Motivations and obstacles to smartphone use by the elderly: developing a research framework

Abstract

Smartphones are becoming the computing device of choice for many people. However, this change is not occurring evenly across the population. It appears to us that older people have just as much to gain from this technology, and possibly more, compared to younger people. We identified many potential motivations for smartphone use by the elderly, and also many obstacles. From this work we created a research framework which is the primary topic of this paper. A number of possible moderating variables were extrapolated as well. If seniors are going to benefit from mobile devices like the rest of the population, and if they are to become participants in the evolving world of m–commerce, mobile phones and services must pull seniors toward their use instead of driving them away. Only then will we be able to diminish the digital divide that exists between the young and the old, especially regarding smartphones.