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DEVELOPING WEBSITES FOR THE SENIOR CITIZENS – CASE
STUDY
Amalia Maria KOUTSOGIANNI
New Technologies Laboratory
Faculty of Communication and Media Studies – University of Athens
+30210 3226691/koutsogianni.meli@gmail.com
Irini HAIDI
New Technologies Laboratory
Faculty of Communication and Media Studies – University of Athens
+30210 3226691/irhaidi@yahoo.gr
Roubini OIKONOMIDOU
New Technologies Laboratory
Faculty of Communication and Media Studies – University of Athens
+30210 3226691/ r.oikonomidou@yahoo.gr
Andreas GIANNAKOULOPOULOS
Department of Audio and Visual Arts – Ionian University
+3026610 87860-1 /agiannak@ionio.gr
Michalis MEIMARIS
New Technologies Laboratory
Faculty of Communication and Media Studies – University of Athens
+30210 3226691/mmeimaris@media.uoa.gr
Abstract
Engagement of senior citizens in Digital Learning is based on understanding of learning as a natural
process of personal development and social activity in life. In Greece, although the senior citizens are
18% of the total population (2005), the third largest in the EU, they don’t seem to be familiarized with
ICT remarkably. Lack of Internet’s use is significantly connected more to problems about accessibility,
the lack of skills or to the feeling that it is not necessary.
Ιn 2010 the New Technologies Laboratory of the University of Athens conducted case study research
including survey with questionnaires, in order to design customized web sites for senior citizens.
Conclusions were formulated about the knowledge of respondents on computers and the Internet, their
desire for knowledge and eagerness to create content in websites. Main findings of the case study is
that, although over 75% of respondents rarely or not at all have access to a computer that has Internet
access, over 85% of respondents want to learn about computers. The results show a need for
communication. Over 75% would welcome such a prospect. Also, the research focused on what
interested them to write about in a website. The results showed that most informers were interested
in recipes, personal documents and writing comments. The questionnaire included section with
questions about informative and news sites. Replies were registered about preferences, specifically
about multimedia content, and online services, such as advice by scientists like doctors.
Résumé
L' engagement des seniors dans l'apprentissage numerique est basee sur la comprehension de l'
apprentissage comme un processus naturel de developpement personnel et de l' activite sociale dans la
vie. En Grece, bien que les seniors sont le 18% de la population totale (2005), le troisieme dans l'
Union Europeenne, ils ne semblent pas etre familiarises avec les ICT remarquablement. Le manque d'
utilisation d' Internet est nettement plus connecte a des problemes d' accessibilite, de manque de
competences ou de sentiment qu'il n' est pas necessaire.
Εn 2010 le Laboratoire de Nouvelles Technologies de l' Universite d' Athenes est mene de recherche, y
compris une etude avec des questionnaires, afin de dessiner des sites internet personnalises pour les
seniors. Les conclusions ont ete formulees sur la connaissance des repondants sur les ordinateurs et l'
Internet, leur desir de connaissance et le desir de creer du contenu dans les sites web. Les conclusions
principales de l' etude sont que, bien que plus de 75% des repondants rarement ou pas du tout ont acces
a un ordinateur qui a acces sur l’ Internet, plus de 85% des repondants souhaitent en apprendre
davantage sur les ordinateurs. Les resultats montrent un besoin de communication. Plus de 75%
souhaiterait une telle perspective. En outre, la recherche s'est concentree sur ce qui les interessait
d'ecrire a propos d'un site web. Les resultats ont montre que la plupart des informateurs ont ete
interesses par les recettes, les documents personnels et des commentaires par ecrit. Le questionnaire
comprenait une section avec des questions sur l’ information et les sites de nouvelles. Des reponses ont
ete enregistrees sur les preferences, en particulier au sujet du contenu multimedia et des services en
ligne, tels que des conseils par des scientifiques comme les medecins.
