica M. Collins ◽  
Edward Hill ◽  
Aidan Bindoff ◽  
Anna E. King ◽  
Jane Alty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Reserve ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Education And Training ◽  
Age Related ◽  
University Level ◽  
Life Education ◽  
The Brain ◽  
And Training ◽  
Serum Bdnf

Background: The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein has been shown to have a prominent role in neuron survival, growth, and function in experimental models, and the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism which regulates its expression has been linked to resilience toward the effects of aging on cognition. Cognitively stimulating activity is linked to both increased levels of BDNF in the brain, and protection against age-related cognitive decline. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between serum BDNF levels, the BDNF Val66Met genotype, and components of cognitive reserve in early and mid-life, measured with the Lifetime of Experiences Questionnaire (LEQ).Methods: Serum BDNF levels were measured cross-sectionally in 156 participants from the Tasmanian Healthy Brain Project (THBP) cohort, a study examining the potential benefits of older adults engaging in a university-level education intervention. Multiple linear regression was used to estimate serum BDNF’s association with age, education, gender, BDNF Val66Met genotype, later-life university-level study, and cognitively stimulating activities measured by the LEQ.Results: Serum BDNF in older adults was associated with early life education and training, increasing 0.007 log(pg/ml) [95%CI 0.001, 0.012] per unit on the LEQ subscale. Conversely, education and training in mid-life were associated with a −0.007 log(pg/ml) [−0.012, −0.001] decrease per unit on the LEQ subscale. Serum BDNF decreased with age (−0.008 log(pg/ml) [−0.015, −0.001] per year), and male gender (−0.109 log(pg/ml) [−0.203, −0.015]), but mean differences between the BDNF Val66Met polymorphisms were not significant (p = 0.066). All effect sizes were small, with mid-life education and training having the largest effect size (ηp2 = 0.044).Conclusion: Education in both early and mid-life explained small but significant amounts of variance in serum BDNF levels, more than age or gender. These effects were opposed and independent, suggesting that education at different stages of life may be associated with different cognitive and neural demands. Education at different stages of life may be important covariates when estimating associations between other exposures and serum BDNF.

Acceptance and Usage of an Online-based Cognitive Group Training for Older Adults

i-com ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marten Haesner ◽  
Anika Steinert ◽  
Julie O’Sullivan ◽  
Elisabeth Steinhagen-Thiessen
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Cognitive Learning ◽  
Cognitive Capacity ◽  
Group Training ◽  
Training Methods ◽  
Functional Capabilities ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
The Individual

AbstractAge-related decline in cognitive capacity can lead to functional restriction in everyday life. Therefore, interventions that aim to maintain and facilitate the individual cognitive capacity are becoming increasingly important. Computer-based cognitive learning is a promising approach to combat age-related loss of functional capabilities. The publicly funded project LeVer was developed especially for older adults and consisted of an online virtual cognitive training platform that enabled older adults to train on their own and in groups. Apart from investigating how older adults interacted with the platform, acceptance towards computer-based group training and audio-video communication was also analyzed. During the 20 to 30 minutes long sessions of the group training, learning units that included memory strategies as well as everyday exercises to intensify those strategies were taught. The group training was divided into four modules. The content of each session was structured using evidence-based cognitive training methods and manuals. Of the 40 older adults who used the individual online cognitive training (IOCT), half of the participants (11♀, 9♂) took part in all of the four sessions of group training. 14 participants (9♀, 5♂) aged 62–77 years (

The Effectiveness of Design Interventions in Improving the Ability of Older People to Perform Computer-Based Work

1998 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 148-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara J. Czaja ◽  
Joseph Sharit ◽  
Sankaran Nair
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Interface Design ◽  
Data Entry ◽  
Complex Problem ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
Improved Performance ◽  
The Impact

The objective of the current research was to evaluate the impact of age on the performance of computer-based work in order to develop design interventions that enhance the ability of older adults to perform these tasks. Specifically, two computer tasks, data entry, and a complex problem solving were investigated. Participants ranged in age from 20–75 years. Overall, the results indicted age differences in performance of both tasks. The younger participants had higher levels of performance Further, the results indicated that age-related differences in component cognitive abilities were related to performance. These data were used to develop design interventions such as modifying the layout of screen information. This paper presents data from the intervention studies. Overall the findings indicate that the interventions improved performance for all participants. For example, there were fewer keystroke errors for the data entry task and problem solving time was reduced for the problem solving task. These data are discussed in terms of understanding the extent to which fundamental interface design interventions can benefit older adults.

