Older People and Social Participation: From Touch-Screens to Virtual Realities

Abstract

Since the introduction of the modem internet, computers have assumed a key role in facilitating communication in the developed world. However, until recently many older people have struggled to use ICTs for communication and social participation. This began to change with the introduction of mass market touch-screen computers in 2007, and in just under a decade, the touch-screen has played a major role in addressing some of the technological barriers faced by older users. To highlight the contribution that touch-screens have made in encouraging older people to use ICTs for social participation, this paper presents four detailed cases from two research projects that used iPads with older peop..