Struggles with digital advancements: the why behind tech challenges faced by seniors
Navigating the digital world might seem like child's play to the younger generation, but it often presents a significant challenge for those advanced in years. With banking services shifting online and public transport tickets moving to digital platforms, those lacking digital skills risk feeling isolated and left behind in a world that's increasingly moving online. Modern technology has the potential to revolutionize the lives of seniors, enabling communication with family, participation in cultural activities, and access to essential services—all from the comfort of their homes. Yet, its adoption by older adults often faces obstacles.
Researchers from the Center for Population, Family, and Health Studies at Antwerp University and the Faculty of Sociology, Free University of Brussels shed light on these barriers after surveying digital literacy specialists who teach seniors. Three primary hurdles emerged: unfamiliar terminology, dealing with devices, and understanding software and the internet.
Unfamilar Terminology - The language of modern technology is largely borrowed from English, which many seniors didn't study in school. Even when translated into their native language, these terms remain unclear to those unfamiliar with their meaning, creating a new language barrier for the elderly.
Handling Devices - One-quarter of seniors cannot independently start a device or even find the power button, and difficulties also arise when connecting charging cables. Adapting to keyboards, mice, and touchscreens can prove especially challenging for those who have never used a computer, or those who are used to more traditional methods.
Software and Internet - Understanding the principles of how the internet functions, the storage of digital data, and managing software can be daunting for older adults. Installing apps, creating accounts, and remembering passwords can create unnecessary hurdles, while updates and changes in program interfaces can leave them feeling disoriented.
To teach digital skills effectively to older adults, it's essential to consider their unique challenges and circumstances. Group training, while beneficial for social interaction, may not cater to the varying levels of preparation and learning speeds among participants. Individual training tends to bring better results, allowing individuals to progress at their own pace without fear of appearing clumsy in front of peers. Adapting educational methods to the characteristics of older adults, such as using analogies and metaphors from everyday life, can facilitate learning and provide a more accessible learning experience.
Embracing the unique challenges and needs of older adults and adapting digital technology accordingly can make the digital world a more inclusive place for all ages. By simplifying technology, using multisensory teaching methods, and focusing on relevance to seniors' everyday lives, we can equip them with the skills they need to thrive in today's digital age.
- The language barrier experienced by some seniors in dealing with modern technology is exacerbated by the use of terminology borrowed from English, which many of them did not study in school.
- Older adults may find the process of using devices challenging, as they struggle with starting devices, finding power buttons, connecting charging cables, and adapting to keyboards, mice, and touchscreens.
- Understanding the principles of internet function, digital data storage, managing software, and navigating updates can be particularly daunting for older adults, including issues such as installing apps, creating accounts, and remembering passwords.
