Understanding Digital Divide: the Process of the Elderly Acquiring Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Skills
Date Issued
2007
Date
2007
Author(s)
Lin, Yi-Hsuan
DOI
zh-TW
Abstract
This study explores the process of the elderly acquiring information and communication technology (ICT) skills. Its aim was to explore the success and problems of such endeavors and to rethink the age-related digital divide issue. This study attempts to answer the following questions: 1) What are the effect factors on the process of acquiring ICT skills? 2) What are the characters of the process of the elderly acquiring ICT skills? 3) What are the barriers and helps during the process of the elderly acquiring ICT skills? 4) How can the age-related digital divide be reduced in terms of the characters of the ICT skill acquisition process for the elderly?
The data was gathered by observing and interviewing elderly participants in ICT classes held by municipal public libraries and community colleges. In addition to analyzing the data of each case, the study categorizes 22 interviewees’ data into six types according to their learning motivation and the availability of social support: the passive-less-support, the adapted-less-support, the active-less-support, the passive- supported, the adapted-supported and the active-supported type. In every type, one or two cases with comprehensive information or particular representativeness were chosen and the learning experiences as well as relevant character traits of them were described.
The study concludes that the three factors, age-related issues, the necessity of acquiring specific skills for ICT usage and the pre-adjustments in ICT specifically set for younger people create barriers for the acquisition of ICT skills for older people. However, full and instant social support may help older people bridge the barriers. Moreover, with particular regard to the digital divide, those who provide elderly service should not only concern with the delivery of contents and resources, but thoroughly reconsider the methods instead. Understanding the interests and needs of older people as well as assessing the available social supports may help the elderly acquire ICT skills more successfully. Thus devising suitable curricula and securing social support outside the family can therefore also be crucial.
Subjects
老年人
數位落差
elderly
digital divide
information and communication technology
information and communication technology skills
social support
Type
thesis
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