Bibliography on older people and ICT

Older people, information and communications technology

Bibliography of recent material in COTA National Seniors library

by Helen Scott, Information Manager

Content

• A to Z listing
• Tutorial examples online

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AARP

national survey on consumer preparedness and e-commerce: a survey of computer users age 45 and older. Market Facts for AARP, Washington, DC: AARP. http://research.aarp.org/consume/ecommerce_1.html [May 2001]
The survey examines skill levels of 1002 mid-life and older computer users and their opinions on pertinent issues concerning Internet based business and the potential replacement of paper records (including contracts, warranties, disclosures, and notices) with electronic records that are computer transmittable. The survey also looks at opinions about privacy of personal financial information, particularly online privacy concerns. "Future changes in industry and government policies that increase dependency on automation for business transactions should be sensitive to the range of skill levels among users. The data also suggest opportunities to create, expand, and improve accessibility to consumer education and training in computer use for those subgroups less equipped to handle the pace of technological change".

Adler, Richard P (2002)

The Age Wave Meets the Technology Wave: Broadband and older Americans. SeniorNet. http://www.seniornet.org/ [Oct 2002]
The purpose of the paper is to explore the intersection of two mega trends of the 20th century - the technology wave and the age wave, and particularly the role that the widespread availability of broadband networks can play in supporting and enhancing the lives of older Americans. High-speed broadband networks offer several important advantages over slower narrowband networks: First, they make it possible to add high-quality two-way video to today's voice and text communications. Second, they provide instant access to rich multimedia content. Third, broadband's "always on" feature makes communications more convenient and supports a broad range of continuous, unobtrusive monitoring services. Finally, once broadband networks, both wired and wireless, become ubiquitous, users will be able to access any content from anywhere at any time.

While broadband applications will be of value to many segments of society, some applications will be of special importance to seniors. Outlines the key benefits that ubiquitous broadband networks offer to older adults: enhancing communications with family and friends; expanding opportunities for lifelong learning; improving the delivery of health care services; supporting independent living; creating new options for entertainment. For these benefits to be realized, a number of barriers will have to be overcome. These include ensuring that new services are easy for older adults to learn and use, guaranteeing that online applications are private and secure, and creating a legal and regulatory environment favorable to the rapid deployment of broadband networks.

Age Concern England (2001)

Grasp the NETtle: a beginners guide to the Internet (rev. ed), Age Resource in partnership with Microsoft, London. Email ageres@ace.org.uk

AgeLight Institute (1999)

A guide for web design usability for users of all ages. Washington: AgeLight Institute. http://www.agelight.org/Resources/webdesign.htm [March 2001]
This paper on the Agelight site seems to replace the original white paper by Microsoft (Designing web sites for older adults) on its 1999 portal site for seniors, now closed. The paper provides steps for increasing website readability and accessibility.

"Aging and information technology"

/ Generations: Journal of the American Society on Aging, v.21, no.3 Fall, 1997.
22 articles on the use of technology in information delivery and decision making

amrinteractive (2001)

Connected or disconnected? Seniors use of computers and the Internet. Sydney.
Powerpoint presentation of survey results at NSW Premier's Forum on Ageing in February 2001. Also published in Premier's Forum on Ageing (below)

Australian Bureau of Statistics (2001)

Household use of information technology, Australia, 2000. Catalogue no. 8146.0 (released May 5, 2001) (brief results at www.abs.gov.au )

Australian Bureau of Statistics (2001)

Use of the Internet by Householders, Australia, Nov 2000. Catalogue no. 8147.0

Australian Bureau of Statistics (1999)

Older people, Australia: a social report. Catalogue no. 4109.0

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Barker, Nigel (2001)         

Barriers facing older people accessing Council on the Ageing WA's computer training courses. Perth, COTA WA. Paper delivered to Annual COTA Congress, Canberra, 12 November 2001.
The paper looks at the barriers facing Older People accessing COTA WA's Computer Training Courses, based on a series of three surveys undertaken in 1997,1999 and 2001. It identifies the changing barriers and records attitudinal shifts over the 3 year period. The survey shows a steady decline in fear of technology coupled with increases in concerns over cost and accessibility as the size of the computer literate population increases to incorporate lower income seniors. Societal changes and seniors children are powerful driving forces in lowering the barriers. Many seniors organisations could benefit by providing courses themselves or forming alliances with current providers.

Barnett, K, Buys, L, and Adkins, B (2000)

Information and communication practices: the joint concerns of age and gender in the Information Age, Australasian Journal of Ageing, 19 (2) 69-74.
Explores the extent to which gender differences appear in the choices of information and communication sources used by older men and women. Data were analysed from a survey utilising questions related to older people's use of a variety of traditional and computer-based information and communication categories. Older adults are making use of a wide variety of traditional and computer-based communication technologies. Involvement with traditional categories, such as books, newspapers, television, radio and the telephone continue. When older men and women have access to the new computer mediated activities, they make equal use of them, however men appear to be more likely to own a computer. In view of the late life health and social scenarios for older women, the implications of gendered life experience should be considered when encouraging older adults' involvement with computers and the Internet.

