Technology adoption among older adults has increased significantly in recent years. Yet, as new technologies proliferate and the demographics of aging shift, continued attention to older adults’ adoption priorities and learning preferences is required. Through semi-structured interviews, we examine the factors adults 65+ prioritize in choosing new technologies, the challenges they encounter in learning to use them, and the human and material resources they employ to support these efforts. Using a video prototype as a design probe, we present scenarios to explore older adults’ perceptions of adoption and learning new technologies within the lens of health management support, a relevant and beneficial context for older adults. Our results reveal that participants appreciated self-paced learning, remote support, and flexible learning methods, and were less reliant on instruction manuals than in the past. This work provides insight into older adults’ evolving challenges, learning needs, and design opportunities for next generation learning support.

A rapid proliferation of specialized consumer tech gadgets (e.g., Fitbits) demands attention to the challenges that individuals face in learning to use them. Help Kiosk (HK) was initially conceived to support older adults in independently learning to use a smartphone, but it was only ever examined for this one context. Its design also required users to divide their attention between different areas of an augmented display and their smartphone. We introduce HK 2.0, which leverages a 40" tabletop display to integrate support into one visual space, while also supporting older adults in learning how to use multiple smart devices that must be configured to work together (e.g., a smartwatch synched to a tablet). Our new system also builds on the self-directed learning environment of the initial HK by introducing a collaborative learning feature to provide remote support by family and friends. We share the design of HK 2.0, including design requirements, features, and learning topics.