Assessing Older Adults' Perspectives on Digital Game-Related Strategies to Foster Active and Healthy Ageing

The growing use of digital platforms among older adults has brought increased challenges to the design and development process, thus requiring considering age-related needs and changes. Nonetheless, a growing body of research suggests that different types of applications of digital platforms, i.e., digital games, can foster new opportunities to encourage active and healthy ageing (AHA) by promoting knowledge acquisition, developing competences, fostering well-being, and deepening social connections. Therefore, this study aims to assess older adults’ perspectives and participation in digital game-related strategies and how these can foster AHA. A mixed-methods approach was applied, resorting to field notes and a questionnaire, involving 18 participants aged between 63 and 81, at the Ageing Lab (Laboratório do Envelhecimento). Through 10 exploratory digital gaming-related sessions over approximately two months, participants were introduced to game-related strategies and online communities. Overall, this study sustained previous research about the influence of digital games and online communities in the promotion of AHA, by encouraging participation in society, acquisition of new digital competences in the dimensions of information and data literacy, communication and collaboration, and safety; and maintaining one’s health and well-being. Moreover, findings suggest that continued contact with information and communication technologies stimulates digital proficiency, thus further fostering inclusion in an increasingly digital society

Age and technology in digital inclusion policy:A study of Italy and the UK

The role of media and communication technologies in increasing the quality of life of the elderly is today a key topic in academic and policy debates. This article discusses findings from a study into the way public policy frames the role of technologies in later life. The aim of our study was to critically investigate the policy discourses on ‘old age’ and on the role of digital ICT in fixing challenges associated with ageing. Our focus was on digital inclusion policies of the UK and Italy, two countries experiencing similar trends in population ageing but different ICT diffusion patterns. We found that an age-based understanding of digital technology use was quite common, as was an enthusiastic embracing of the role of digital ICT in the implementation of Active Ageing and Information Society goals. We also found that the understanding of the role of digital technology and its relationship to (old) age has been changing over the last decade, starting to reflect social complexity as ICT diffusion increases among older age groups

Age and Technology in Digital Inclusion Policy: A Study of Italy and the UK

The role of media and communication technologies in increasing the quality of life of the elderly is today a key topic in academic and policy debates. This article discusses findings from a study into the way public policy frames the role of technologies in later life. The aim of our study was to critically investigate the policy discourses on ‘old age’ and on the role of digital ICT in fixing challenges associated with ageing. Our focus was on digital inclusion policies of the UK and Italy, two countries experiencing similar trends in population ageing but different ICT diffusion patterns. We found that an age-based understanding of digital technology use was quite common, as was an enthusiastic embracing of the role of digital ICT in the implementation of Active Ageing and Information Society goals. We also found that the understanding of the role of digital technology and its relationship to (old) age has been changing over the last decade, starting to reflect social complexity as ICT diffusion increases among older age groups

Inclusão digital com aprendizagem intergeracional

Numa sociedade digital, ser competente na utilização das novas tecnologias é fundamental para uma participação plena e ativa de todos os cidadãos. A aprendizagem de competências digitais pelos adultos e idosos é cada vez mais determinante para a aprendizagem ao longo da vida e o envelhecimento ativo. O objetivo desta comunicação é apresentar o contributo da aprendizagem intergeracional para a inclusão digital das pessoas mais velhas. Assim, apresentamos um estudo de caso no âmbito da aprendizagem intergeracional com Tecnologias de Informação e Comunicação. Em seguida, revelamos, analisamos e discutimos os resultados do estudo. Finalmente, tecemos as conclusões.In a digital society, be competent in the use of new technologies is essential for complete and active participation of all citizens. Learning digital skills by adults and elderly are increasingly crucial for lifelong learning and active ageing. The purpose of this communication is to present the contribution of intergenerational learning for digital inclusion of adults and older people. Thus, we present a case study in the context of intergenerational learning with Information and Communication Technologies. Then present, analyse and discuss the results of the study. Finally, we present the conclusions

The impact of the digital divide on the perceived interest of an e-Marketplace to support healthcare and social care services

