Final assessment

Digital artefactfor “E-learning and Digital

Cultures”(The University of Edingburgh)

Author: Maryna Lagereva

This is the city of tomorrow.

What people do you imagine here?

This is the city of tomorrow.

What people do you imagine here?

Her?

Quite possible.

This is the city of tomorrow.

What people do you imagine here?

Her?

Quite possible.

Him?

Highly likely.

This is the city of tomorrow.

But they do not fit, don’t they?

Does it mean that there is no place for the elderly in this wonderful utopian future?

But why?

Is it because they are lacking computer skills? Or because they are unable to keep pace with modern technologies?

DIGITAL

DIVIDE

Does it mean that there is no place for the elderly in this wonderful utopian future?

A digital generational divide is developing and this indicates a gap between digitally literate users and the

elderly. This has disadvantages especially for the elderly since new media and co-creation have the potential to

increase individuals’ flexibility, expand opportunities for information retrieval and learning, and compensate for functional limitations such as reduced mobility, vision,

hearing, and cognitive abilities.

As for the therapeutic uses of computers, the intellectual declines which are part of the natural process of aging could very well be slowed (and sometimes counteracted) by getting the elderly

involved as active users of technology. A game as simple as Tetris, for instance, can engage the mind in an

amusing problem solving exercise.

The elderly need computer skills not less than any other age group. These skills will help them:

- get easy access to friends and relatives;- increase their social capital (avoid loneliness);- receive any health information they need, etc.

EXAMPLE

Thirty elderly attending community centers in Hong Kong showed a significant increase in mastery of computer skills and

interest in accessing health information via the Internet after a 4-week e-health program; knowledge of health information in the

area of physical exercise also increased significantly.

Can’t we make more and more good examples? Can’t we try and eliminate the

digital divide between us and our grannies?

Can’t we?

This is the city of tomorrow.

Have a look, darling!

Do you see that beautiful place?

List of Resources Used

1. Digital Aging: Computers and Today's Seniors http://www.caringnews.com/pub.59/issue.1242/article.5150/

2. Program teaches computer literacy to older generation by Tina Susmanhttp://www.newsobserver.com/2012/04/02/1974060/program-teaches-computer-literacy.html

3. Computer Skills for Elders: A Growing Tutoring Need by Scott Cronenwethhttp://blog.socrato.com/computer-skills-for-elders-a-growing-tutoring-need/

4. Elderly and Internet and Computer Skills, An Update by Dr.Shock http://www.shockmd.com/2009/10/19/elderly-and-internet-and-computer-skills-an-update

/5. Computers Use and the Elderly by Phil Shapiro

http://www.his.com/~pshapiro/computers.and.elderly.html