Diagnosing homo digitalis: towards a standardized assessment for digital tool competencies

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Digital devices are ubiquitous, yet practical assessments for digital tool competencies are lacking.
• Older adults and neurological patients may face challenges with digital tools, particularly those with apraxia.
• Existing assessments do not adequately capture the nuances of smartphone and tablet interaction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate the "Digital Tools Test" (DIGI) for assessing proficiency with common smartphone and tablet functions.
• To explore the performance differences in digital tool use between younger and older adults.
• To investigate potential correlations between digital tool use and the ability to handle novel and familiar mechanical tools.

Main Methods:

• The DIGI assessment was developed to evaluate application selection, in-app navigation, and precise movement execution (e.g., swiping).
• The study involved 16 healthy young adults (18-28 years) and 16 healthy older adults (60-74 years).
• Participants completed the DIGI assessment, alongside tests of novel and familiar mechanical tool use.

Main Results:

• A significant performance gap was observed, with older adults demonstrating lower proficiency on the DIGI.
• For older adults, DIGI performance correlated with their ability to use novel mechanical tools, but not familiar ones.
• No such correlation was found for the younger adult group.

Conclusions:

• The DIGI is an innovative assessment tool for digital tool competencies with good acceptance and preliminary evidence of group differences.
• The findings suggest that the ability to use novel tools may support digital tool use in older adults.
• Further validation in larger, diverse samples is needed to advance digital competency assessments and rehabilitation strategies for societal inclusion.