Introducing the Attitudes toward Technology Longitudinal Aging Study (ATLAS): Initial Wave 1 Findings

Differences between younger and older adults' use and adoption of technology have declined over the past two decades, though the mechanisms behind observed trends are uncertain. Few longitudinal studies have tried to capture detailed changes in technology attitudes, adoption, and usage over time among older adults. This presentation presents newly collected data from the first wave of the Attitudes toward Technology Longitudinal Aging Study (ATLAS), a 5-wave questionnaire-based longitudinal study of older adults' attitudes toward technology and levels of technology use (N = 88; Men = 30; Women = 58; Mage = 69.7 years). We present baseline characteristics of Wave 1 and explore predictors of technology use, adoption, and proficiency. Waves 2 through 5 will assess changes in these domains. Wave 1 results replicated previous findings in that older age was associated with lower computer and mobile device proficiency (computer: r = -.219*, p < .05 , mobile device: r = -.291**, p < .01). However, there was variability among both types of proficiency (McomputerProf = 27.39, SD = 3.57 ; MmobileProf = 31.52, SD = 9.21), indicating room for change over time. Both types of proficiency were correlated with level of technology use (computer: r = -.219*, p < .05 , mobile device: r = -.572***, p < .001). Taken together, these initial relationships suggest the possibility that future waves will see changes in technology use predicted by changes in age-related differences in technology proficiency and attitudes.

The impact of consumers’ attitudes towards technology on the acceptance of hotel technology-based innovation

Purpose Technology-based innovation (TBI) is a primary approach across the hospitality industry to improve customer experience. It is essential to know the critical factors that affect consumers’ acceptance of hotels’ TBI. The effect of consumers’ attitudes toward technology is hypothesized to affect the acceptance of TBI besides commonly used technology acceptance models. Design/methodology/approach A model of attitudes toward technology influence on TBI was constructed and tested by inviting participants to watch a video of a keyless check-in process of a leading hotel chain and then completed a questionnaire. The attitudes toward technology were measured using the technology adoption propensity (TAP) scale. Findings Attitudes toward technology strongly affect the hotel’s booking intention (BI) used as a proxy for consumers’ acceptance of hotels’ TBI. However, attitudes toward technology can only influence BI through the mediating variables of trust and curiosity. Practical implications The findings provide useful insights, encouraging hotels to positively enhance consumers’ attitudes toward technology when introducing TBI services. Originality/value Most research on the acceptance of e-commerce technology focuses on consumers’ resulting attitudes or emotions using the products or services. In contrast, this study investigates the effect of consumers’ attitudes toward technology on accepting hotels’ TBI service. The study demonstrated that attitudes toward technology substantially impact the acceptance of hotels’ TBI service. Furthermore, the study provides empirical support on the use of the TAP scale in complex TBI services.

Students’ attitudes toward technology: exploring the relationship among affective, cognitive and behavioral components of the attitude construct

When studying attitudes toward technology education, the affective attitudinal component has primarily been the focus. This study focuses on how the affective, cognitive and behavioral attitudinal components of technology education can be incorporated using a two-step survey: the traditional PATT-questionnaire (PATT-SQSE) and the recently developed Mitcham Score questionnaire. The aim of this study is to explore the relationship among the cognitive, affective and potential behavioural components of students’ attitudes toward technology in a Swedish context, using the PATT-SQ-SE instrument including the Mitcham score open items. Results of the analyses show that relationships among the attitudinal components are observable. The results also imply that relationships among the attitudinal components are different for girls than boys. A key factor for the participating students’ attitudinal relations was interest (affective component) in technology education. An individual interest in technology education was related to both the cognitive component and behavioral intention. Another key relationship, for girls, was that the cognitive component had a strong relationship with behavioral intention, which was not the case for boys. Based on the observed relations between the cognitive, affective and behavioural components we have identified two key implications for educational practice: Girls should learn a broader conception of technology in technology education, if we want them to pursue technology-related careers to a higher degree; Students’ interest in technology should be stimulated through engaging tasks in technology education.

Attitudes Toward Technology and Use of Fall Alert Wearables in Caregiving: Survey Study

