Aging Users are Still Users Today’s tech-savvy boomers will remain comfortable with technology as they age, though they may need different interfaces. They need help with evaluating technical resources, but they will continue to adapt, tailor, configure, and program those resources. They need assistants, not supervisors. Mary Shaw Carnegie Mellon University

The Elderly are Increasingly Wired Demographics of US internet users Demographics of US internet users 71% of all adults use the internet 71% of all adults use the internet 65% of ages use the internet 65% of ages use the internet 32% of ages 65+ use the internet 32% of ages 65+ use the internet “Wired seniors” are fastest-growing demographic “Wired seniors” are fastest-growing demographic Most of growth is long-time internet users aging past 65 Most of growth is long-time internet users aging past 65 Older internet users take fewer chances, but also fewer precautions Older internet users take fewer chances, but also fewer precautions This is true of offline information (e.g., identity) as well This is true of offline information (e.g., identity) as well Pew Internet & American Life Project, 2006, 2007

Adults with Disabilities are Online Adults living with a disability or chronic disease are less likely than others to go online, but once online, are avid health consumers. About a fifth of American adults say that a disability, handicap, or chronic disease keeps them from participating fully in work, school, housework, or other activities. Half (51%) of those with a disability go online, compared to 74% of those who report no chronic conditions. Fully 86% of internet users with a disability have looked online for health information. These searches affect treatment decisions, interactions with doctors, ability to cope, and dieting and fitness regimen. Pew Internet & American Life Project, 2007

Implications for Assisted Living Systems Clients of current research will include people who are technically savvy, and their normal activities will involve computers and electronics Clients of current research will include people who are technically savvy, and their normal activities will involve computers and electronics Design of assisted living systems should reflect this Design of assisted living systems should reflect this They should certainly serve non-technology users They should certainly serve non-technology users But they should also integrate well with the lives of active technology users But they should also integrate well with the lives of active technology users Issues: Issues: Interfaces that compensate for disability Interfaces that compensate for disability Ways to help elders decide which online resources to trust Ways to help elders decide which online resources to trust Systems that allow user participation, tailoring, integration Systems that allow user participation, tailoring, integration

Evaluating Online Resources Older internet users take fewer chances, but also fewer precautions – both online and offline Older internet users take fewer chances, but also fewer precautions – both online and offline Whatage 45-54age 65+ Review credit card statements84%69% Review credit report41%19% Refuse financial offers in mail32%22% Whatage 45-54age 65+ Review credit card statements84%69% Review credit report41%19% Refuse financial offers in mail32%22% Americans are twice as vulnerable as 65+ to identity fraud, but younger people more likely to protect themselves Americans are twice as vulnerable as 65+ to identity fraud, but younger people more likely to protect themselves Most patients do not check source and date of online health information (14% always, 18% mostly) Most patients do not check source and date of online health information (14% always, 18% mostly) More transparency about credibility of sources is desirable More transparency about credibility of sources is desirable Pew Internet & American Life Project, 2006, 2007

User Participation Technically savvy users often have strong preferences about choices, tailoring and configuration Technically savvy users often have strong preferences about choices, tailoring and configuration Increasingly, these users have online social networks that form an integral part of their normal activity Increasingly, these users have online social networks that form an integral part of their normal activity Pew project identifies an opportunity for online health information search to be part of a “coached care” system to help people get the most from their health care Pew project identifies an opportunity for online health information search to be part of a “coached care” system to help people get the most from their health care Need ways for users to evaluate online resources based on low-ceremony evidence Need ways for users to evaluate online resources based on low-ceremony evidence

High Ceremony Evidence Widely accepted among computer scientists Widely accepted among computer scientists Potentially high levels of assurance Potentially high levels of assurance Need precise specifications, substantial effort Need precise specifications, substantial effort The Academic Big Four – the “gold standard” The Academic Big Four – the “gold standard” Formal verification Formal verification Results from trusted automatic generator Results from trusted automatic generator Systematic testing Systematic testing Empirical studies in operation Empirical studies in operation And also, for example, And also, for example, Inspections Inspections Assurance cases, other sound certification Assurance cases, other sound certification

Low Ceremony Evidence Widely available information, used informally Widely available information, used informally Largely ignored by professional computer scientists Largely ignored by professional computer scientists Not suitable for high assurance, but inexpensive Not suitable for high assurance, but inexpensive Examples Examples “best X” reports (linear functions of subjective marks) “best X” reports (linear functions of subjective marks) editorial reviews, subjective certification editorial reviews, subjective certification advertising claims by vendors advertising claims by vendors 3rd party reviews of vendors and products by users 3rd party reviews of vendors and products by users recommendations by co-workers, popularity recommendations by co-workers, popularity auction and betting mechanisms, “wisdom of crowds”, auction and betting mechanisms, “wisdom of crowds”, branding, seller reputation branding, seller reputation checklists checklists

There are lots of end users C. Scaffidi, M. Shaw, and B. Myers. Estimating the Numbers of End Users and End User Programmers. VL/HCC'05: Proc 2005 IEEE Symposium on Visual Languages and Human-Centric Computing, pp , Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, we estimate that over 90M Americans will use computers at work in 2012 (out of a work force of 165M). Of these, only about 2.5M will be professional programmers; 40.5M will be managers and (non-software) professionals. This does not include home users or non-US users, so there will be many more than 90M total end users. Most of them will “program” in some way.

