Extension to the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM): For Elderly

Abstract

This research was aimed at the use of technology by elderly, due to the national and global increase in this population sector, which has its own characteristics, since it is considered care for the elderly, a global trend. For this reason, this article presents an extension of the TAM (Technology Acceptance Model), which is one of the most used models and has proven to be effective, to predict the use of any technology and in this case, providing a perspective focused on the older adult and in this new extension, external variables are integrated, establishing the relationship between the proposed variables and the variables of the original TAM model. A questionnaire was used as instrument with 26 questions that evaluate the 8 proposed constructs 4 of the proposed external variables and 4 of the original model and two questionnaires proposed by the World Health Organization that evaluates the Basic Activities of Daily Living (ABVD) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL), these instruments were applied to 146 older adults. Due to the lack of response from INAPAM (Instituto Nacional de las Personas Adultas Mayores, National Institute of Older Adults), the surveys were applied in parks and neighborhoods where older adults attend. With the results obtained, it was possible to demonstrate the validity, robustness and consistency of the extension of the original TAM model to assess the acceptance of Information and Communication Technologies by older adults.

Keywords

• information and communication technologies
• tam
• model
• extension
• elderly