The Internet and Older Adults: Initial Adoption and Experience of Use

View Sample PDF

Author(s): Eulàlia Hernández Encuentra (Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Spain), Modesta Pousada Fernández (Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Spain)and Beni Gómez-Zúñiga (Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Spain)
Copyright: 2013
Pages: 17
Source title: Engaging Older Adults with Modern Technology: Internet Use and Information Access Needs
Source Author(s)/Editor(s): Robert Z. Zheng (University of Utah, USA), Robert D. Hill (University of Utah, USA)and Michael K. Gardner (University of Utah, USA)
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-1966-1.ch011

Keywords: Human Aspects of Technology / Information Science Reference / Social Sciences & Humanities

Purchase

View The Internet and Older Adults: Initial Adoption and Experience of Use on the publisher's website for pricing and purchasing information.

Abstract

This chapter examines older adults’ adoption and experience of using Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), in particular the Internet. The main arguments are based on the experiences of a group of older people, all already users of ICT, in a collaborative, relaxed, and self-managing environment—the virtual campus of the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (an online university). Older adults adopt ICT with a personal project, sometimes as a tool to for achievement; therefore, ICT use has to be done on their own initiative, with a positive attitude, and under their control. Based on the Selective Optimization and Compensation (SOC) theory of adaptation processes, the authors believe that introducing ICT through selection and optimization strategies can be a successful means of assuring effective adoption of these technologies.

The IRMA Community

Research IRM

The Internet and Older Adults: Initial Adoption and Experience of Use

Purchase

Abstract

Related Content

IRMA Sponsors