Technology and Quality of Life of Older People in Times of COVID: A Qualitative Study on Their Changed Digital Profile

Abstract: The situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic brought negative consequences such as social isolation, limited access to routine health and social care services, and lack of self-esteem, especially for older people. In this context, technology took on an important role as the main means of communication and service delivery. The main objective of this study is to analyze the situation of the elderly and their access to technological resources in the time of COVID-19. Based on a qualitative methodology, 58 semi-structured interviews were conducted with people between 65 and 90 years old in Portugal. The results reveal specific difficulties in the use of this type of digital devices and a change in the digital use profile of this age group, characterized by more frequent use of digital devices such as smartphones, the incorporation of certain services such as video calls, and uses associated with communication and entertainment. This study shows that attitudes toward technology among the elderly should be studied further, and these results should be considered to develop and implement training programs specially designed for this age group in order to contribute to their well-being and quality of life.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Use and perception of gerontechnology: differences in a group of Spanish older adults

[EN] Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to understand the profile of use of gerontechnology in Spanish older adults considering their age group (60–70; 71–80 and over 80 years) and to discern whether groups of subjects with similar characteristics can be established to ascertain which factors are behind the profile of frequent gerontechnology use. Design/methodology/approach – A quantitative study is presented to understand the profile of use of gerontechnology in Spanish older adults. The sample comprised 497 participants (aged between 60 and 94 years). Findings – The results show that, even though most participants consider technology to be useful in their daily lives, there is still a lack of knowledge on how to use it, especially among older subjects. This highlights the importance of promoting technological cocreation initiatives such as senior living labs. Research limitations/implications – Other researchers are encouraged to include the voices of older adults using gerontechnology in further studies. Practical implications – If we want to increase the acceptance of technology by older adults, we must first let themtake part in the design of the technologies they will use. Social implications – This research provides promising data that should merit attention to contribute to the well-being and quality of lif