Blake, M (1998)

The Internet and older people. British Library and Innovation Report 97. British Library and Innovation Centre, Boston.
The report begins with an overview of information and older people from a library and information studies (LIS) perspective, examining specific approaches to information needs. The author considers the possibilities older people have for gaining access to the Internet and its sources, and the ways in which the Internet is currently being used by older people - including creating Web pages and using e-mail. She suggests that many older people have few problems in coping with computer technology and the Internet, while others have problems with mouse and keyboard, or difficulty with seeing information on the screen. If older people are to be encouraged rather than excluded from using the Internet, it is vital for them to have access in public places, especially public libraries.

Bosler, N. (2002)

"I'm a Senior: Why should I learn to use a Computer?" Paper presented at the Global Ageing Conference, Perth, October 2002. Can be downloaded from http://www.ruralfutures.une.edu.au/about/socimpact/retire/neat/neat.html

Bosler, Nan (2001)

Communication, e-commerce and older people. Paper given to E-commerce, Electronic Banking and Older People Seminar, Victoria University, 22 May 2001. http://www.business.vu.edu.au/ec/PastSeminars/SeminarsOlderPeople.html [Nov 2001]

Buys, L (1998)

Computers: a learning system that increases interest and confidence Australasian Journal on Ageing, 17 (1), 40-41.
Study of oldest old adults in residential care. The purpose of this research was to investigate the implementation of an individualised computer learning system and regular computer use on older adults living in the hostel section of a retirement village. The conclusion suggests that the findings have relevance for program development.

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Cameron, D, Marquis R, Webster B (2000)     

Older adults perceptions, experiences and anxieties with emerging technologies. Paper delivered to 2000 Fulbright Symposium – Implications of an Ageing Population, 5-7 Sept 2000, Perth. Australasian Journal on Ageing vol.20, no.3, supplement 2, Sept 2001, p50-56.
Reports on a DoCITA and Curtin University jointly funded Technology and Older People Survey (TOPS) project which surveyed readers of COTA News about their use of and resistance to technology.

Canada - National Advisory Council on Aging (2001)

Seniors and technology, Writings in gerontology 17 http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/seniors-aines/pubs/writings/writings/writ17_e.htm [Oct 2001]
Presents the results of surveys and research on the use of technology by older people as well as their perspective on the place of technology and e-commerce in daily life. Explores issues and step to reduce the digital divide.

Communication, technology and ageing:

opportunities and challenges for the future / Charness, Neil; Park, Denise C; Sabel, Bernhard A (eds) New York: Springer Publishing Company, 2001. 235p. ISBN 0826113729 hard cover. Available from MacLennan & Petty, Suite 405, 152 Bunerong rd, Eastgardens NSW 2036 02 9349 5811. $120.55
This edited collection of reviews and data on how ageing affects personal communication and how technology can contribute to achieving communication efficacy is based on a May 1999 Ann Arbor conference sponsored by the German-American Academic Council Foundation and organised by the University of Michigan, National Insitute on Aging and the Fraunhofer Institute of Biotechnology.

Chapters in the first section provide overviews of basic issues in ageing and communication - human factors, speech and language, an industry perspective on design challenges for computer users, and a chapter by Sara Czaja and Chin Chin Lee on Internet use and information retrieval by older adults.Chapters in the second section deal with broad sociocultural issues - changes in cognition with ageing, cultural differences in cognition and the implications of these for communication; the impact of hearing loss on communication and social interaction; and the role of computer networks on communication patterns between about-to-retire and retired people.In the third section, there are chapters on issues in interface design for telecommunication devices; training older adults - to improve face-name identification, and designing age-effective training for technology use drawing on work with ATMs, the Web and telemedicine devices; and restoring impaired visual function with computer training.

The new research areas in ageing and computer technologies are continually evolving - this book usefully brings together academically reviewed material until 2000. The chapter by Rogers at al on "A systems approach for training older adults to use technology" should enlighten all banks: " the bottom line is that training is required for older adults to successfully perform the range of transations available on ATMs"(p198). As Czaja and Lee point out, "Barriers to successful adaptation of technology are largely related to a failure on the part of system designers to perceive older adults as "active" users of technical systems" (p76).