Keywords:
Senior Citizens and ICT, digital learning, websites development, accessibility
Mots clés:
Seniors et ICT, l' apprentissage numérique, le développement des sites Web, l' accessibilité
1. Introduction
The rapid development of new technologies and the spread of the Internet facilitates
everyone to adjust to the new information society. However, according to the National
Statistical Service of Greece, the senior citizens in Greece do not use ICT significantly,
although they amount to 18%
1
of the total population (2005)
2
, the third largest in the EU. The
lack of Internet use is associated with problems related to accessibility, lack of skills or
attitude that it is not necessary.
The research interest of the New Technologies Laboratory in Communication, Education and
Media Studies, University of Athens, in the issue of ICT use by senior citizens, is dated back
to the late 90s. In March 2010 as part of the Action “3rd AGE ON LINE” research fellows of the
Lab visited the Open Care Centers for Senior Citizens (public service) of Nikaea and Ellinikon
Municipalities in Attica. Questionnaires were also distributed to seniors who would participate
in the action, so that the Lab could investigate and draw conclusions about basic research
question "whether and to what extent older people may want and find interesting to get
initiated into the world of new technologies". The ultimate goal is the optimum design of
websites of interest to older people.
In the case study sample had 34 potential informers and 29 of them completed
questionnaires. The 65% of participants are women and 28% men. 6 people from the Open
Care Centres Nikaea and 26 from Ellinikon participated.
1
People under 65 years old.
2
Secretariat-General of National Statistics Office, Press Release
http://didefth.gr/meletes/plythismos07.pdf
2. Seniors citizens and ICT Use
Over the years, life expectancy continues increasing. However, combined with the decrease
of birth rates in Western societies it gradually them into societies of elderly and very elderly
people. By 2050, an increase of 70% of Europeans aged over 65 and 170% of those older
than 80 years
3
is expected. Thanks to free time older people have the opportunity now to
explore new leisure experiences and to be creative in those activities which they choose
undisturbed. Learning in the Third Age is based on understanding of learning as a natural
process of personal growth and social activity in life. It is recognized increasingly as a key to a
vibrant, healthy and good aging process. Thus, learning not only serves in what has to do with
the knowledge applied in work, but is essential for the well-being of people.
Internet allows seniors to connect to different sources of social and psychological support and
to replace the increasingly difficult and poor interpersonal communication, which is rare over
the years. According to a new U.S. scientific research, based on questionnaires completed
by 7,000 people over 55 years who had retired, networking reduces depression in old age by
at least 20% (Ford & Ford, 2009). The feeling that they can 'network' combats depression.
Another recent survey had found that the use of the internet by elderly beginners improves
brain and cognitive functions (Gamberini et al, 2006).
The use of ICT can help them improve working conditions. Specifically, through telework the
duration of their work period could be lengthened. Physical barriers of accessibility, due to
either age or disability, are overcome easily by using ICT and working at home (Observatory
for the Information Society, 2007).
3. Methodology
Survey with a structured questionnaire was conducted. Specifically three types of questions
were included: a) closed-ended questions or questions with given options b) open-ended
questions and c) questions graded scale in which the seniors are required to indicate their
inclination towards a range of views and relevant issues.
The questionnaire included introductory questions such as demographic data (age, sex,
marital status). The first section includes questions related to the knowledge of participants
with computers and the Internet. The second section relates to participatory websites. The
third section refers to informative sites. Finally there are some inference questions about the
participants’ preference for participatory or informative sites. The collection of questionnaires
was followed by codification. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the basic features of
the data in the case study.
4. Results
86% of the participants are in age group 61-75 years (age group 61-65 years : 31%, age group
66-70 years : 17%, age group 71-75 years: 38%). The majority of participants (48%) are
married with children. 30% of participants don’t have any children and 55% have
grandchildren (Figure 1).
3
The Public Health Portal of the European Union:
http://ec.europa.eu/health-eu/my_health/elderly/index_el.htm
Figure 1. Marital status
Knowledge of computers and internet
34% did not have any knowledge at all, while over 60% of the sample had low or very low
level of knowledge (Figure 2). Results on the knowledge on the internet were similar. 28%
have no knowledge about the Internet, almost 70% of the sample have low or very low level
of knowledge (Figure 3). Similar results were obtained about the use of computers and the
Internet. More concretely, 73% stated that they never use PCs in their work, while only 10%
made daily use. Also, more than 75% stated they rarely or not at all have access to a
computer that has Internet access.
