Abstract

Numbers of older people are increasing and this will continue for several decades to come. With that, there are changes as we age that can affect or impact upon our travelling and transportation needs and behaviour. In addition, there is an almost universal problem that many of all ages people have low levels of computer literacy. Transport may well look very different in the future. Not only automated vehicles, but also new transportation systems, such as Mobility as a Service [MaaS] and the likely developments in public transport that incorporate real time travel information, facilities and ease of use information all mean that older people wishing to travel will necessarily have to engage with some forms of new technology. The new systems will need to be personalisable to individual travellers. This chapter considers the needs of older travellers and how new technology can meet some of those needs and what is necessary for it to be appropriate to, and usable by, older travellers.

Highlights

  • IntroductionThis chapter is in three main sections, plus a conclusion at the end

  • There are a number of considerations [such as ergonomic ones] in terms of the older traveller using new technology to aid their travel, and what the requirements are for that to work as well as possible

  • Older people can be slower to respond, can have reductions in working memory capacity and computing span, problems switching attention, decline in visual field; episodic and autobiographical memories decrease most and aids for retrieval are needed; there is difficulty in moving onto new topics as inhibitory mechanisms cling to previous topic; less attention focus especially when tasks increase in number; situation awareness is worse with age; slower navigation skills

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Summary

Introduction

This chapter is in three main sections, plus a conclusion at the end. The first section covers what happens as we get older, in terms of abilities, skills cognition, psychological and social changes and changes in technological ‘savvy’ or awareness. The second section looks at how changes in transport systems can be made much more useful and usable for older people; in addition the vision of the future that is MaaS in the UK is considered, especially for the older and more infirm category of older people. There are a number of considerations [such as ergonomic ones] in terms of the older traveller using new technology to aid their travel, and what the requirements are for that to work as well as possible

Getting older- what changes cognitively?
Cognitive age-related declines and gains
Distracters and slower processing
Other psychological mechanisms that decline
Age-impaired task performance
Summary of cognitive changes with age
Personality
Attitudes and change
Unwillingness to reduce driving and the role of affect
Risk taking and risk awareness
Some health issues can improve
Summary of non-cognitive changes
Age related factors
The digital divide
Summary of section
How can transport system changes benefit older people?
The needs of the older traveller
Design features that deter users
Features of good design
Inclusive design and Norman’s principles
Engaging older people with new technology
Intelligent mobility
Adapting technology to suit all users including the ‘not tech-savvy’
The role of ‘nudge’
Ergonomic design features
Some solutions are here now, if we choose to introduce them
Findings
Conclusions
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