Busting Myths About Seniors and Tech

Qualitative Research Debunks Myths and Paves the Way for Inclusive Design

As Singapore’s digital landscape continues to evolve, the elderly remain challenged to navigate the transformative terrain of technology coming at them, creating a digital divide.

As an advocate of accessibility and inclusivity, 55 Minutes embarked on research looking into designing for the elderly. From our research as well as literature reviews, we developed Designing for Accessibility: Creating Inclusive Digital Experiences for Seniors, a guide for individuals interested in designing better digital experiences for seniors.

Through our user interviews and tests with six seniors, ages 60 to 70 years old from diverse ethnic backgrounds (Indian, Malay, and Chinese), we uncovered key findings that removed a few common misconceptions about seniors. Here are some myths that our research has debunked.

MYTH 1: Seniors are not interested in learning tech

On the contrary, what we found is that seniors are more likely to be interested to learn and adopt technology when it serves a clear and purposeful role in their lives.

In Singapore, household structure and social dynamics play a major part of a senior’s life, and a senior’s hobbies and social activities can often be closely related to that. When nuclear families start living on their own, seniors often miss out on being with loved ones and might tend to use digital technologies to connect. Technologies that enhance communication with family, provide access to information, and support hobbies and interests can be particularly appealing.

When seniors are unable to access these digital opportunities, they miss out on potential solutions that could help them age-in-place — where they have the ability to live in their own home safely, independently and within their community without having to move into assisted living or long-term care facilities.

MYTH 2: The elderly are averse to tech, afraid to try new things

Not necessarily. We found that participants who were more curious, extroverted, active and social, tended to have a positive mindset towards new technologies, which increased their tech adoption. On the other hand, participants who were more closed off to new experiences seem to have a negative “I cannot” mindset towards technology, regardless of the complexity (or simplicity) of the tech.

Seniors with a strong sense of self-efficacy regarding technology were also more confident in their ability to use digital devices and navigate online platforms.

We discovered too that prior exposure to tech at work greatly affected a senior’s adoption to new tech at a later age. Five out of six of the seniors we interviewed used tech in their earlier professions which positively affected their later experiences with it. They were also more willing to try out new digital experiences, even as they remained cautious of the risks like scams.

• Participant #3 found that tech made his accounting work more efficient by reducing errors. This made him feel more positive towards the use of technology
• Participant #6 found that applications like Microsoft Calendar and Teams made her admin work easier which made her open towards using other digital technologies

However, a negative past experience of tech can lead them to push back. Participants who had negative past experiences of legacy or old tech had a passive or negative attitude towards tech. Older generation’s misconception about today’s tech as “being complex” was often caused by past tech experiences which they found complicated to use and hard to learn.

• Participant #2 had a fear of scams that affected their willingness to try new tech
• Participants #1 and #5 felt that tech was complex to use even back in the day, and more complicated now. They were also afraid to make mistakes

Overall, perceived needs or a necessity is important to motivate seniors to use relevant technologies consistently. Understanding and addressing these attitudes and values are crucial for designing effective strategies to promote technology adoption among seniors in Singapore.

MYTH 3: Seniors will not spend money on technology

Not true. We project that there will be an upward trend of purchasing power that will allow seniors more opportunities to access and acquire technology. These seniors will have the income and means to purchase due to better welfare and universal access to education. Future generations of seniors are expected to be more digitally literate, which contributes to their interest and capacity to spend.

We need to cater to these opportunities and to also look closely at subcategories of users in the senior demographic.

We observed from our primary research that different income levels revealed different adoption and use of tech. It is important to consider income level as a factor. Talking to these seniors helped us better understand their economic circumstances. Seniors in their early 60s (60–63) vs seniors in their mid 60s (64–66) can have different economic circumstances.

MYTH 4: Seniors prefer using devices with big screens, like tablets

Our research found that 83% of participants prefer using mobile phones to laptops or computers. Laptops and computers are less used, or used only when needed, especially after retirement. Seniors were unmotivated to adopt digital technologies that did not serve their current goals and lifestyles.

• Participant #3 uses their laptop only as a digital storage space for his photos and videos
• Participant #3 selected a phone model that required less updates, and is not easily outdated so they can use it for a longer time

Convenience also plays a part for the adoption of certain tech like smartphones and laptops.

• Participants #1, #4 and #6 use smartphones more than laptops because of the convenience to perform almost all of their everyday tasks

Why do these myths persist?

The misperception of seniors as frail may contribute to the assumption that seniors are technologically incompetent. This assumption can lead to neglect in providing adequate support and guidance, further exacerbating the digital divide. If digital technologies are not designed with inclusivity in mind, ageist assumptions about seniors’ capabilities may result in interfaces that are not tailored to their needs.

Society’s perception of seniors as frail may lead to an underestimation of their cognitive and physical abilities. This can result in a lack of encouragement and support for seniors to explore and adopt digital technologies.

Ageist stereotypes may create low expectations for seniors’ technology use and lead to a lack of senior-friendly products. This lack of investment means there are few technologies that cater to the diverse needs and capabilities of older adults.

When society views seniors in these ways, it hinders seniors from fully engaging in the digital age because it undermines their confidence and motivation to learn and adopt new technologies. They may feel discouraged or hesitant to explore digital opportunities due to a perceived lack of competence.

The path forward

We need to ensure that not only are seniors given more access and exposure to technology as early as possible, but that they are also actively supported to keep using it.

Recognising and understanding the diversity of personality traits among seniors is crucial for designing effective technology adoption strategies. Personalising digital experiences to align with individual preferences, addressing anxieties, and fostering a positive and supportive environment can enhance seniors’ comfort and engagement with technology.

We have to be aware of the current UX and UI challenges seniors need to overcome, which includes:

Increasing task complexity: Seniors may experience cognitive overload when tasks require multiple steps, involve intricate processes, or demand high levels of concentration. It can also be challenging for them to multitask or switch between different types of tasks. This constant attention switch makes it difficult for them to absorb and process the necessary information.

Poor user interface: The interface serves as the user’s gateway to interact with digital devices and applications. Poor usability may cause seniors to miss out on valuable features and functionalities.

Limited access to tech: Many of these technologies require consistent internet speeds or are entirely hosted online. For most seniors, internet access is intermittent and sporadic (Ng et al., 2022).

We must also focus on the preferences that matter:

Our participants preferred design considerations such as simplified UX (less steps), easy to understand words and terms, and fewer options to select from.

Participant #1 thought it would be better to use biometric access instead of password as they would often forget them. They also thought too many apps on several screens on the phone is confusing and hoped to have a few necessary apps in one view.

• Participant #2 didn’t spend too much time searching on Netflix. They just follow the recommendations provided

With a focus on inclusivity and accessibility, our research highlighted the importance of considering seniors’ diverse backgrounds, preferences and behaviours, as well as the need to bridge cultural and generational divides in technology design. Through our comprehensive design guideline, we aim to empower people to create products that are not only user-friendly but also tailored to the unique needs of Singapore’s ageing population. You can find our design guide at 55mins.com