3. Seniors have been late adopters in the world of technology; however their
movement in digital life continues to deepen. Seniors are now divided into
two groups, ones who use and see the benefits of using technology, and the
ones who do not. In this day and age will the seniors who don’t get on
board the tech train be left behind in this quickly arising technology based
7. “Younger,
higher-income, and
more highly
educated seniors
use the internet and
broadband at rates
approaching -or
even exceeding -the
general population;
internet use and
broadband adoption
each drop off
dramatically around
age 75”
12. “I feel like I’m falling further and further behind...
and I doubt if I’ll ever catch up” -male age 76
13. “How long will there be print yellow pages? How long will there be
print newspapers? Without internet access, older people could feel
even more cut off than they already do”
15. Older adults face many hurdles
when adopting to new technology
● Physical challenges
● Skeptical attitudes
● Difficulties learning
16. Organizing Web Information for Older Adults
● Make it clear how
information is
organized
● Put key information
first
● Break information into
short sections
● Write a clear
informative heading,
for each section
17. “Most older adults say they would need assistance
learning how to use new devices and digital services”
18. “Adults will learn how to use it when it
is meaningful for them, they are not
going to learn how to use it in the
abstract”
19. Once online, most
seniors make the
internet a daily part of
their lives and view it
in a positive light.
Non-users are divided
on the relative merits
of going online
20.
21. Overall, internet and broadband rates among
seniors are steadily increasing but still well
below the national average
22. Citations
Curtis, S. (2014). Rise of the Silver Surfers. The Telegraph. Retrieved from
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/10683749/Rise-of-the-silver-surfers.html
Harris, M. (2013). Rise of the Silver Surfers: More seniors online but barriers to culture persist. New National. Retrieved
from http://o.canada.com/news/national/silver-surfers
Kielburger, C., Kielburger, M. (2013). How Can We Help Canadians Gain Better Access to the Internet?. The Globe and
Mail, L2. Retrieved from
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/giving/have-your-say-how-can-we-help-canadians-gain-better-access-to-the-internet/ar
ticle15585113/
Krashinsky, S. (2014). Four Ways Canadians are Consuming Media Differently. The Globe and Mail. Retrieved from
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/industry-news/marketing/four-ways-canadians-are-consuming-media-d
ifferently/article21949630/
Kyungo, K. (2014). Understanding Older Individuals Emotional Responses to New Technology Associated With Healthy
Lifestyle Choice. Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 14, 138-147.
http://efsupit.ro/images/stories/nr2.2014/2.%20Art%2022,%20%20pp.%20138%20-%20147.pdf
23. Citations
Matrix, S. E. (September 21, 2016). Media Use Research Lecture. Module 1. Slides 12, 15-18, 20, 22-24. Queen’s
University.
Richards, L. (2013). Stats: Time to Reassess and Redefine Silver Surfers?. Econsultancy. Retrieved from
https://econsultancy.com/blog/62338-stats-time-to-reassess-and-redefine-silver-surfers/
Smith, A. (2014). Older Adults and Technology Use. Pew Research Center. Retrieved from
http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/04/03/attitudes-impacts-and-barriers-to-adoption/
(2016). Silver Surfers: Internet Usage Among Older Users. Accredited Online Colleges. Retrieved from
http://www.accredited-online-college.org/internet-usage/
