JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

As smart speakers become more popular, there has been an increasing number of studies on how smart speakers may benefit older adults or how older adults perceive smart speakers. Despite the increasing ownership rates of smart speakers among older adults, studies that examine the integration and the long-term use of smart speakers in older adults’ daily practices are scarce.

Objective:

This study aims to uncover the integration of smart speakers into the daily practices of older adults over the long term, contributing to an in-depth understanding of the sustained technology use among this demographic.

Methods:

To achieve these objectives, the study interviewed 20 older adults who have been using smart speakers for over 6 months. These semi-structured interviews enabled participants to share their insights and experiences regarding the sustained use of smart speakers in the long term.

Results:

Four dimensions of the long-term use of smart speakers among older adults were identified, including functional integration, spatial integration, cognitive integration, and semantic integration. For the functional integration of smart speakers, the study reported different use genres, including entertainment, information collection, medication reminders, companionship, environment modification, as well as emergency calls. For the spatial integration of smart speakers, the study showed older adults’ agency in defining, changing, and reshaping daily practices through the spatial organization of smart speakers. For the cognitive integration of smart speakers, the findings showed the cognitive processes involved in adapting to and incorporating smart speakers into daily habits and routines. For the semantic integration of smart speakers, the findings revealed older adults’ enjoyable user experience and strong bonds with the device contribute to their acceptance of occasional functional errors. Finally, the study proposed several suggestions for designers and developers to better design smart speakers that promote sustainable usage behaviors among older adults.

Conclusions:

On the basis of the findings, this study highlighted the importance of understanding how older adults use smart speakers and the practices through which they integrate them into their daily routines. The findings suggest that smart speakers can provide significant benefits for older adults, including increased convenience and improved quality of life. However, to promote sustainable usage behaviors, designers and developers should consider more about the technology use contexts and the specific needs and preferences of older adults when designing these devices.