“Silver” Technology Acceptance Model: A First Research Framework

The chapter provides a first contribution to the full understanding of the factors that influence technology adoption, particularly where they differ from the factors that have proved to be important in predicting the acceptance of technologies by younger generations. Furthermore, it aims to reveal cultural differences and similarities in older people’s ICT adoption and use. The following research questions are addressed: RQ1: what is the role of individual external variables (age, education, family status, occupation, income, health status, concerns) in shaping senior citizens’ attitudes towards technology? RQ2: what is the role of social norms in shaping senior citizens’ attitudes towards technology? RQ3: to what extent the perception of usefulness and the perception of ease of use affect senior citizens’ attitudes towards technology? RQ4: to what extent the actual level of use impacts on the perception of usefulness and the perception of ease of use?