A Review of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Training for Elderly People - toward Recommendations for Developing Countries

Difficulties in using information and communication technologies (ICT) are blocking possibilities to improve the quality of life for many people in their advanced years. The difficulties are particularly acute in developing countries, some of which have rapidly aging populations. Training in ICT can help overcome these difficulties, but so far, experiences in provision of this training have been obtained mainly from developed countries. This paper reviews difficulties that elderly people have in using computers, and lessons learned on ICT training. Then, it discusses the possibilities of ICT training for developing countries. ICT training should focus on enhancing the communication abilities of the elderly, enabling them to search information online, and stimulating their hobbies and interests. While training organizations such as Universities of the Third Age, community information centers, ICT associations for seniors, and home teaching have been used, we argue that home teaching can have merit for elderly people ICT training in developing countries. This paper can help future empirical research to build comprehensive recommendations regarding developing countries.

[1]  Peter Kokol,et al.  PRIMER ICT: A new blended learning paradigm for teaching ICT skills to older people , 2011, 2011 24th International Symposium on Computer-Based Medical Systems (CBMS).

[2]  Markku Tukiainen,et al.  Guided participation in ICT-education for seniors: Motivation and social support , 2009, 2009 39th IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference.

[3]  Christopher B. Mayhorn,et al.  Effects of Age and Instructions on Teaching Older Adults To Use ELDERCOMM, an Electronic Bulletin Board System. , 2000 .

[4]  Mark Warschauer,et al.  Dissecting the "Digital Divide": A Case Study in Egypt , 2003, Inf. Soc..

[5]  P. Lloyd-Sherlock,et al.  Population ageing in developed and developing regions: implications for health policy. , 2000, Social science & medicine.

[6]  Vicente Viadel,et al.  Attitudes of the Elderly Toward Information and Communications Technologies , 2012 .

[7]  Gu Danan.  Healthy Ageing in China A Summary Report of the Conference on Chinese Healthy Ageing and Socioeconomics : International Perspectives , 2007 .

[8]  Pamela F. Wendt,et al.  Silver surfers: Training and evaluating internet use among older adult learners , 1999 .

[9]  Maria Karavidas,et al.  The effects of computers on older adult users , 2005, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[10]  Peter Gregor,et al.  Looking for Help? Supporting Older Adults' Use of Computer Systems , 2003, INTERACT.

[11]  Neil Charness,et al.  Issues in training older adults to use computers , 1995, Behav. Inf. Technol..

[12]  Jo Pierson,et al.  Co-creation and user-generated content-elderly people's user requirements , 2009, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[13]  Chitu Okoli,et al.  A Guide to Conducting a Systematic Literature Review of Information Systems Research , 2010 .

[14]  Markku Tukiainen,et al.  K-60 - Access to ICT granted but not taken for granted , 2008 .

[15]  Franklin Goza,et al.  Who will care for the elderly in China?: A review of the problems caused by China's one-child policy and their potential solutions , 2006 .

[16]  R. Swindell,et al.  An International Perspective on the University of the Third Age. , 1995 .

[17]  Colette Nicolle,et al.  Introducing computers and the Internet to older users: findings from the Care OnLine project , 2005, Universal Access in the Information Society.

[18]  Brian D. Carpenter,et al.  Computer use among older adults in a naturally occurring retirement community , 2007, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[19]  Justin Starren,et al.  Developing Computer Skills and Competencies in Seniors , 2005, AMIA.

[20]  Denise C. Park,et al.  EFFECTS OF AGE AND TRAINING FORMATS ON BASIC COMPUTER SKILL ACQUISITION IN OLDER ADULTS , 1998 .

[21]  Peter Gregor,et al.  Strategies for teaching older people to use the World Wide Web , 2005, Universal Access in the Information Society.

[22]  Antti Salovaara,et al.  Information technologies and transitions in the lives of 55-65-year-olds: The case of colliding life interests , 2010, Int. J. Hum. Comput. Stud..

[23]  Heidi Vandebosch,et al.  Towards the desired future of the elderly and ICT: policy recommendations based on a dialogue with senior citizens , 2006, Poiesis Prax..

[24]  Scott Milne.  Taking back the interface for older people , 2003, SIGC.

[25]  Bo Xie.  Information Technology Education for Older Adults as a Continuing Peer-Learning Process: A Chinese Case Study , 2007 .

[26]  Ty M. Cruce,et al.  Preparing for the Silver Tsunami: The Demand for Higher Education Among Older Adults , 2012 .

