VUI Influencers: How the Media Portrays Voice User Interfaces for Older Adults

Abstract

Voice User Interfaces (VUIs) such as smart speakers hold promise for older adults (OAs) in terms of usability and convenience. However, their adoption and the extent of their benefits to OAs may be influenced by mass media, as this is a primary source of technology education for OAs. Thus, we aim to obtain a better understanding of how VUIs’ value and utility for OAs are portrayed in the media. We conducted a systematic review and thematic analysis of articles published in ten popular digital news outlets that focus on VUIs and older adults. The analysis reveals several design and engineering factors that are portrayed in media as being relevant or encouraging to older adults’ adoption of VUIs. Given the media s influence of the consumer adoption of new technologies, this analysis brings to light several sociotechnical aspects that are dominant threads within the media discourse related to VUIs. Through this, we suggest areas of focus for the research and design of VUIs that account for these influencing factors.