Poor continuity to the future self is associated with reduced acceptance of camera- based active and assisted living technologies among older adults

Abstract

Camera-based active and assisted living (AAL) technologies are potentially transformative for ageing populations but are hardly accepted by older adults.1 While sociodemographic and utilitarian influences on acceptance are well-established,2 psychological antecedents remain understudied. One plausible psychological reason underpinning older adults’ poor acceptance of camera-based AAL technologies an inability to identify with their future selves. Specifically, to the extent that the the costs of using the technology (e.g., privacy violations) are relatively immediate whilst the associated benefits (e.g., improved wellbeing) are largely deferred into the future, older adults who have little psychological continuity to their future selves3 may be relatively unwilling to accept these technologies today.