HCIST 2014 - International Conference on Health and Social Care Information Systems and Technologies, Procedia TechnologyIn a Europe increasingly aging, it is now recognized the importance and potential of the service industry for ageing well based on information and communication technologies (ICT), as exemplified by the electronic market of social services and health care, the GuiMarket, proposed by the authors. However, this new range of services requires that individuals have advanced digital skills to fully participate in society. Based on the results of a survey made on a sample of 315 individuals, this paper discusses the importance granted GuiMarket and the intended frequency of use, concluding there is a close relationship between ICT access and use that respondents anticipate making of GuiMarket and alike services

PUBLIC SECTOR ONLINE COMMUNICATION CHANNEL ADOPTION AND USAGE AMONGST OLDER ADULTS: A UK LOCAL GOVERNMENT PERSPECTIVE

Ukamaka Nwanekezie, Jyoti Choudrie, Neil Spencer, 'PUBLIC SECTOR ONLINE COMMUNICATION CHANNEL ADOPTION AND USAGE AMONGST OLDER ADULTS: A UK LOCAL GOVERNMENT PERSPECTIVE'. Paper presented at the 24th European Conference on Information Systems: Information Systems as a Global Gateway, Boğaziçi University, Istanbul, Turkey, 12-15 June 106.The UK government like many other countries around the globe has moved from classic communica-tion channels of delivering services (face-to-face, or the telephone) to a more digital approach using the internet. This includes using the internet as both a communication tool and an information source to improve efficiency in their services. Access to, and growth of these online communication mediums due to the internet has created new opportunities for the public sector; thus, forcing the public sector to adapt to this changing environment by introducing online products and services. However, not all the citizens are making use of these changes; particularly, for the purposes of this research, the older adults. Of all the various age groups in society, the ageing population is one that is presently causing immense concern. Therefore, the aim of this research-in-progress paper is to understand and identify the factors that encourage older adults to continue using a particular online communication channel when interacting with the government. This research-in-progress paper also provides the implications and benefits of this research to academia, policy makers and industry in this study and the future directions, limitations and conclusions of this paper.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

Active ageing – Enhancing digital literacies in elderly citizens

Being digital and information literate is crucial in nowadays society, although not every citizen has the necessary means and resources to achieve these skills, especially the elderly ones. Therefore it is necessary to develop ways to help them to enhance their digital and information competences. In this paper we will present an ongoing project that was designed and implemented with the goal to provide elderly citizens with the necessary skills of a networked society, contributing for an active ageing. The methods used were based on a set of hands on workshops delivered by a team of voluntary students and teacher, with the help of collaborators from a nursing home. The workshops were developed accordingly with the detected needs of a group of elderly citizens, based on the answers of an implemented questionnaire.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Digital exclusion in later life : a Maltese case-study

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are driving profound changes in the way in which individuals, organizations and governments interact. In particular, the internet has been a major force behind the development towards a more globalized, knowledge-based economy. However, in terms of computer access and internet usage, a digital divide between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’ has long been recognized. One key sector of non-users consists of older persons. For various reasons – including no exposure to computers over their lifetime and in their occupations, income levels, physical disability and access to affordable ICT training – only limited percentages of older people have adequate ICT skills. A growing concern is that older adults who do not engage with ICTs face social disadvantages and exclusion. This article reports upon a qualitative study on older non-users of ICTs, with its key goal being to understand what leads to, and the effects of, digital exclusion in later life. Results found that older persons who never made use of ICTs were significantly delineated by gender and socio-economic status patterns - namely, women (especially housewives, who had never been in paid employment), individuals who worked in blue-collar and working-class occupations, and the long-term unemployed. Data also demonstrated that access was not the main issue at hand, and that the failure of older adults to become digital citizens was the result of a continuum of overlapping barriers. This study provided information highlighting the rationales and motivations underlying individuals’ non-use of computers - namely, believing that they were now ‘too old’ to use new technologies, a lack of relevance or ‘life-fit’ of computers, perceived non-usefulness and difficulty to use, anxiety about computer usage, concern about security and privacy issues, and the facing of disability issues.N/