title: Preferences for technology versus human assistance and control over technology in the performance of kitchen and personal care tasks in baby boomers and older adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Quality of Life technology (QoLT) stresses humans and technology as mutually dependent and aware, working together to improve task performance and quality of life. This study examines preferences for technology versus human assistance and control in the context of QoLT.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data are from a nationally representative, cross-sectional web-based sample of 416 US baby boomers (45-64) and 114 older adults (65+) on preferences for technology versus human assistance and control in the performance of kitchen and personal care tasks. Multinomial logistic regression and ordinary least squares regression were used to determine predictors of these preferences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Respondents were generally accepting of technology assistance but wanted to maintain control over its' operation. Baby boomers were more likely to prefer technology than older adults, and those with fewer QoLT privacy concerns and who thought they were more likely to need future help were more likely to prefer technology over human assistance and more willing to relinquish control to technology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest the need for design of person- and context-aware QoLT systems that are responsive to user desires for level of control over operation of the technology. The predictors of these preferences suggest potentially receptive markets for the targeting of QoLT systems.
authors.affiliation: Center for Social and Urban Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh , PA , USA .
authors.forename: Scott R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Beach
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.forename: Judith T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Courtney
authors.forename: Annette DeVito
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Dabbs
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001292:Attitude to Computers; D017028:Caregivers; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057240:Patient Preference; D011788:Quality of Life; D012648:Self Care / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012656:Self-Help Devices; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Survey methods; technology acceptance