Can Technology Motivate the Elderly to Live Independently? A Perspective Article

Technology-supported coaching in conjunction with a variety of persuasive methods can be considered of great potential in supporting the elderly independent living. One of the goals of persuasive technology is to promote and initiate behavioral change. Persuasive technology was initially defined by Fogg in the early 90s. Fogg defines persuasive technology as “the means by which the user’s attitude or behavior changes” (Fogg, 1998). Unlike campaigns that aim to change the attitude of a group of individuals, persuasive technology can be designed for specific individuals. Such technology intends to change the user’s behavior by introducing specific principles in human-computer interaction (Kaptein et al., 2012). Persuasive technology focuses on the final psychological outcome and whether the result has been positive (effective) or negative (no effect) (Ruer et al., 2016). Persuasive technology has transformed over the years. A decade ago, it was used primarily in commercials, advertising, marketing, and sales, and today, It forms a part of many ubiquitous technologies that individuals use daily (Fogg, 2003). However, there is a rather limited attempt to support the elderly’s independent living by using persuasive technologies to support independent living for the elderly.