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Training Older Adults To Use New Technology

School of Psychology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta.

Address correspondence to Jamye M. Hickman, School of Psychology, Georgia Institute of Technology, 654 Cherry St., Atlanta, GA 30332-0170. E-mail: jamye{at}gatech.edu

Enabling older adults to interact with new technologies is an important immediate and long-term goal for training research. The literature provides general guidance for developing training programs; however, it is important to determine the type of training that works best for younger and older adults, for immediate performance, and for learning. In the present study we assessed the relative benefits of guided action training and guided attention training for younger and older adults learning to use a novel technology system. Guided action training yielded better performance during training for both age groups. However, assessments of learning revealed a clear benefit of guided attention training for both age groups. These data suggest differences in training benefits for immediate performance versus more general learning.

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