Perception and Adoption of Mobile Accessibility Features by Older Adults Experiencing Ability Changes

To investigate how older adults perceive ability changes (e.g., sensory, physical, cognitive) and how attitudes toward those changes affect perception and adoption of built-in mobile accessibility features (such as those found on Apple iOS and Google Android smartphones and tablets), we conducted an interview study with 14 older adults and six of their family members. Accessibility features were difficult for participants to find and configure, which were issues compounded by a reluctance to use trial-and-error. At 4-6 weeks after the interview, however, some participants had adopted new accessibility features that we had showed them, suggesting a willingness to adopt once features are made visible. The older adults who did already use accessibility features had experienced a disability earlier in life, suggesting that those experiencing progressive ability changes later in life might not be as aware of accessibility features, or might not have the know-how to adapt technologies to their changing needs. Our findings provide support for creating technologies that can detect older adults' abilities and recommend or enact interface changes to match.