This study presents a segmentation model of older adults on the mobile phone market that incorporates a wide variety of consumer behavior, attitudinal, and acceptance variables relevant for the understanding of mobile phone (non-)usage patterns among users of feature phones and smartphones, as well as among mobile phone nonusers. The model is based on a hybrid approach with a twostep cluster analysis using data collected by a telephone survey from a representative sample of adults aged 55 or older in Slovenia in 2015. The aim of the study was to obtain the information on the use of mobile and smart phones, their features and barriers for their use among people aged 55 or older in Slovenia. The target population in the study were residents of Slovenia aged 55 and older. The sample of 20.000 units was obtained from the Central Population Register administrated by the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia (SORS) using random sampling with stratification by age, sex, type of settlement, and the region of residence. The number of individuals sampled within each stratum was proportional to the population size. The data collection resulted in 1,581 completed survey interviews, which represent the total number of respondents (i.e., the realized sample). The response rate was 23.9% (by AAPOR 2 standard). The data used in this study were collected with a telephone survey (CATI - Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing) in Autumn 2015. The questionnaire contained 63 questions with 178 variables. The questions were divided into five topics: 1) General use of mobile phones and their features, 2) Experience and opinion on smartphone use or about intentions to use, 3) Internet and computer use, 4) Health, everyday life and quality of life, 5) Demography.
F.02 Acquisition of new scientific knowledge
COBISS.SI-ID: 34708829Smartphone and wearable devices with their mounting use in the general population provide new opportunities for active and healthy ageing as well as for future deplomeyment of smart integrated care. In particular, poorly exploited integration of smartphones and assistive technologies may contribute to the active ageing. This study outlines the field of assistive technologies on smartphones for older adults with an emphasis on the mobile health (m-health). We present key factors and barriers for the acceptance of m-services among older adults. An overview of the prevalence and description of the features of the so called smartphones launchers for older adults, which, with adapted user interface, provide older adults with more accessible and easier to use assistive technologies on smartphones, revealed a very limited offer of those applications, both in terms of adapted user interface as well as in terms of set of assistive technologies they provide. In conclusion, we highlight some guidelines for the future research of the acceptance and usability of smartphone applications and other e-services for active and healthy ageing. Finally, we present the outline of the iterative approach that will be applied also in the proposed project with the aim of facilitating active involvement of end users in all stages of the research and development process of smart integrated care services.
F.02 Acquisition of new scientific knowledge
COBISS.SI-ID: 33575773The report summarizes the results of a two-step cluster analysis within the study on the use of mobile phone among 1581 residents of Slovenia. The analysis yielded two different clusters of older adults within each of the five a priori-defined segments of the mobile phone market. Thus 10 clusters were mapped according to intensity of mobile phone use and potential for smartphone adoption. These clusters were given the following names: Resigned stragglers, Uninterested opt-outers, Better-off phone offliners, Frugal callers, Old-fashioned quitters, Active socializing onliners, Privacy-struck savvy eagers, Informed safeplayers, Smartphone well-off netizens, Reluctant smartphone essentialists. Besides Reluctant smartphone essentialists and Smartphone well-off netizens only Privacy-struck savvy eagers show above-average interest for smartphone adoption. In the short-run only Privacy-struck savvy eagers will most likely become smartphone users. Active socializing onliners and Better-off phone offliners will likely convert in the long-run under a strong external push. In short-run low probability of change is expected for the following three clusters: Uninterested opt-outers, Frugal callers, Resigned stragglers. Any future changes will most likely happen as a consequence of various cohort effects. Since many of these profiles undermine the notion of older adults as “basic” mobile phone users, our findings represent a solid foundation for scholars and marketers to further investigate their specific needs in relation to more advanced smartphone and mobile internet usage. With the behavioural and benefit segmentation model developed in this study, we have indicated that older adults are not a homogeneous consumer group in the mobile phone market, but rather that they can be clustered in heterogeneous segments of mobile phone (non)users with distinguishable demographic and life-course properties.
F.02 Acquisition of new scientific knowledge
COBISS.SI-ID: 35511133This report summarizes the results of the survey on the use of mobile phone on the representative sample of 1581 residents of the Republic of Slovenia aged 55 years and above. 90% of them were mobile phone users (27% used a smartphone, 73% used feature phones). This study yielded several interesting findings. The use of state-of-art assistive services among smartphone users aged 55+ is very uncommon: 37% smartphone users use maps and navigation, 18% videocalls, 9% emergency calls. Additionally, 24 % smartphone users use at least one function that is not maps (i.e., videocalls, emergency calls, monitoring physical activity, etc.). Maps and navigation (M&N) is more likely to be used among smartphone users who are males with high educational attainment, who have a newer phone, use it more frequently, use more functions and have a subscription service. M&N is also more likely to be used by users who know smartphones well, use internet and computers regularly and have above-average internet skills. Not having a real need, phones being too expensive and excessive service costs are top-three smartphone use barriers, while health impairments are the least concern. Most respondents have someone available for assistance with smartphone difficulties and intend to continue using smartphones but not to use more functions. Smartphone users perceive smartphones as quite useful and easy to use, while they perceive almost no smartphone anxiety. Behavioural intention to start to use or intend to learn to use a smartphone is not very strong; 37% of smartphone non-users (completely) agree with a statement that they intend to start using a smartphone/intend to learn how to use a smartphone in the next 5 years.
F.02 Acquisition of new scientific knowledge
COBISS.SI-ID: 35511389Assistive technologies are important aspect of information and communication technology in contemporary ageing societes. Mobile phones are one of the most widespread technologies among older adults and have, in particular smartphones, great potential to serve as assistive technology. Smartphones’ integrated sensors and installed applications may transform it into assistive device and improve quality of life of older adults. Furthermore, due to their widespread use, smartphones with integrated assistive technologies represent an opportunity for digital inclusion of older adults. The project Mobile aging is therefore directed towards studying sociotechnical affordances of assistive technologies in (smart) mobile phones and their integration with assistive technologies to foster inclusive and empowered aging of the heterogeneous group of the elderly. The aim of the project is to link the psychological needs of older people with technology design features, capturing the diversity of heterogeneous group of older users and to contribute to more holistic understanding of the quality of life of older people. This report is structured in the three thematic sections in accordance with the project aims. Firstly, we present key aspects of the quality of life of older adults with an emphasis on its definition and measures. Secondly, overview of mobile phone adoption trends in Slovenia and European Union followed by an overview of theoretical approaches to technology adoption is provided. Third section of the report focuses on the user experience and mobile phone design. Report concludes with an overview of the design guidelines and checklists for mobile phones and smartphones presented in the literature so far.
F.02 Acquisition of new scientific knowledge
COBISS.SI-ID: 33910109