Understanding the Role of Experience in Younger and Older Adults' Interactions with a Novel Technology

Abstract

Successful performance with novel technologies may be enhanced if prior knowledge can be used to guide the interaction. However, knowledge alone may be insufficient to minimize age-related differences in technology interactions. The goal of the present study was to examine age-related differences in the use of a novel everyday technology, the Flip video camcorder, when experience with comparable technologies was controlled. Younger adults and older adults with a similar level of general technology experience were video recorded as they completed three tasks while thinking aloud. Comparisons of self-reported prior experience with technologies comparable to the Flip indicated similar, significant levels of experience. In spite of similar experience, younger adults performed significantly faster than older adults on two of the three tasks. Younger adults were also more likely to perform optimally on these tasks. In contrast, older adults were more likely to only partially complete two of the three tasks. Older adults were also more likely to report higher cognitive workload and lower satisfaction with their performance. These findings suggest that designers need detailed assessments of users' knowledge of comparable technologies and proposed design features to mitigate performance differences in a diverse user population.