The impact of aging on access to technology

Reviewer: Jose Lloret

Elderly people are now gaining access to new technology, creating a technological challenge that will only increase in the coming years. This paper is based on statistics revealing that the number of people over 65 is increasing steadily; a most remarkable detail is the size of the subgroup of those over 80. However, there is also an age-based divide: only 26 percent of people over age 65 were Internet users in 2005. This situation put older adults at a disadvantage in terms of their ability to live independently and to enhance their quality of life. Czaja and Lee point out that, surprisingly, there has been no rigorous research carried out to show that accessing technology improves the wellness of the elderly. Available data indicates that older people are receptive to using technology, and are able to acquire the skills needed to use it. However, it has been proven that current systems and technology are not easily accessible for the elderly. Cognitive changes associated with the age of the user affect how easily one can properly relate to technology: fluid intelligence, related to aptitude for learning, declines. Crystallized intelligence, that is, the knowledge acquired through education and experience, tends to remain stable. This paper summarizes the relationship between some cognitive abilities (working memory, attention, and spatial abilities) and performance on technology-based tasks. These factors must be taken into account when designing systems, especially help systems, error messages, and instruction manuals. It is essential, for the success of this task, to involve the interested parties in the design process. The many references enable readers to get a more thorough look at this problem. Online Computing Reviews Service