年轻人的在线（Onlife）生活。关于年轻人对电子屏幕的使用和行为研究

Las pantallas se han convertido en la nueva forma de comunicación y autoexpresión de la mayoría de los jóvenes. Cada vez más las formas de relacionarse, de entretenerse, e incluso de desconectar, quedan atravesadas por la hiperconectividad que entrañan estos dispositivos tecnológicos. Con el objetivo de conocer el perfil de uso, comportamientos y riesgos en relación con el uso de las pantallas de los jóvenes españoles se llevó a cabo un estudio de tipo cuantitativo en el que participaron un total de 2066 jóvenes españoles entre los 12 y los 18 años. Para ello se utilizó un cuestionario diseñado y validado para esta investigación. Los datos se analizaron mediante la aplicación de pruebas estadísticas de tipo descriptivo e inferencial. Los resultados ponen de manifiesto que los jóvenes utilizan el smartphone principalmente en su tiempo de ocio para comunicarse y relacionarse a través de redes sociales, preferentemente de WhatsApp o Instagram. Conforme van creciendo los jóvenes pasan más tiempo conectados y comparten más información personal. En este sentido se precisa de una pedagogía encaminada a atender los procesos afectivos, relacionales y comunicacionales de la juventud que les permita gestionar de forma adecuada su exposición en las redes sociales.The internet has become the main vehicle of communication and self-expression for most young people. Forms of interacting, entertaining oneself and even disconnecting are being increasingly influenced by the hyperconnectivity that these technological devices entail. A quantitative study was conducted to explore the user profile, behaviour and risks involved in screentime in a sample of 2066 Spanish adolescents aged between 12 and 18. A bespoke validated questionnaire was used. Data were analysed via descriptive and inferential statistics. Outcomes reveal that adolescents use their smartphones during leisure time mainly to communicate and interact via social networks, specifically, WhatsApp and Instagram. As adolescents grow older, they spend more time online and share more personal information. There is, therefore, a need for an educational approach aimed at attending to young people’s affective, relational and communicational processes to enable them to suitably handle their exposure on social networks.Os ecrãs tornaram-se a nova forma de comunicação e autoexpressão para a maioria dos jovens. Cada vez mais, as formas de socializar, de se divertir, e inclusive de se desconectar, são afetadas pela hiperconectividade que estes dispositivos tecnológicos representam. Foi realizado um estudo do tipo quantitativo com o objetivo de conhecer o perfil de utilização, os comportamentos e riscos em relação à utilização de ecrãs pelos jovens espanhóis, no qual participou um total de 2066 jovens espanhóis entre os 12 e 18 anos. Para isso, utilizou-se um questionário concebido e validado para esta investigação. Os dados foram analisados mediante a aplicação de testes estatísticos do tipo descritivo e inferencial. Os resultados revelam que os jovens utilizam o smartphone principalmente nos seus tempos livres para comunicar e socializar através de redes sociais, de preferência, pelo WhatsApp ou Instagram. À medida que os jovens vão crescendo, passam mais tempo ligados e partilham mais informação pessoal. Neste sentido, é necessária uma pedagogia que vise abordar os processos afetivos, relacionais e comunicacionais dos jovens que lhes permita gerir adequadamente a sua exposição nas redes sociais.Os ecrãs tornaram-se a nova forma de comunicação e autoexpressão para a maioria dos jovens. Cada vez mais, as formas de socializar, de se divertir, e inclusive de se desconectar, são afetadas pela hiperconectividade que estes dispositivos tecnológicos representam. Foi realizado um estudo do tipo quantitativo com o objetivo de conhecer o perfil de utilização, os comportamentos e riscos em relação à utilização de ecrãs pelos jovens espanhóis, no qual participou um total de 2066 jovens espanhóis entre os 12 e 18 anos. Para isso, utilizou-se um questionário concebido e validado para esta investigação. Os dados foram analisados mediante a aplicação de testes estatísticos do tipo descritivo e inferencial. Os resultados revelam que os jovens utilizam o smartphone principalmente nos seus tempos livres para comunicar e socializar através de redes sociais, de preferência, pelo WhatsApp ou Instagram. À medida que os jovens vão crescendo, passam mais tempo ligados e partilham mais informação pessoal. Neste sentido, é necessária uma pedagogia que vise abordar os processos afetivos, relacionais e comunicacionais dos jovens que lhes permita gerir adequadamente a sua exposição nas redes sociais.电子屏幕已经成为了大部分年轻人沟通和自我表达的新方式。这些电子仪器所提供的过度连接越来越影响到我们的交往、娱乐甚至脱离的方式。为了了解西班牙青年对电子屏幕的使用、行为以及行为危险等情况，我们对2066名年龄在12至18岁间的西班牙青年进行了一项定量研究。我们使用了为该研究设计并验证的问卷。通过描述性和推断性统计证据来对数据进行分析。分析结果显示年轻人主要在空闲时间使用智能手机，他们使用智能手机的主要目的是通过社交网络（较为突出的为WhatsApp和Instagram）来沟通和交往。年轻人的在线时间逐渐变长，分享的个人信息也越来越多。因此在这方面，研究认为应该提出并实施新的教学法，辅助年轻人的情感、关系及沟通过程，从而帮助他们合理地规划投入到社交网络上的时间

Use of serious games with older adults: systematic literature review

The aim of this paper is to qualitatively synthesise literature on empirical research into video games and older adults. A total of 108 studies were analysed, with the participation of 15,902 individuals aged over 60. The framework of Search, Appraisal, Synthesis, and Analysis (SALSA) was used, with screening by three independent reviewers and phrase searching and combining search terms. The results indicate a majority of studies with a quantitative approach conducted in the European context in which a total of 125 scales were identified for the assessment of different geriatric aspects related to domains for the improvement of physical health and functional quality, improvement of cognitive, psychological and mental health, and improvement of physical and cognitive functions from a combined approach.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Health gerontechnology in ageing: a quantitative study