[27]  Young Sek Kim.  Reviewing and Critiquing Computer Learning and Usage Among Older Adults , 2008 .

[28]  Karen R. Barnett,et al.  Ageing, Learning, and Computer Technology in Australia , 2007 .

[29]  D. Hawthorn,et al.  Possible implications of aging for interface designers , 2000, Interact. Comput..

[30]  Mary Zajicek.  Web 2.0: hype or happiness? , 2007, W4A '07.

[31]  Brett D. Jones,et al.  Teaching Older Adults to Use Computers: Recommendations Based on Cognitive Aging Research. , 1998 .

[32]  Christian Fuchs,et al.  Africa and the digital divide , 2008, Telematics Informatics.

[33]  Josep Blat,et al.  A preliminary usability evaluation of strategies for seeking online information with elderly people , 2007, W4A '07.

[34]  Andrew Pipingas,et al.  Improved Processing Speed: Online Computer-based Cognitive Training in Older Adults , 2012 .

[35]  Bob Lee,et al.  Age differences in constraints encountered by seniors in their use of computers and the internet , 2011, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[36]  C. Ng,et al.  Motivation Among Older Adults in Learning Computing Technologies: A Grounded Model , 2007 .

[37]  Guglielmo Trentin.  E-learning and the third age , 2004, J. Comput. Assist. Learn..

[38]  W. Rogers,et al.  OLDER ADULTS, COMPUTER TRAINING, AND THE SYSTEMS APPROACH: A FORMULA FOR SUCCESS , 2004 .

[39]  John G. Webster,et al.  A Web-Based Electronic Medical Records and Hospital Information System for Developing Countries , 2011 .

[40]  J. Yenerall.  EDUCATING AN AGING SOCIETY: THE UNIVERSITY OF THE THIRD AGE IN FINLAND , 2003 .

[41]  J. Lin.  Parity and security: a simulation study of old-age support in rural China. , 1994 .

[42]  M. Gorman,et al.  Old Age Poverty in Developing Countries: Contributions and Dependence in Later Life , 2003 .

[43]  David E. Bloom,et al.  Population Aging: Facts, Challenges, and Responses , 2011 .

[44]  Joseph Sharit,et al.  Factors influencing use of an e-health website in a community sample of older adults , 2013, J. Am. Medical Informatics Assoc..

[45]  Milena M. Head,et al.  Computer use by older adults: A multi-disciplinary review , 2010, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[46]  Shelia R. Cotten,et al.  Internet use and depression among older adults , 2012, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[47]  Amy J. Chaffin,et al.  COGNITIVE LEARNING APPLIED TO OLDER ADULT LEARNERS AND TECHNOLOGY , 2005 .

[48]  Ala-Mutka Kirsti Maria,et al.  Active Ageing and the Potential of ICT for Learning , 2008 .

[49]  Peter Caputi,et al.  Comparison of older and younger adults' attitudes towards and abilities with computers: Implications for training and learning , 2010, Br. J. Educ. Technol..

[50]  Sara J. Czaja,et al.  The impact of aging on access to technology , 2005, ASAC.

[51]  R. Swindell.  U3A (the University of the Third Age) in Australia: a Model For Successful Ageing , 1993, Ageing and Society.

[52]  Maryalice Jordan-Marsh,et al.  Internet use intention and adoption among Chinese older adults: From the expanded technology acceptance model perspective , 2010, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[53]  Constantine Stephanidis,et al.  Universal access in the information society , 1999, HCI.

[54]  T. Ordonez,et al.  Elderly online: effects of a digital inclusion program in cognitive performance. , 2011, Archives of gerontology and geriatrics.

[55]  Sue Kilpatrick,et al.  What is Social Capital? A Study of Interaction in a Rural Community , 1999 .

[56]  A. Şar,et al.  Is the Internet Use an Effective Method to Cope With Elderly Loneliness and Decrease Loneliness Symptom , 2012 .

[57]  Bo Xie,et al.  Older adults , computers , and the Internet : Future directions , 2004 .

[58]  Joy Goodman-Deane,et al.  Internet use and non-use: views of older users , 2007, Universal Access in the Information Society.

[59]  S. Jitapunkul,et al.  National Policies and Programs for the Aging Population in Thailand , 2008 .

[60]  Jeremy Harris Lipschultz,et al.  ELDERLY AMERICANS AND THE INTERNET: E-MAIL, TV NEWS, INFORMATION AND ENTERTAINMENT WEBSITES , 2004 .