The Impact of Computer Technology on the （计算机技术的影响）.pdf

The Impact of Computer Technology on the Elderly Marek van de Watering Vrij e Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands rvdwate @few.vu.nl Abstract The impact of computer technology on elderly people is discussed. This is done by describing the effects of computer use by elderly people and by considering age-related changes. Also, the barriers elderly people encounter previous to or during the use of a computer are examined. Various positive effects are adressed, such as decreased feeling of loneliness by using e-mail and a slower decrease of cognitive abilities by playing specific computer games. Finally, the business perspective as well as future possibilities in this area are discussed, in order to show that this impact can and should be even greater. 1 Introduction Computer technology is embedded in our Western society in a way that the maj ority of people seem to forget that it is a relatively new development. The mainstream of this society has quickly adopted computer technology as part of their daily life, and in doing so openened up to all the possibilities this technology has to offer. The ever growing group of elderly people (age 60 and older) in our society, which will grow from being 20 per cent of the population in developed countries to being 32 per cent by 2050 [1], seems to have been forgotten in this matter. With this growth and the fact that we all grow older in mind, the opportunities that computer technology could give this group should be considered. The ongoing advance of technology suggests that younger people’s experience with computers will not be a curcial advantage when they grow older. It is not hard to imagine that, looking at a random website or imput devices such as the mouse and keyboard, elderly people might have trouble in using t