Understanding the Technology Adoption of Chinese Older Adults using Smartphone Cameras during COVID-19 and beyond /

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chinese government has taken smartphone-based approaches to track the movements of all citizens, and this tactic has entailed challenges for older adults who are less familiar with ICT technology. However, limited research has been conducted on how their lives in the post-pandemic era have been changed by the hard learning process of technology. Our study used semi-structured interview methods with older adults over 60 (n= 37) and community workers (n= 4) to investigate older adults' technology adoption changes during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings reveal that external needs made older adults more passive in learning technology for surviving but also brought opportunities for active learning for them to enjoy life. By exploring these shifts, we provide insights into the challenges that have yet to be optimized as well as the design implications of accessibility toward smartphone-based technology.

Keywords: technology adoption, accessibility, older adults, smartphone camera, interview