Background Wearable technology for fall alerts among older adult care recipients is one of the more frequently studied areas of technology, given the concerning consequences of falls among this population. Falls are quite prevalent in later life. While there is a growing amount of literature on older adults’ acceptance of technology, less is known about how caregivers’ attitudes toward technology can impact care recipients’ use of such technology. Objective The objective of our study was to examine associations between caregivers’ attitudes toward technology for caregiving and care recipients’ use of fall alert wearables. Methods This study examined data collected with an online survey from 626 caregivers for adults 50 years and older. Adapted from the technology acceptance model, a structural equation model tested the following prespecified hypotheses: (1) higher perceived usefulness of technologies for caregiving would predict higher perceived value of and greater interest in technologies for caregiving; (2) higher perceived value of technologies for caregiving would predict greater interest in technologies for caregiving; and (3) greater interest in technologies for caregiving would predict greater use of fall alert wearables among care recipients. Additionally, we included demographic factors (eg, caregivers’ and care recipients’ ages) and caregiving context (eg, caregiver type and caregiving situation) as important predictors of care recipients’ use of fall alert wearables. Results Of 626 total respondents, 548 (87.5%) with all valid responses were included in this study. Among care recipients, 28% used fall alert wearables. The final model had a good to fair model fit: a confirmatory factor index of 0.93, a standardized root mean square residual of 0.049, and root mean square error of approximation of 0.066. Caregivers’ perceived usefulness of technology was positively associated with their attitudes toward using technology in caregiving (b=.70, P<.001) and interest in using technology for caregiving (b=.22, P=.003). Greater perceived value of using technology in caregiving predicted greater interest in using technology for caregiving (b=.65, P<.001). Greater interest in using technology for caregiving was associated with greater likelihood of care recipients using fall alert wearables (b=.27, P<.001). The caregiver type had the strongest inverse relationship with care recipients’ use of fall alert wearables (unpaid vs paid caregiver) (b=–.33, P<.001). Conclusions This study underscores the importance of caregivers’ attitudes in care recipients’ technology use for falls management. Raising awareness and improving perception about technologies for caregiving may help caregivers and care recipients adopt and better utilize technologies that can promote independence and enhance safety.

Attitudes toward Technology-Based Cancer Support Programs Among Korean American Breast Cancer Survivors

Despite the increasing usages of technology-based programs, few technology-based support programs are currently available for racial/ethnic minority cancer survivors including Korean-American cancer survivors. The purpose of this study was to explore the attitudes toward technology-based cancer support programs among Korean-American cancer survivors from a feminist perspective. In-person focus group interviews were held with 17 Korean-American cancer survivors. All the interviews were recorded by writing memos. Then, the written memos were analyzed using a content analysis. Four major themes reflecting their attitudes toward technology-based cancer-support programs were identified: (a) “easy to access”; (b) “good for peer and family support,” (c) “overcoming language barriers,” and (d) “providing Korean-specific and personalized trustable information.” Future technology-based cancer support groups for this specific population need to incorporate peer support, support for family members, Korean language, and Korea-specific information and intervention components.

Attitudes Toward Technology and Use of Fall Alert Wearables in Caregiving: Survey Study (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Wearable technology for fall alerts among older adult care recipients is one of the more frequently studied areas of technology, given the concerning consequences of falls among this population. Falls are quite prevalent in later life. While there is a growing amount of literature on older adults’ acceptance of technology, less is known about how caregivers’ attitudes toward technology can impact care recipients’ use of such technology. OBJECTIVE The objective of our study was to examine associations between caregivers’ attitudes toward technology for caregiving and care recipients’ use of fall alert wearables. METHODS This study examined data collected with an online survey from 626 caregivers for adults 50 years and older. Adapted from the technology acceptance model, a structural equation model tested the following prespecified hypotheses: (1) higher perceived usefulness of technologies for caregiving would predict higher perceived value of and greater interest in technologies for caregiving; (2) higher perceived value of technologies for caregiving would predict greater interest in technologies for caregiving; and (3) greater interest in technologies for caregiving would predict greater use of fall alert wearables among care recipients. Additionally, we included demographic factors (eg, caregivers’ and care recipients’ ages) and caregiving context (eg, caregiver type and caregiving situation) as important predictors of care recipients’ use of fall alert wearables. RESULTS Of 626 total respondents, 548 (87.5%) with all valid responses were included in this study. Among care recipients, 28% used fall alert wearables. The final model had a good to fair model fit: a confirmatory factor index of 0.93, a standardized root mean square residual of 0.049, and root mean square error of approximation of 0.066. Caregivers’ perceived usefulness of technology was positively associated with their attitudes toward using technology in caregiving (b=.70, <i>P&lt;</i>.001) and interest in using technology for caregiving (b=.22, <i>P</i>=.003). Greater perceived value of using technology in caregiving predicted greater interest in using technology for caregiving (b=.65, <i>P&lt;</i>.001). Greater interest in using technology for caregiving was associated with greater likelihood of care recipients using fall alert wearables (b=.27, <i>P</i>&lt;.001). The caregiver type had the strongest inverse relationship with care recipients’ use of fall alert wearables (unpaid vs paid caregiver) (b=–.33, <i>P</i>&lt;.001). CONCLUSIONS This study underscores the importance of caregivers’ attitudes in care recipients’ technology use for falls management. Raising awareness and improving perception about technologies for caregiving may help caregivers and care recipients adopt and better utilize technologies that can promote independence and enhance safety.