Session: Older People in the Digital Society

Session: Older People in the Digital Society

Linking ICT to the social needs and values of the elderly

Difficulties and possibilities

OASIS 1st International Conference

Florence, Italy 4-5 November 2009

Chair: Isabel Borges, AGE

Prof. Dr. Guido Van Steendam

Partner Senior Project

Director The IFBKULeuven, Leuven, Belgium

http://seniorproject.eu/index.php

• WHO are “the Elderly” ?

• WHY link the Elderly to ICT?

• WHAT are the obstacles?

• HOW to address the obstacles?What are the possibilities?

Linking ICT to the social needs and values of the elderlyDifficulties and possibilities

WHO ARE THE ELDERLY

Blockbuster

Not reduced to frailty & disengagement

But rich, well-developed multidimensional life

Technology

Challenging. Prophetic

No link with elderly

Mere caricature

The Incredibles (2004)

WHO ARE THE ELDERLY

SENIOR 1st Review Bruxelles



Technology



Elderly The Lord of the Rings III (2003)

WHO ARE THE ELDERLYBlockbuster

No caricature

Elderly



The Brothers Karamazov

(1880)

WHO ARE THE ELDERLYTop thematic novels



Technology


No specific link with elderly

Elderly The Godfather

(1972)

WHO ARE THE ELDERLYTop movies

WHO ARE THE ELDERLYMany : Not Frail and disengaged

MANY ROLEShave life with many dimensions

DEEP LIFEdimensions are well developed & complex

Frail and disengaged

Increasing impairment (view, hearing…)

WHO ARE THE ELDERLYMany : Not Frail and disengaged

Frail and disengaged

Increasing impairment (view, hearing…)

YoungerSenior

OlderSenior



Technology



Elderly Indiana Jones IV

(2008)

YoungerSenior


SENIOR 1st Review Bruxelles



Technology



Elderly Titanic

(1997)

OlderSenior


• WHY NOT?

• We should not exclude the Elderly

• They are a growing marketInteresting customers

• They are growing part of the active population

WHY LINK THE ELDERLY TO ICT ?

• OBSTACLES? WHY NOT SIMPLY:Develop the technology….… and make it available …… disseminate it …… make it operational…

One example

WHAT ARE THE OBSTACLES ?


Eurostat

Internet access and broadband connections


Eurostat

Regular Use of Internet

WHAT ARE THE OBSTACLES ?• Producers

• Products Not adapted?

• Channels Not targeted?

• Society Economical Legal, Ethical

• Users Training, Other customsPerception

….

….

….

….

….

….….

….….

….….

….….

….


Obstacles are not limited to the Ageing population

The ageing population requires special attention.

* Different point of views to see the obstacles resulting in

- different approaches to tackling them- different ways to organise the development

Research, Development and Deployment* THREE major point of views

- Autonomous technology in context- Social co-construction- Social co-optimizing

HOW TO ADDRESS THE OBSTACLES?

ONE. AUTONOMOUS TECHNOLOGY IN CONTEXTPOINT OF VIEWTechnology = free initiative

component of modern societylike free speech


ONE. AUTONOMOUS TECHNOLOGY IN CONTEXT


”OBSTACLES?” = 1. PRACTICAL LIMITS The product must reach the marketAPPROACH

MINIMIZE IMPACT OF LIMITSKnow (how to deal with) your client Make yourself known to potential clients1. Market Studies, Usability Studies2 Publicity and information campaigns3. Organize feedback

ONE. AUTONOMOUS TECHNOLOGY IN CONTEXT


”OBSTACLES?” = 2 ESLA LIMITS ESLA = ethical socio-economic and legal approach

APPROACH MINIMIZE IMPACT OF LIMITS

“In contemporary society… we are freeon condition that we do not harm others “…. Respect free decision of others, privacy…

TWO. SOCIAL CO-CONSTRUCTION

POINT OF VIEW = Technology is only one element of ongoing social

developments= All elements together determine the direction we go= An element is only taken up, when it is linked to all others.



Many examples in contemporary management of technologye.g. internet

users are co-producers

Social theory suggests this element is universal


All technological instruments, artefacts– are socially constructed – are social constructions

Wibe BijkerThe Bike (UK, 1870)

“Does the bike work?”


Wiebe Bijker (NL) The bike (UK,

1870) “Does the bike work?”

NO


Wiebe Bijker (NL) The bike (UK,

1870) “Does the bike work?”

YES


YES IF…• falling…• landscape, scenery• solid construction• reaching the

interested bikers• creating an

interested audience

Macho Bike


NO IF...• shopping…• bike ride in nature• go to class, friends• roads• balance• dresses

Safety Bike



NOT as LIMITBUT as an additional DRIVING FORCE


”OBSTACLES?” Nothing works as an island To survive, to breakthrough, to stabilize elements have to link up to other elements

APPROACH MAKE MAXIMUM USE OF LINKS

THREE SOCIAL CO-OPTIMISING

POINT OF VIEW Do not just develop whatever is socially possible

Be critical. Contribute to a society we want


SOCIAL CO-OPTIMISING

Niche for questioning the evident for improving the evident

for social progress

THREE. SOCIAL CO-OPTIMISING

”OBSTACLES?” Nothing works like as an island

Whatever works can be changed again

APPROACH MAKE MAXIMUM USE OF LINKS

Add elements to the social web to monitor, optimise, discuss

Summary• Many Elderly are active

- have many roles- are deeply involved in each

• Younger Senior and Older Senior• Many good reasons to include the elderly in

the digital society• Many obstacles of all sorts• Different ways to perceive the obstacles

1 A limit2 A driving force 3 A niche of social progress

Thank you

Guido Van Steendam

[email protected]

Session: Older People in the Digital Society

Documents

Transcript of Session: Older People in the Digital Society