Supporting Older Web Users Andrew Arch Web Accessibility and Ageing Specialist W3C Web Accessibility Initiative

Who is Online? 65-74 55-64 45-54 16-24 Spain 2006 8% 26% 52% 89% 27% 60% 66% 79% 89% 76+ 65-75 55-64 45-54 18-24 USA 2008 (est) 26% 63% 78% 93% 65+ 55-64 45-54 16-24 UK 2008 28% 47% 67% 77% 79% 75+ 65-74 55-64 45-54 15-24 Australia 2006

What do older users do? Pew Internet (USA): Communication (email) is the most popular application Information searching Banking Shopping Social networking sites are the least popular

Pew Internet (USA):

Communication (email) is the most popular application

Information searching

Banking

Shopping

Social networking sites are the least popular

Ageing workforce People are choosing to keep working Government is encouraging people to work longer Lifelong learning is important Age-related impairments can be experienced while still employed

People are choosing to keep working

Government is encouraging people to work longer

Lifelong learning is important

Age-related impairments can be experienced while still employed

Training and support Adaptive strategies are useful Assistive technology may be applicable Peer support seems to be a key factor Group learning in a social environment Browser interface needs to adapt

Adaptive strategies are useful

Assistive technology may be applicable

Peer support seems to be a key factor

Group learning in a social environment

Browser interface needs to adapt

Browser importance Simplified interfaces help learning User Agent Accessibility Guidelines call for configurability Opportunity to contribute to new version Ensure older people’s needs are considered

Simplified interfaces help learning

User Agent Accessibility Guidelines call for configurability

Opportunity to contribute to new version

Ensure older people’s needs are considered

Actions Contribute to an ability to age in place Promote business case for industry to adopt Web accessibility Contact organisations with poor websites Understand older users’ needs by involving older people in the Web development process Provide training and support for older users Develop browsers and assistive technology that can grow with the users’ needs Get involved with standards development and adoption

Contribute to an ability to age in place

Promote business case for industry to adopt Web accessibility

Contact organisations with poor websites

Understand older users’ needs by involving older people in the Web development process

Provide training and support for older users

Develop browsers and assistive technology that can grow with the users’ needs

Get involved with standards development and adoption

Thank you Contact Details: Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) www.w3.org/WAI/ WAI-AGE Project www.w3.org/WAI/WAI-AGE/ Email [email_address]

Contact Details:

Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI)

www.w3.org/WAI/

WAI-AGE Project

www.w3.org/WAI/WAI-AGE/

Email

[email_address]