Age and Technology Readiness Influences on Adults’ Experiences with Highly Automated Vehicles
Year: 2023
Type: article
Abstract: Adults’ access to transportation may improve after the deployment of highly autonomous vehicles (HAVs). However, the public is hesitant to accept and adopt HAVs. Previous research indicates that older adults’ Intention to Use HAVs increases after exposure to HAVs. This study investigated the influence of adults’ (N=210) age (younger [18-29], middle-aged [30-64], young-old [65-74], and older [>75 years old]) and readiness to use technology on their Intention to Use, Perceived Barriers, Well-being, and Acceptance of HAVs before and after riding in an autonomous shuttle and a driving simulator operating in autonomous mode (i.e., modes of HAVs). The Automated Vehicle User Perception Survey (AVUPS) quantified adults’ perceptions (e.g., Perceived Barriers) of HAVs; and the Technology Readiness Index 2.0 measured adults’ propensity to adopt technology, and categorized adults into technology readiness classifications (Hesitators, Avoiders, Explorers, Skeptics, or Pioneers). Two-way mixed ANOVAs were deployed to assess changes between groups in AVUPS domain scores after exposure to the HAVs. Prior to HAV exposure, both young-old and older adults reported fewer Perceived Barriers to adopting HAVs and higher Well-being and Acceptance of HAVs compared to the middle-aged group. When controlling for baseline differences, Well-being increased after exposure to HAVs for young-old adults compared to both middle-aged and younger adults. Both young-old and older adults reported greater Intention to Use compared to middle-aged adults. Regardless of age or technology readiness, adults’ Intention to Use HAVs increased after experiencing the HAVs. Explorers displayed favorable perceptions (i.e., AVUPS domain scores) of HAVs whereas Hesitators reported lower Intention to Use and Acceptance of HAVs and more Perceived Barriers to adopting HAVs. The three other technology readiness classifications, Skeptics, Pioneers, and Avoiders, held relatively similar views of HAVs before and after exposure to both modes of HAVs. The paper further details differences in adults’ perceptions of HAVs based on their technology readiness classification. General beliefs about technology may inform automakers, autonomous mobility companies, human factors engineers, and driving rehabilitation scientists of adults’ willingness to embrace emerging technology, especially when widespread exposure to the technology is not yet a reality.
Institutions: University of Florida, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4315795531