Enhancing the sense of power and user adoption in gerontechnology: an experimental investigation of near-field communication lighting systems

Using the notion of power and the technology acceptance model as theoretical lenses, this study investigates the feasibility of developing gerontechnologies that are easy to use as well as useful in enhancing the sense of power among older adults, and in fostering greater intentions to use and recommend these technologies. Through the method of experimentation and multiple rigorous statistical analyses, this study exposes a sample of older adults to a near-field communication (NFC)-enabled gerontechnology in the form of an NFC lighting system (NLS) and examines their ease-of-use and usefulness evaluations of NLS, along with the subsequent impacts of these evaluations on their sense of power and intentions to use and recommend NLS. Findings suggest that gerontechnology that is easy to use and useful enhances the sense of power among older adults. More importantly, the study finds that by having a greater sense of power, older adults will have a higher tendency to use gerontechnology as well as recommend the use of gerontechnology to others. These findings should help gerontechnologists to develop a better understanding of the behavioral and psychological aspects of older adults when using new technologies, and thus develop and promote gerontechnology in ways that encourage greater acceptance among consumers in the ageing population.