[EN] Over the last decade there has been a significant rise in Information and Communication Technologies [ICT] use among the elderly. Various recent studies highlight the benefits that ICT can provide to the elderly in terms of improvements to both mental and physical health, self-health assessment, satisfaction and quality of life, a reduction in the perception of loneliness, or favourable health behaviours. However, there are also reports that indicate that this age group continues to experience an equally significant digital exclusion. Researchers such affirm that use and access to digital technologies by older people is measured by different key factors that impinge on this digital divide such as level of education and/or income, gender, existence of any disabilities, place of residence, and even civil status. In response to the reduction of this digital divide, gerontechnology plays a fundamental role in this area. Gerontechnology can be defined as an interdisciplinary field that connects existing technologies and those that are developing with the aspirations and needs of the elderly, supporting in this way successful ageing. In this respect, the literature on this subject establishes that this new professional field, or applied discipline, presents five areas of study: living environments, communication, personal mobility and transportation, self-fulfilment and health. Specifically, our study focuses on this last area, which focuses on the development of technological devices geared towards preventing particular behaviours that are harmful to health and on improving the quality of life of those of an advanced age. Thus, this study has two main aims: on the one hand, to analyse the control that this age group possesses over the gerontechnology of health and, and on the other hand, the importance of its use to control various aspects of health and wellbeing. For this research a quantitative study was used, with a sample of 383 people from Castile and Leon [Spain] over the age of 60. A questionnaire designed according to the research aims was used in order to collect the data. The tool was divided into three sections: the first was aimed at collecting sociodemographic data, the second was made up of items to collect information on control over devices geared towards the area of health; and lastly, the third was aimed at studying the importance of using devices geared towards the monitoring of various aspects of health and wellbeing among the elderly. The data obtained was then analysed through the application of descriptive tests. The initial results of this study show that the majority of those surveyed are familiar with, but have never used the devices or apps geared towards health or for its monitoring. In spite of this tendency, the majority do recognise the importance of controlling aspects related to health and wellbeing through the use of technological devices. In both situations, differences regarding the age range of the participants can be noted. As a conclusion to this work, we highlight the existence of a digital divide among this age group. Therefore, we deem it necessary to expand this research with regard to the implementation and use of ICT among the elderly, providing innovative spaces where this age group can participate in an active way on the design, co-creation and assessment of efficient and useful products that are adapted to the needs of the end users

Living lab for digital literacy and active ageing. Systematic literature review of scientific production in the social sciences

[EN] The aim of this study is to know the state of the art of Living Labs in the field of Social Sciences. To this end, a Systematic Literature Review was carried out with the aim of answering the following research questions: a) what types of studies are carried out on Living Labs, b) what are the aims and objectives of the Living Lab analysed, c) what is its geographical context, d) the type of users it is aimed at and e) what are the characteristics shared by the different Living Labs analysed in the selected literature. After analysing the literature, the results show a predominance of both qualitative research and studies carried out in the European context, as well as heterogeneity in the objectives of the research analysed and coincidence in the characteristics of the Living Labs analysed. The conclusions point to the need to develop research on Living Labs in the field of Social Sciences and, specifically, from an educational perspective that promotes the technological inclusion of the elderly

Levels of digital identity for older-adults learners. A validated scale for their digital inclusion

[EN] This paper presents outcomes of a research program on the validation of a scale based on a theoretical proposal of three levels for the digital identity construction and development for older-adult learners. Age barriers for learning in our hyperconnected societies involve several gaps for the adults' lifelong learning and their full inclusion. Digital gaps include the motives and uses of older-adult learners for using digital platforms and resources, for this reason, in this paper the analysis of digital identity is associated with their Internet activity performances, aiming to analyze the relationship among the digital uses with their level of digital identity and digital inclusion. The scale was validated with a sample of senior learners (N = 659) aged 55 years old and over who already are involved in active aging programs of Adult Education in Spain. Twenty Likert-type items were used to measure the agreement with the relevance of the digital identity factors for the three levels, along with two other validated scales for the evaluation of their Internet uses and motivations. Exploratory and confirmatory analysis confirmed a factorial structure of three levels based on the location, access, and significance of digital identity. Results showed that uses and motives correlated with the digital identity of the older-adult learners, with key considerations for the design of digital literacy proposals in Lifelong Learning Programs

Diseño, Implementación y Evaluación del material docente para Sistemas Blended Learning (BL)

Memoria ID-021 Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2020-2021

Formar para transformar. Fomento del diseño de iniciativas educativas transformadoras alineadas con los Derechos Humanos y los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible

Memoria ID2022-171 Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2022-2023

Innovación y consolidación de la red HecoUSAL. Integración de la digitalidad en el aprendizaje servicio

Memoria ID-080 Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2020-2021