AMCOSOP: a social networking system for the elderly

Aging people are in risk of social isolation due to direct or indirect effects of aging. Social isolation decreases the quality of life, health and acts against independent living, which is important for both the elderly people and society. Social networking can provide elders a sense of presence with their relatives, friends and healthcare personnel which counteract the effects aging causes to their social connections. In this research a special social networking system is designed and provided for the elderly to answer their communication needs. To collect information on the achieved benefits of the system, a selected group of elders will use the system in their everyday lives in field trials for several months.