scholarly journals Catering for different learning styles

2011 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Manfred Kwok ◽  
Clifford Jones
Keyword(s):  
Computer Graphics ◽  
Learning Styles ◽  
Personal Computer ◽  
Controversial Issue ◽  
Multimedia Technology ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Training Materials ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
The Subject ◽  
And Training

The use of computers for teaching and training has long been a controversial issue. Up to the 1980s, many educators who were keen to use computers to pass on knowledge developed various computer-based teaching and training materials, but most of these materials were capable only of delivering information in text with perhaps some computer graphics, and in many cases it proved difficult to raise learners' interest in the subject matters (Patrick & Fitzgibbon, 1988). In the 1990s, there has been cheerful news for procomputer educators; the latest multimedia technology could be the solution to the problem. Using a multimedia personal computer we can retrieve information in diverse formats: text, high-quality audio, still and animated graphics, and still and moving pictures.DOI:10.1080/0968776950030102

Aging Effects on the Neuroplastic Attributes of Multisensory Cortical Networks as Triggered by a Computerized Music Reading Training Intervention

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-137
Author(s):  
Evangelos Paraskevopoulos ◽  
Nikolas Chalas ◽  
Alexandros Karagiorgis ◽  
Maria Karagianni ◽  
Charis Styliadis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Multisensory Integration ◽  
Inferior Frontal Gyrus ◽  
Music Reading ◽  
Aging Effects ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Brain Functioning ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Multisensory Learning ◽  
Computer Based

Abstract The constant increase in the graying population is the result of a great expansion of life expectancy. A smaller expansion of healthy cognitive and brain functioning diminishes the gains achieved by longevity. Music training, as a special case of multisensory learning, may induce restorative neuroplasticity in older ages. The current study aimed to explore aging effects on the cortical network supporting multisensory cognition and to define aging effects on the network’s neuroplastic attributes. A computer-based music reading protocol was developed and evaluated via electroencephalography measurements pre- and post-training on young and older adults. Results revealed that multisensory integration is performed via diverse strategies in the two groups: Older adults employ higher-order supramodal areas to a greater extent than lower level perceptual regions, in contrast to younger adults, indicating an age-related shift in the weight of each processing strategy. Restorative neuroplasticity was revealed in the left inferior frontal gyrus and right medial temporal gyrus, as a result of the training, while task-related reorganization of cortical connectivity was obstructed in the group of older adults, probably due to systemic maturation mechanisms. On the contrary, younger adults significantly increased functional connectivity among the regions supporting multisensory integration.

A Comparative Study of Text-Editing Programs among a Sample of Older Adults

1989 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 179-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara J. Czaja ◽  
J. Bonnie Joyce
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Training Programs ◽  
Cognitive Demands ◽  
Older Learners ◽  
Learning Efficiency ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Full Screen ◽  
And Training ◽  
Age Related Changes

Research indicates that older adults have difficulty acquiring text-editing skills. The data suggest that the cognitive demands associated with text-editing programs create problems for older learners given the age-related changes in cognitive abilities. This study compared the learning efficiency of older adults for three text-editing programs which varied in format and command structure. A total of 45, computer naive, women ranging in age from 40 to 70 years participated. The results indicated significant differences in learning efficiency as a function of text-editing program. Participants using a full screen editor with pull down menus demonstrated significantly better performance than did those using other programs. Data was also collected regarding types of difficulties encountered by subjects during learning. This type of information can be used as input into the design of future software and training programs.

The effects of old age and distraction on the assessment of prospective memory in a simulated naturalistic environment

2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 124-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert G. Knight ◽  
Jane Nicholls ◽  
Nickolai Titov
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Prospective Memory ◽  
Noisy Environments ◽  
Memory Problems ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Naturalistic Environment ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
Auditory Noise ◽  
Virtual Shopping

ABSTRACTBackground: The ability to remember to complete future intentions, prospective memory, often begins to fail in old age. The aim of the present study was to examine the sensitivity of a computer-based procedure using naturalistic stimuli to age-related increases in forgetting under conditions of high (increased visual and auditory noise) or low distraction.Methods: Participants were tested in a virtual shopping precinct constructed from linked photographs, sounds, and video segments. Groups of 32 older and younger persons completed two concurrent memory tasks while moving along the street. In one task, participants were given errands to complete with an accessible checklist, in the other, they were required to remember to respond to three different targets that appeared repeatedly.Results: The results confirmed previous findings that older adults have difficulty remembering future intentions, even on a self-paced task using naturalistic stimuli, and showed that this was accentuated in noisy environments.Conclusions: Older persons have particular difficulty remembering in noisy environments, and results from testing in the clinic may underestimate the practical memory problems experienced by older adults with mild cognitive impairments. The findings provide encouragement for the construction of computer-generated environments to measure functional deficits in cognition.

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