ArticleJMIR mHealth and uHealth2021
Exploring How Older Adults Use a Smart Speaker-Based Voice Assistant in Their First Interactions: Qualitative Study.
Article in JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 37 papers.
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Who cites it
37 citing papers in PubMed.
- Motivations, Barriers, and the Potential of AI in Physical Activity Apps for US Older Adults: Interview Study.JMIR aging · 2026Article
- An Internet of Things-Based Audio and Radio Connected System Supporting Older Adults With Physical and Cognitive Health Challenges: Qualitative Stakeholder-Informed Design Study.JMIR formative research · 2026Article
- Factors influencing older adults' intention to use social chatbots: examining technology acceptance, anthropomorphism, authenticity, and artificial intelligence social interaction.Innovation in aging · 2026Article
- Integrating a Large Language Model Into a Socially Assistive Robot in a Hospital Geriatric Unit: Two-Wave Comparative Study on Performance, Engagement, and User Perceptions.JMIR human factors · 2025Article
- Smart Speakers for Health and Well-Being of Older Adults: A Mixed-Methods Review.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- How Older Adults with Chronic Conditions Perceive Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Based Virtual Humans: A Q Methodology Approach.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- "No, not that voice again!": Engaging Older Adults in Design of Anthropomorphic Voice Assistants.Proceedings of the ACM on human-computer interaction · 2025Article
- Review
- Understanding entangled human-technology-world relations: use of intelligent voice assistants by older adults.Information research · 2025Article
- Voice Assistants for Mental Health Services: Designing Dialogues with Homebound Older Adults.DIS. Designing Interactive Systems (Conference) · 2024Article
- From Command to Care: A Scoping Review on Utilization of Smart Speakers by Patients and Providers.Mayo Clinic proceedings. Digital health · 2024Review
- Investigating the Integration and the Long-Term Use of Smart Speakers in Older Adults' Daily Practices: Qualitative Study.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2024Article
- The Impact of Interaction Time and Verbal Engagement with Personal Voice Assistants on Alleviating Loneliness among Older Adults: An Exploratory Study.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2024Article
- Factors influencing older adults' acceptance of voice assistants.Frontiers in psychology · 2024Article
- Understanding older people's voice interactions with smart voice assistants: a new modified rule-based natural language processing model with human input.Frontiers in digital health · 2024Article
- mHealth Technology Experiences of Middle-Aged and Older Individuals With Visual Impairments: Cross-Sectional Interview Study.JMIR formative research · 2023Article
- Article
- Screen or No Screen? Lessons Learnt from a Real-World Deployment Study of Using Voice Assistants With and Without Touchscreen for Older Adults.ASSETS. Annual ACM Conference on Assistive Technologies · 2023Article
- Use of Digital Technologies to Maintain Older Adults' Social Ties During Visitation Restrictions in Long-Term Care Facilities: Scoping Review.JMIR aging · 2023Article
- Voice Over Body? Older Adults' Reactions to Robot and Voice Assistant Facilitators of Group Conversation.International journal of social robotics · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
1 author.
Funding
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Abstract
backgroundSmart speaker-based voice assistants promise support for the aging population, with the advantages of hands-free and eyes-free interaction modalities to handle requests. However, little is known about how older adults perceive the benefits of this type of device.
objectiveThis study investigates how older adults experience and respond to a voice assistant when they first interact with it. Because first impressions act as strong predictors of the overall attitude and acceptability of new technologies, it is important to understand the user experiences of first exposure.
methodsWe conducted semistructured interviews with 18 people 74 years and older who had never used a smart speaker before, investigating the patterns of use, usability issues, and perspectives that older adults have when using a voice assistant for the first time.
resultsThe overall first response to a voice assistant was positive, thanks to the simplicity of a speech-based interaction. In particular, a positive and polite response to complete the interaction with a voice assistant was prevalent, such as expressing gratitude or giving feedback about the quality of answers. Two predominant topics of commands made in the first interaction include asking health care-related questions and streaming music. However, most of the follow-up reactions were unfavorable because of the difficulty in constructing a structured sentence for a command; misperceptions about how a voice assistant operates; and concerns about privacy, security, and financial burdens. Overall, a speech-based interaction was perceived to be beneficial owing to its efficiency and convenience, but no other benefits were perceived.
conclusionsOn the basis of the findings, we discuss design implications that can positively influence older adults' first experiences with a voice assistant, including helping better understand how a voice assistant works, incorporating mistakes and common interaction patterns into its design, and providing features tailored to the needs of older adults.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.