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Thursday 4 November 2010
Wednesday 3 November 2010
Age
How does Age affect the digital divide?
As the technology we see being used today has been developed in the last 40 years or so we see a huge divide between the older and younger generations. Those who were born before the development of personal computers and mobile phones may not have been able to afford such luxuries when they were new, and as prices have dropped they may have felt too out of touch and 'old' to become involved with all the new technology that may seem confusing and too advanced for those raised in simpler generations. However this affect on the generation of today is reversed; they are being brought up with such variety and comlexity of technology all around them that they see laptops, mobile phones and interactive whiteboards as normal without bearing in mind that their grandparents at their age had to use letters to communicate and wrote on chalkboards- the differences in the lifestyles of generations is phenomenal.
How does it affect Computers/Internet?
In 2006 in the UK just 28% of over 65s had Internet access at home compared to a general UK average of 57% and more than half of elderly people voluntarily exclude themselves from using the Internet as they don't believe it will benefit them in any way. However two thirds of pensioners without access in this survey admitted they would connect themselves to the internet if given the right support. These elderly folk are unknowingly excluding themselves from the endless online world of information and don't realise how many online and digital features there are available that could benefit their lives and make everyday tasks easier. For example supermarkets online, such as Tesco, provide home delivery for groceries that are bought via their online store; this would be of great help to eldery people who can't manage carrying all their bags on public transport or are unable to frequently get out of the house.
Today in schools children are frequently using computers or digital whiteboards to aid their learning process; the use of such technology helps kids to get a better depth of understanding about subjects as they can now see images and participate in lessons via interactive activites. However the older generation of today did not have this privilege during their schooling years and may not see the true value of what technology can help achieve in todays world, the children of this generation are at a much higher advantage than their grandparents as their access to information is available at the touch of a button, so they can learn anything they want to without restriction.
How does it affect mobile phones?
When mobile phones first became available to the public in the 1980s they were extremely large, heavy and cost an average of £3000. This was an extremely huge price tag for the time that it became available and ensured that only the rich and those who required constant communication (like those who worked in the stock market in London) bought and made use of them. However as popularity increased and demand from the general public to design similar devices of a more accessible size came in the late 1980s the generation that who are in the divide today may have believed they were too old for the mobile phone or that they did not need to invest in such a purchase when they had a perfectly adequate landline service at home. This attitude towards the development of new technology has caused the development of the digital divide due to age, as the young are reaping the benefits of mobile phones whilst the elderly are relying on the inventions of their youth.
In 2006 in was reported that over 70% of those aged over 70 in the UK has never owned or used a mobile phone compared to just 15% of all adults under 70. This large difference in mobile phone users shows the divide between age groups across the country. The senior generation however may not understand the benefits of the mobile phone and what it can provide; owning one can provide security and comfort when alone in the house or out on the streets at night, a constant source of access to help to family members or the emergency services in times of need and the ability to store contact numbers and information at the touch of a button. In America the situation is similar with around 66% of those over 55 owning a mobile devices compared to 94% of people in the 18-24 age bracket. However the poverty of a country can also affect these figures; in South Africa less than 1% of the users of mobile phones were over the age 65. People of that age living in developing countries would be extremely adverse to new technology due to spending their lives in simpler times without the need for any kind of technology to survive. However the low age rates in these countries could point towards the lack of elderly mobile phone users; if people are unlikely to live past their 50s then there will be very little data pointed towards over 65s using mobiles as there would be very few left.
However in developed countries like the UK and the US where the elderly have thousands of opportunities to begin to learn and use this technology, why are they choosing not to? The usual reasons used to explain the elderly's adversity to technology such as mobile phones is fear of the new features they would be exposed to- they feel that technology has become so advanced that they would not understand how to work the phone. Also, they may believe that each generation has it's own technology that makes it it's own and they may feel that mobiles, texting and mobile internet may be our generation's turn and they don't wish to become involve with something which is ahead of their time. However we need to think about not only how many people won't use mobiles, but how many can't. The mobile phones of today are becoming smaller, more advanced and often controlled by touch screen technology that is hard to activate especially for those who don't really understand how to utilize it properly. The elderly may suffer from sight problems that would make it hard for them to read the often small text used on phones and use the buttons that show what letters are on each number. Also, users that are hard of hearing would have trouble hearing their phone ringing and the voices from the other callers when on the phone.
What's being done to bridge the gap?
As the technology we see being used today has been developed in the last 40 years or so we see a huge divide between the older and younger generations. Those who were born before the development of personal computers and mobile phones may not have been able to afford such luxuries when they were new, and as prices have dropped they may have felt too out of touch and 'old' to become involved with all the new technology that may seem confusing and too advanced for those raised in simpler generations. However this affect on the generation of today is reversed; they are being brought up with such variety and comlexity of technology all around them that they see laptops, mobile phones and interactive whiteboards as normal without bearing in mind that their grandparents at their age had to use letters to communicate and wrote on chalkboards- the differences in the lifestyles of generations is phenomenal.
How does it affect Computers/Internet?
