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In the research presented in this article, we sought to better understand how older adults learn to use mobile devices, their preferences and barriers, in order to find new ways to support them in their learning process. We conducted two complementary studies: a survey study with 131 respondents from three age groups (20--49, 50--64, 65+) and an in-depth field study with 6 older adults aged 50+. The results showed, among other things, that the preference for trial-and-error decreases with age, and while over half of older respondents and participants preferred using the instruction manual, many reported difficulties using it. We discuss implications for design and illustrate these implications with an example help system, Help Kiosk, designed to support older adults\u2019 learning to use mobile devices.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1145\/2399193.2399195","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2013,1,3]],"date-time":"2013-01-03T12:56:38Z","timestamp":1357217798000},"page":"1-33","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1145\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":138,"title":["How Older Adults Learn to Use Mobile Devices"],"prefix":"10.1145","volume":"4","author":[{"given":"Rock","family":"Leung","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"University of British Columbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Charlotte","family":"Tang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of British Columbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Shathel","family":"Haddad","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of British Columbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Joanna","family":"Mcgrenere","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of British Columbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Peter","family":"Graf","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of British Columbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Vilia","family":"Ingriany","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of British Columbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"320","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2012,12]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_2_1_1","unstructured":"Android Community. 2012. http:\/\/androidcommunity.com\/android-most-popular-among-first-time-buyers -in-q4-says-npd-20120206\/ (Last accessed 2\/12). Android Community. 2012. http:\/\/androidcommunity.com\/android-most-popular-among-first-time-buyers -in-q4-says-npd-20120206\/ (Last accessed 2\/12)."},{"key":"e_1_2_2_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/016502549301600213"},{"key":"e_1_2_2_3_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/014492997119716"},{"key":"e_1_2_2_4_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1207\/s15327051hci0302_2"},{"key":"e_1_2_2_5_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1145\/29933.275625"},{"key":"e_1_2_2_6_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s10209-006-0060-x"},{"key":"e_1_2_2_7_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/01449290601176948"},{"key":"e_1_2_2_8_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4017\/gt.2001.01.01.003.00"},{"key":"e_1_2_2_9_1","volume-title":"Online Help: Design and Evaluation","author":"Duffy T. M.","year":"1992","unstructured":"Duffy , T. M. , Palmer , J. E. , and Mehlenbacher , B . 1992 . Online Help: Design and Evaluation . 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