An article by José Luis Castaño,
Education Consultant in
Something as simple as sending an email or writing a message can sometimes seem like an impossible mission for seniors. The digital divide is a reality that affects these people, as many of them have not grown up in a digital environment and may have left the workforce before having to become comfortable with everyday technology. The National Institute of Statistics affirms that 28.6% of people over 65 years of age do not use the Internet frequentlywhich is a challenge in an increasingly digitized world.
While it is true that this gap is gradually closing and more and more older people are becoming more technologically literate, there is still a large intergenerational gap. This can prevent them from accessing digital services and activities that could improve their relationships and ultimately their quality of life.
28.6% of people over 65 years of age do not use the Internet frequently, which is a challenge in an increasingly digitized world
The digital devices can be adapted to be more accessible for older peoplesuch as touch screen and voice recognition solutions to make video calls with friends and family easy. In addition, technology can also help older people to stay connected and participate in community life through virtual and augmented reality.
Challenges of the digital divide
We can mainly focus on three keys to reduce :
- On one hand, the access to new technologies. Not everyone has technological equipment at home and, when they do, many people find themselves lost and without the necessary knowledge to use it to support their daily activities.
- Although courses on new technologies for older people they are more and more frequent, they are not always provided with adequate personal and close accompaniment and they often focus on HOW to use technology, not on WHY to use it, which is arguably more important.
- Thirdly, and complementing the first two points, it is necessary to increase the accessibility of these technologiesso that they adapt to their capacities and possibilities.
This is the idea behind an exciting new agreement between global technology provider SMART Technologies and the Junta de Castilla-La Mancha, which will equip senior centers in the region with, specifically designed to help cognitive stimulation and support active aging. Residents of more than 200 centers will have access to this technology.
The solution is specifically designed to be interesting, engaging and collaborative. Multiple people can interact with the panel at the same time, through means such as videos and 3D images. They can also share their thoughts and connect with others by using intuitive digital ink to write, draw or stamp on the screen that feels as natural as pen on paper. It also works seamlessly with technologies like augmented reality and virtual reality options to enable immersive experiences for everything from travel to fitness.
In this way, he intends support active aging through cognitive stimulation and offer unique experiences through technology that would not otherwise be possible.
Within the framework of this project, the centers for the elderly in Castilla La Mancha will be transformed into digital learning spaces. Support is essential, not only for learning technical skills, but also for people lose their fear of using certain technologies. It is necessary to dedicate the necessary time to these older people, in a close and participatory space, with an attitude of listening and empathy.
It is important to mention that support is essential to help older people lose their fear of using technology, so the Center staff will receive training about the use of technology and how to support others with it.
These initiatives are increasingly necessary and must be accompanied by a comprehensive action to promote digital accessibility for the elderly. Adaptive technology and close support can have a significant impact on their lives, allowing them to be more independentconnect more easily or in different ways with your environment and enjoy more activities, for active aging.