The first personal computers became popular in the 1990s worldwide as prices were slashed and computers were now available to people all over the world, and not just the richest. The majority of people that adjusted to this amazing advance in technology was the young and those who worked in fields that required frequent computer access, however this didn't apply to those who did not yet understand the importance of computers and how they would influence their life. This same generation of people are now the elderly of today; they have dismissed any technological advances in society as they do not believe it would help them or that it is the young's area of expertese. This attitude towards the phenominom that is the Internet and the computer has caused them to be out of touch with the millions of examples of information that can be extracted online and programmes which have made everyday tasks a lot easier over time. For example decades ago the quickest form of written communication would have been by sending a letter, however through the variety of email and online chat services, written information can be sent instantaneously across the world in seconds and communication can take place for free at a much faster rate than those 50 years ago would ever have imagined possible.
In 2006 in the UK just 28% of over 65s had Internet access at home compared to a general UK average of 57% and more than half of elderly people voluntarily exclude themselves from using the Internet as they don't believe it will benefit them in any way. However two thirds of pensioners without access in this survey admitted they would connect themselves to the internet if given the right support. These elderly folk are unknowingly excluding themselves from the endless online world of information and don't realise how many online and digital features there are available that could benefit their lives and make everyday tasks easier. For example supermarkets online, such as Tesco, provide home delivery for groceries that are bought via their online store; this would be of great help to eldery people who can't manage carrying all their bags on public transport or are unable to frequently get out of the house. 
There are many reported reasons of why the older generation shy away from newer technology and the most commonly stated one is fear- they are adverse to this newer technology that they do not understand and is effectively fear of the unknown. Due to this they are less willing to try and learn how to operate such technology and in their minds the cons outweigh the pros, making technology a scary concept that should be left well alone. Other sources argue that the older generation feel that new technology is beyond their time; they had inventions and their own forms of technology when they were young (such as radios and phones) and now this explosion of new technological advances is the young's turn to experience it.
What's being done to bridge the gap?
- SimplicITy- computers with a desktop desgined solely for older people to use; it creates simple buttons that allow users to be directed straight to services such as chat and email. It's purpose is to give first time computer users an easy path to getting them familiar with the functions of the Internet. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8352606.stm
- Maxitech- this computer recycling company teamed up with Age Concern to an agreement which allows the company to provide the elderly with wiped computers. This scheme is available for those living in London.
- Senior.net- an online site full of tutorials and helpful hints for first time elderly computer/Internet users. It teaches them how to use features such as font size and search bars to enable them to experience the best surfing experience.
- Eons- A social networking site designed specifically for seniors and allows them to meet others, chat and exhchange information.
- Free computer training has been set up by many councils around the UK sending out volunteers to aid seniors in grasping the basic understanding of a computer system.
How does it affect mobile phones?
When mobile phones first became available to the public in the 1980s they were extremely large, heavy and cost an average of £3000. This was an extremely huge price tag for the time that it became available and ensured that only the rich and those who required constant communication (like those who worked in the stock market in London) bought and made use of them. However as popularity increased and demand from the general public to design similar devices of a more accessible size came in the late 1980s the generation that who are in the divide today may have believed they were too old for the mobile phone or that they did not need to invest in such a purchase when they had a perfectly adequate landline service at home. This attitude towards the development of new technology has caused the development of the digital divide due to age, as the young are reaping the benefits of mobile phones whilst the elderly are relying on the inventions of their youth.
What's being done to bridge the gap?
- There are hundreds of types of mobiles around the world that are designed solely for the older generation; in particular the Mobtwo Elderly which has one of the most basic interfaces of all phones. It is perfect for the older user with extremely large buttons to make viewing easy and the most basic of all screens which displays only what is needed to see. However the most useful feature on this device is the 'SOS button' on the back of the phone. This button, when pressed, can call an emergency number stored by the phone automatically (or a series of numbers that are dialled until someone picks up on any). However you can also programme the phone to call 999 in an emergency by holding down the button which could be life saving to people with health problems or conditions that could be fatal.
- Clarity Phones- This mobile phone designed for the elderly features large buttons and font size, loud ringtones (louder than a pneumatic drill) and easy to use menu options. This completely simplified version of a phone is perfect for elderly first time users and provides the bare minimum, which is all that elderly people want on their phone. It has an extremely basic face to make utilizing it easier and make it seems less daunting to the user.
The current Situation
Currently, despite efforts to get older users more involved in using mobile phones, there is unfortunately still a divide between the over 65s and the younger generations in the world today. In the Western World 61% of our senior members have not used or owned a mobile phones however a promising 28% of those who haven't plan to try one in the future due to advances made in accommodating the old to mobiles. However in developing countries the picture is much more severe, more than 85% of over 65s in these nations have not used or owned a mobile phone and only 2% plan to in the future. However these figures may be affected by the lower life expectancy in these countries and data for over 65s may be affected as there would be a lower population percentage in developing rather than developed countries. This proves that all three of my points link together, as older men are also more likely to use a mobile phone.
Throughout the UK roughly a third of the older generation have used or own a mobile phone and the numbers are rising steadily each year proving that efforts to bridge the divide are working and that people affected are becoming more inclined to try this new technology and less intimidated by the complexity of it all. There are also new contracts available when buying speciality phones that offer mostly minutes to use as there is a 84:16 ratio of elderly users favouring calling to texting; these extra minutes will benefit users who would not want to waste money paying for texts that they would not use. These contracts are often offered for often £10 or less a month due to the simplicity of them and can be easily afforded by those even on pensions.
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