Authors:
Elin Thygesen
;
Ragni MacQueen Leifson
and
Santiago Martinez
Affiliation:
University of Agder, Norway
Keyword(s):
Elderly Users, Computer Use, Internet Use, Norwegian Municipality.
Related
Ontology
Subjects/Areas/Topics:
Biomedical Engineering
;
Data Engineering
;
e-Health for Public Health
;
Enterprise Information Systems
;
Health Information Systems
;
ICT, Ageing and Disability
;
Information Systems Analysis and Specification
;
Knowledge Management
;
Ontologies and the Semantic Web
;
Society, e-Business and e-Government
;
Web Information Systems and Technologies
Abstract:
In Norway, many citizens’ services are exclusively or at least delivered online. They usually require
sufficient knowledge to use information and communication technologies (ICT). As part of an Interreg IV
European project focused on e-inclusion for elderly, this work presents a study to map computer and
Internet use among the elderly. The study was carried out in a small municipality of 10 000 inhabitants in
Southern Norway, of whom15% were 65-year-olds or older. 178 replies out of 500 were obtained. Results
showed that 9 out of 10 had access to and frequently used a computer at home. However, there still was 1
out of 5 who did not make effective use of ICT. Importantly, half of the respondents reported to have
learned how to use the Internet through attending specific courses and others through guidance from
relatives or acquaintances. Answers about monitoring technologies were practically oriented towards
considering that topics, such as security and privacy, could have a subordin
ate role if the technology was
used for a good and fair purpose. This work provides an insight into the current access to and use of
computer and Internet, which becomes useful to inform ICT use policies among elderly population.
(More)