Are Bits and Bytes Better than Bingo? Seniors' Perceptions and Attitudes about Computers and the Internet

摘要

The seniors market, people 55 years of age or over, represents a growing proportion of our population, with increasing spending power. Seniors use computers and the Internet less than those in younger demographics (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2004). This research focuses on the attitudes, perceptions and the resulting technology adoption by seniors. Not all those using computers use the Internet and it was found that seniors' behavioural intentions to use the Internet are well explained via Technology Acceptance Model constructs of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. The results indicated two distinct groups of seniors, segregated by differing factors. Those seniors who are male, more affluent, younger and more educated are the most frequent users of the technology. Structural equation modeling determined that this behavioural intention is driven by their perceptions of the usefulness of the technology, rather than perceived ease of use. Seniors primarily use the Internet for e-mail.