Figure 2. Knowledge about PCs.
Figure 3. Knowledge about the Internet.
The result on the participants’ interest in gaining knowledge about the internet was expected,
given their participation in the workshop. None of the participants expressed the opinion that
he/she doesn’t want to gain knowledge about the internet. Over 85% of respondents want to
learn.
Participatory websites
According to the results obtained about whether the participants wish to involve themselves
in the content enrichment of a site almost 70% responded positively. The pie chart below
reflects the degree of interest among participants in sharing and contributing knowledge (of
their own) with other users. A significant proportion (35%) said they would not be at all
interested in this prospect (Figure 4).
Figure 4. Participation through provision of knowledge to the other users.
Attempt to record the issues that would interest people in the third age to write about in a
website was made. The results showed that most participants are interested in recipes, texts
and comments written by themselves. The preference for recipes is justified, since most
participants are women. Also, replies were including music, travelling and sports freely given
(Figure 5).
Figure 5. Topics to be included in the website.
Results about the desirability of group discussions on a website were impressive, as the
percentage of participants who would like such a perspective, even at a small degree, is over
75%. The results show the need for people to communicate.
The above conclusion is reinforced by the results obtained on the willingness of informers to
participate in a forum, where common interests provide them with the opportunity to exchange
messages on the website. Only 21% said they do not want any team synchronous discussion
and more than 75% responded positively.
The chart below shows the results obtained for the subjects that interested the participants:
mainly travel, health and family relationships. The technology issues appear not to be within
the direct interests (Figure 6). 45% said they did not want at all to know people from around
world.
Figure 6. Topics that would interest the Senior Citizens in a public discussion on the Internet with unknown
persons.
Informative websites
The results on informative sites showed that more than 80% of respondents would welcome a
web site especially for the third age, aiming at informing them on various issues.
The content on an informative website that would interest the participants are primarily about
health and weather. Respondents were given the freedom to record and other issues, such as
entertainment, food, cooking, music, recycling, human relations, religion, travel, beauty,
nature and culture (Figure 7).
Over 90% of respondents would be interested in submitting to a possible informative website
queries on specific issues e.g. finance, insurance, legal, health, etc. 45% of respondents
consider this service as very important.
Figure 7. Preferred topics on informative websites
Also, the results of the questionnaire revealed that almost 70% considered important to
access extensive content in video format. A significant proportion of respondents (45%)
expressed that they are interested in shopping online. But provision of special offers
(discounts) for travel products, books, services, etc. interested more than 70% of participants.
5. Conclusions
This case study confirms the already recorded trends on the relationship of people of third
age in Greece with computers and the Internet, characterized by the lack of accessibility, lack
of knowledge on the PC and the Internet, non-use in everyday life. Yet the desire for
knowledge and to follow the pace of society is high.
The basic conclusion is the interest of people in communication, as it is proved by a positive
attitude towards the possibility of their involvement in content enrichment of a website, the
desire for the group discussions on a website, and their desire for participation in the forum.
The lack of desire of participants to know people from around the world (45%) may be
attributed to introversion or perhaps to language barriers.
Another conclusion is their persuasion that the Internet can help them in everyday life through
an informative web site dedicated to third age people. Topics of interest are health, weather,
politics, fashion, sports, entertainment, food, cooking, music , recycling, human relations,
religion, travel, beauty, nature and culture. Submitting questions on specific issues -e.g.
finance, insurance, legal, health - in an informative site is an extremely important service.
The replies to the concluding questions of the questionnaire revealed that participants are
interested in informative websites, with content oriented to general audience as well as with
content oriented only to people of third age, and participatory websites.
Higher preference was expressed for the informative website.
At the end of the questionnaire participants were provided with the opportunity to fill out
anything considered relevant to the subject and not covered by the above questions with free
text. The responses focused on issues and services on the internet that senior citizens would
like to exist. Also, in respondents’ opinion, high living costs and not satisfactory general level
of knowledge are considerable barriers.
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