In June 2003, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan invited business leaders to join UN efforts to bridge the digital divide. He noted:
"Information technology is not a magic formula or panacea. But it is a powerful force that can and must be harnessed to our global mission of peace and development."
At AARP, we’ve launched the Older Wiser Wired initiative to address just one facet of this very complex issue. Our initiative will bring together developers, designers, engineers, researchers, and older adults themselves to make technology - particularly computers and the Internet - easier and more enjoyable to use as we grow older.
Why is this important? Companies, non-profits, and government entities world-wide are increasingly using the Internet to provide information and services to their customers. Older adults, like others represented in the digital divide, may be at a considerable disadvantage compared to their peers who can make use of this information and access these services. On the positive side, research conducted by AARP and groups like SeniorNet show that older adults benefit from social connections that are supported or enhanced by Internet technologies. Finally, we all benefit when everyone can fully participate, especially older adults who often have rich life experiences to share.
Unfortunately, there remain a number of barriers to participation for older adults in both developed and developing nations. Access to a computer and the Internet is the obvious one; while prices for computers and Internet access have been dropping, they still remain outside of the budget of many.
Another is the challenge older adults face in acquiring basic computer skills, since they typically can’t rely on a work or school environment like their younger counterparts. Additionally, there is a lack of perceived relevance by this demographic. Even today, older adults are unsure that there is anything online for them that is of any value.
Finally, poorly designed software applications and Web sites often are a barrier to use. Design choices such as small type size and poor type contrast, as well as jargon-filled language prevent many people from effectively using online technology. This makes technology much harder to use and also reinforces the impression that there is “nothing online for me.”
Fortunately, a number of organizations are looking to address these issues. In some cases, challenges can be solved with education and information. In others, they may require policy efforts or consumer-oriented calls to manufacturers to speed up their efforts to make technology products less expensive to own and easier to use.
Given the convergence of the trends of information technology and global aging, these efforts are well worth pursuing. Information technology holds considerable promise for addressing challenges in health care, independent living, and caregiving, to name just a few. Waiting ten or twenty years until the older adult population is more computer savvy is not an option. Addressing this now is paramount.
We invite you to join us in this endeavor. We welcome your comments, want to hear about your research, and want to recognize best practices that can be shared to improve older adults’ use of technology. For more information, please visit www.aarp.org/olderwiserwired.
Mark Carpenter is Director of Web Strategy & Operations for AARP Services Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of AARP. Mark has been with the organization since 1994 and has been integral in the development of the Association's Internet strategies.
In his current role, he is tasked with delivering an online presence for AARP that increases member relevancy, attracts new members, and serves the Association’s social mission. To do this, he oversees the development and implementation of the overarching strategy of AARP.ORG, which includes planning, marketing, design, and development of AARP's member-facing web content and services.
Mark also serves on the board of the Transatlantic Information Exchange Service (TIES). Prior to joining AARP, Mark held sales and marketing positions with Computer Leasing, HM Systems, and Altek Corporation. He holds a BA from Augsburg College and an MBA from the University of the District of Columbia.