55+ people as internet users

Abstract

Purpose -Explores internet-related needs and wants of older adults and identifies internet user segments among them. Design/methodology/approach -The internet, primarily designed for the young, has been at the centre of research and business attention for a number of years, whereas so far older age groups have received surprisingly little attention. A survey in the Greater Helsinki area in Finland was undertaken. Findings -The survey showed that every 55 þ respondent was acquainted with the internet and that one-third of the respondents were non-users, while the majority were frequent web visitors using and purchasing internet services to an extent fairly similar to younger counterparts. Two segments in line with the life-stage model, labelled healthy indulging and ailing outgoing internet users, were found and show that there is heterogeneity among this age group. Research limitations/implications -A limitation common to surveys also concerns this study, namely that the sample was quite small -127 respondents -and strictly defined. Therefore in future studies it would be justified to expand the number and type of studied 55 þ respondents, and also to conduct studies that reveal their real internet behaviour such as observation and participatory studies. Implications for web designers, service providers, and politicians are presented which are based on the respondents' own practical development ideas and suggestions. Originality/value -The study is valuable because it sheds light on a rapidly increasing market segment on which there currently are very limited empirical findings, in particular outside the USA and concerning internet values and behaviour.

Attitudes of older mobile phone users towards mobile phones

“…Additionally, the older adults of today have different values, attitudes, life expectancy, life styles and financial possessions from those of previous generations and therefore our knowledge about older adults needs to be updated (Ahmad, 2002). Moreover, a number of studies present evidence that older adults are just as likely as anybody else to accept and adopt technology (e.g., Conci et al, 2009;Mallenius, Rossi, and Tuunainen, 2007;Morris et al, 2007;Rogers, Mayhom, and Fisk, 2009;Rogers and Mynatt, 2003;Selwyn, 2004;Steele, Secomble, and Wong, 2009;Vuori and Holmlund-Rytkönen, 2005), so it is unfair to consider them technophobic. Older adults' expectations of mobile communications are not very different from those of generic users, namely reliable personal communications and services to improve safety and quality of life (Swindell, 2002).…”

“…Although there is some evidence that the over-55-years group is not one homogeneous group but contains several sub-groups with distinct life styles, values and motivations (Bone, 1991;Vuori and Holmlund-Rytkönen, 2005), most studies on the adoption of the mobile phone communications by older adults have focused on identifying the determinants of mobile phone usage (e.g., Abascal and Civit, 2000;Chen, Chan, and Tsang, 2013;Conci et al, 2009;Mallenius et al, 2007) without considering the heterogeneity among this group. The segmentations proposed by Antoine (2003) and Krum (2010) are evidence of the distinct subgroups that can be found among the general population of mobile phone users.…”

Changes in Propensity to Search for Travel Information Online Over Time: A Cohort Analytical Approach

“…Hsu et al also found that 24% of adults aged 65 or older had accessed the Internet for travel information, whereas the majority (77%) of adults aged 18 to 24 used the Internet for travel information. This may be because older people are generally uncomfortable with and reluctant to use new technology (Lewis, 1996;Vuori & Holmlund-Rytkonen, 2005). Biological age influences propensity to search for information online.…”

Creativity in Collaborative Learning across the Life Span

“…Older people use computers and the Internet for information, shopping, social interaction, banking and post their own writings through social media (Charness & Holley, 2004;Galusha, 1998;Hyvönen, 2002;Selwyn, 2004;Sourbati, 2009;Vuori & Holmlund-Rytkönen, 2005). Older users of computer technology are sometimes described as "silver surfers", who consider ageing as a positive phenomenon, who suffer little anxiety in their use of the technology and whose technical efficacy is high (Cody et al, 1999).…”