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Mobile phone adoption : optimising value for older adults in a developing country

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dc.contributor.author Van Biljon, Judy
dc.contributor.author Van Dyk, Tobie
dc.contributor.author Gelderblom, Helene
dc.date.accessioned 2012-02-13T12:24:58Z
dc.date.available 2012-02-13T12:24:58Z
dc.date.issued 2010-11
dc.identifier.citation IDIA2010 Conference, Cape Town, South Africa 3-5 November 2010 en
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/10500/5396
dc.description IDIA 2010 Conference, Cape Town, South Africa 3-5 November 2010.
dc.description.abstract Mobile phones in South Africa have enjoyed an unprecedented technology adoption rate due to their accessibility and usefulness. This prolific adoption of mobile phones diverts attention from their limitations which include small displays, restricted input and output facilities, and poor sound quality. The effects of aging, such as failing vision, impaired hearing, loss of memory and manual dexterity intensify mobile phone restrictions leading to further marginalisation of the elderly. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the suitability of the mobile phones available for older adult users in the South African context with special attention to the issues of developing communities. The findings indicate that most of the mobile phones available do not address the limitations of aging, even phones designed for the elderly do not meet many of the needs and expectations of older adult users. The situation is exacerbated by the finding that many older people do not choose their own mobile phone while salespeople and the relatives who select the phones for them are not knowledgeable about their needs. In response we propose a mobile technology adoption checklist that could inform the design and selection of mobile phones for the elderly. Given the socio-economic context of South Africa as a developing country, many older people do not have the luxury of selecting a new phone. They use a phone passed on from younger relatives and there the issue of training becomes relevant. This paper makes a theoretical contribution in verifying our findings against the literature on technology adoption for the elderly and highlighting the case for developing countries. From a practical perspective, researchers as well as organizations that design and market mobile phones for the elderly stand to benefit from the checklist for mobile phone selection. en
dc.language.iso en en
dc.subject Mobile phone adoption en
dc.subject Older adults en
dc.subject Developing country en
dc.subject Checklist en
dc.subject Elderly en
dc.subject Mobile phone selection en
dc.title Mobile phone adoption : optimising value for older adults in a developing country en
dc.type Article en


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