Further Research

Further Research

This graph shows why older people do not use the Internet and most of the reasons were similar to the findings we found in our questionnaire.

http://www.melbpc.org.au/pcupdate/2011/2011article5.htm =

Many people think of the Internet as a youth-oriented medium. This may have been so in the past, but consider this:In the 12 months to November 1999, the Internet was used in Australia by

73% of 18-24 year olds (up from 62% in the previous year)
56% of 25 to 39 year olds (up from 40% in the previous year)
44% of 40 to 54 year olds (up from 29% in the previous year)
16% of people aged 55 years and over (up from 7% in the previous year).

This makes people aged 55 years and older the fastest growing group of Internet users in Australia. Similar trends are reported from the United States and Canada. For many older people the Internet is opening up a whole new world, particularly for those who are housebound or who live a long way from family and friends - it removes barriers of time, distance and physical limitation.

Although a fast growing group, people over 55 years who use the Internet are still a minority. Potentially, there are barriers for seniors to access the Internet, and these include

• Cost - the cost of the equipment and online access are prohibitive to many older people on low incomes
  
• Lack of awareness - older people may not see any potential benefit for them in using the Internet and do not know of any Internet services that may be of interest or use to them;
  
• Lack of confidence - older people may be fearful of new technology in general and feel that it will be too difficult for them to use;
  lack of suitably designed equipment - older people are more likely to have physical disabilities and need access to equipment that is designed to take this into account.
  
• Outdated equipment - many older people are introduced to computers when their children or grandchildren buy new computers and give them their old 486. As a result, many older adults are working with outdated technology that may be even harder to use than more up-to-date equipment.
  
• Inappropriate training methods - instruction geared more towards younger people might not be carefully ordered and integrated. Different concepts may be presented concurrently, with the relationships between concepts and skills left to the learner to deduce. This sort of instruction requires the learner to keep many ideas in mind at once, one of the very abilities that tends to decline as people age. If new concepts are presented in a clear and logical order with the relationships explained at each transition, older people find it easier to learn.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/5146222.stm =

Just 28% of people over the age of 65 have home Internet access, compared to a UK average of 57% of households.

The research also found that more than half of all people over 65 voluntarily excluded themselves from Internet access because they see no benefit to the net.
However, more than two thirds of pensioners who are currently not connected said they would get online if they had the right support.


http://www.itnews.com.au/News/39795,older-people-would-use-internet-if-they-were-assisted.aspx =

Ofcom says two thirds of pensioners would go online given the opportunity.

Older people who miss out on critical online services because they do not use the Internet would get connected if they had back-up research reveals.Two-thirds of older people who initially rejected using the Internet said they would change their behavior if they had the right support, assistance and learning environment the Ofcom Consumer Panel’s ‘older people and communications technology' research shows.


http://www.ihealthbeat.org/features/2009/seniors-who-use-internet-could-reap-health-benefits-studies-show.aspx =

According to research released in October, spending time online reduces depression and increases cognitive brain function among senior citizens. A study conducted by Washington, D.C.-based Phoenix Center found that spending time online reduces depression by 20% for senior citizens.

Along with improvements in quality of life, researchers say reducing the incidence of depression by widespread Internet use among older Americans could help trim the nation's health care bill.