They are not all alike C. Scaffidi, Andrew Ko, B. Myers, and M. Shaw. Dimensions Characterizing Programming Feature Usage by Information Workers. VL/HCC'06: Proc2006 IEEE Symposium on Visual Languages and Human-Centric Computing, pp , Analysis of web-based survey of Information Week readers

Their skills differ, even within clusters “Programming” can mean anything from editing spam filters to writing complex code “Programming” can mean anything from editing spam filters to writing complex code Editing single photos vs complex scripted photo workflows Editing single photos vs complex scripted photo workflows Spreadsheet for your bank balance vs accounting for your social organization Spreadsheet for your bank balance vs accounting for your social organization Blogging vs regular e-newsletter with podcast vs maintaining web site for an interest group vs mashups Blogging vs regular e-newsletter with podcast vs maintaining web site for an interest group vs mashups Simple searches vs MedLine searches vs meta-analysis Simple searches vs MedLine searches vs meta-analysis Instead of making a sharp distinction about where “programming” starts, find a way to classify levels of sophistication – e.g., similar to Bloom taxonomy Instead of making a sharp distinction about where “programming” starts, find a way to classify levels of sophistication – e.g., similar to Bloom taxonomy

Pat and Lou Pat is diabetic Pat has an exercise buddy, Lou They want a web tool that will help them plan outdoor exercise, enjoy it, track Pat’s diet and exercise, and get individualized professional advice

Everyday Dependability Yes, also needs axis for rate of exposure Appliances

Provide Assistants, not Supervisors Tech-savvy boomers will remain comfortable with technology as they age Tech-savvy boomers will remain comfortable with technology as they age Not just “age in place”, but “age in milieu” Not just “age in place”, but “age in milieu” Not just internet, but cell phones, cameras, entertainment Not just internet, but cell phones, cameras, entertainment They need help with evaluating technical resources, but they will continue to adapt, tailor, configure, and program those resources. They need help with evaluating technical resources, but they will continue to adapt, tailor, configure, and program those resources. Don’t just design technolgies to deliver to them Don’t just design technolgies to deliver to them Instead, recognize their involvement and ability and allow [but don’t require] them to engage, select, tailor, and configure their assisted living systems Instead, recognize their involvement and ability and allow [but don’t require] them to engage, select, tailor, and configure their assisted living systems Aim for integrated, non-distracting, not for invisible Aim for integrated, non-distracting, not for invisible

Sources comScore Press Release, More than Half of MySpace Visitors are Now Age 35 or Older, as the Site’s Demographic Composition Continues to Shift, Oct Forrester Research, Charlene Li, Big Brands & Facebook: Demographics, Case Studies & Best Practices, presentation dated October 8, 2007, found at strategyblog.com/2007/10/facebook-demogr.html, slide 8 strategyblog.com/2007/10/facebook-demogr.htmlhttp:// strategyblog.com/2007/10/facebook-demogr.html Pew Internet & American Life Project, A Typology of Information and Communication Technology Users, May Pew Internet & American Life Project, Are "Wired Seniors" Sitting Ducks?, Apr Pew Internet & American Life Project, E-patients With a Disability or Chronic Disease, Oct Pew Internet & American Life Project, Generations Online, Jan C. Scaffidi, M. Shaw, and B. Myers. Estimating the Numbers of End Users and End User Programmers. VL/HCC'05: Proc 2005 IEEE Symposium on Visual Languages and Human-Centric Computing, pp , C. Scaffidi, Andrew Ko, B. Myers, and M. Shaw. Dimensions Characterizing Programming Feature Usage by Information Workers. VL/HCC'06: Proc2006 IEEE Symposium on Visual Languages and Human-Centric Computing, pp , 2006.

Supplemental slide referred to in discussion follows Supplemental slide referred to in discussion follows

Social Networking Sites are Aging As a % of distinct visitors, persons 55+ account for As a % of distinct visitors, persons 55+ account for 18% total Internet 18% total Internet 11% MySpace (up from 7% in previous year) 11% MySpace (up from 7% in previous year) 7.6% Facebook 7.6% Facebook Facebook users have “aged” from Facebook users have “aged” from Users 35+ up from 36% in 2006 to 45% in 2007 Users 35+ up from 36% in 2006 to 45% in 2007 “There is a misconception that social networking is the exclusive domain of teenagers, but … the appeal of social networking sites is far broader” “There is a misconception that social networking is the exclusive domain of teenagers, but … the appeal of social networking sites is far broader” comScore, 2006 and Forrester Research 2007