Communications Across the Generations – Using computers (1999)

A Pilot Study by the Tasmanian Community Network Southern Regional Taskforce November 1999. The report is the result of an innovative pilot project involving students from St. Michael's Collegiate school for girls sharing their computing skills with residents of St. Ann's Residential Home in Hobart. Includes an older user's tips for teaching older people.http://www.tcn.net.au/Publications/stanns_collegiate.htm [Oct 2001]

Council on the Ageing (Australia) (2002)

Submission to the Broadband Advisory Group, August 2002. Melbourne, COTA A. http://www.cota.org.au/broadband.htm

Council on the Ageing (Australia) (2002)

Response to the Australian Bankers' Association Draft Industry Standards for Electronic banking. Melbourne, COTA A. http://www.cota.org.au/bankstdds.htm

Council on the Ageing (Australia) (2001)

Response to Australian Banking Industry E-commerce Industry Action Plan December 2000. Melbourne, COTA A. http://www.cota.org.au/bankplan.htm

Council on the Ageing (Australia) (2000)

Response to Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission issues paper: Accessibility of electronic commerce and new service and information technologies for older Australians and people with a disability. Melbourne, Council on the Ageing (Australia). http://www.hreoc.gov.au/disability_rights/inquiries/ecom_subs/ecom_subs.html

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FIAPA ( Federation Internationale des Associations de Personnes Agees) (2001)  

Seniors+ and new technologies (English version), Les Cahiers de la FIAPA/Action research on the ageing process, no.1, October. Available from FIAPA, 24 rue d'Anjou 75008, Paris, email fia.pa@libertysurf.fr
Collection of contributed articles on new technologies in relation to older people, with French project examples. Topics include applications applying to health (eg telemedicne, medial imaging, independence), the home (eg domotics, multmedia, Web, architecture) and wider society and community (eg banking, cars, health insurance, intergenerational networks).

Foskey, Roslyn (2000)

"Making the connections: non-metropolitan older people and technology": final report. TRDC publication no.201. Armidale, NSW: Rural Development Centre, University of New England. ISBN 1863897089. Available from Institute for Rural Futures, University of New England, Armidale NSW 2351, 02 6773 2094; rfoskey@metz.une.edu.au
Report of the activities, and issues identified during the project "Making the connections...", which was undertaken for International Year of Older Persons in 1999 with a grant from the Cw. Dept of Health and Aged Care. The activities were an online conference which ran for seven weeks, a one-day video-conferenced workshop on October 13, and a two-day conference at the University on November 19-20. The report is useful for its identification and discussion of the breadth of issues relating to the impact of technology on the day-to-day lives of older people. The issues are organised under general technology (eg design standards) telephones, computers and online technology. Recommendations are made addressing the problems identified. The attachments extend the lists of issues and solutions under topics like design and product evaluation, technology education, banking, telephone and call centre services and automated systems, accessibility in rural areas.

Foskey, Roslyn (2001)

"Technology and older people in non-metropolitan NSW: overcoming the great divide?" Paper presented to the Australian Association of Gerontology (NSW Division) Rural Conference, Morpeth, 16 April 2001, Rural Development Centre, University of New England, 2001. Available from Institute for Rural Futures, University of New England, Armidale NSW 2351, 02 6773 2094; rfoskey@metz.une.edu.au.

Foskey, R., Hazzlewood, J, Barnett, K. and Lewis R. (2001)

"NEAT- Network for Education, Ageing and Technology -Helping to bridge geographical and sectoral barriers." Paper prepared for the Council on the Ageing National Conference 11th - 13th November 2001, Canberra, ACT. http://www.ruralfutures.une.edu.au/about/socimpact/retire/neat/neat.html [8 Oct 02]

Foskey, R (2002)

"Education, Ageing and Technology: intersecting networks." Paper presented to Electronic Networks - Building Community 5th Community Networking Conference, 4th July, 2002, Monash University, Melbourne, Vic. http://www.ruralfutures.une.edu.au/about/socimpact/retire/neat/neat.html [Oct 02]
(Also published as Electronic Networking 2002 - Building Community, July 3-5 2002, Conference proceedings [CD-ROM via www.ccnr.net/2002]
Successful diffusion of information, as well as linking people to each other for mutual support, is crucial to the functioning of community networks. This presentation seeks to illustrate the way in which successful email networks draw on the potential of communications and information technology to bring people into contact at a level, and with a frequency, which could not occur with the use of more traditional forms of communication. It includes contributions from Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom and explores the way in which four separate email networks connect and intersect via individual members. The networks highlighted are the Network for Education, Ageing and Technology (NEAT) in Australia; the VEAT Forum, a network for education, ageing and technology also initiated in Australia, CATALIST the Canadian Network for Third Age Learning; and OLDER AND BOLDER, a program of the United Kingdom National Organisation for Adult Learning NIACE. Each of these networks is based around the area of older people and learning, and includes a focus on information technology. Each email network has been successful in reaching across not only geographic, but also organisational and sectoral boundaries.

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Granick, L (2002)   

Teaching Computers to Older Adults. http://www.seniornet.org/php/default.php?PageID=5501&Version=0&Font=0 [Oct 2002].
Report on first time users of computers.

Hazzlewood, June (2002)

"An ant can eat an elephant ... if it takes small enough bytes". Australian Journal of Adult Learning, 42 (3) Nov, 2002. p381-391.
Describes how the Older Persons Electronic Network (OPEN) is narrowing a small but real digital divide by providing a community-based, peer-led information and communications technology learning program. Older adults and people with disabilities participate in sessions supported by peer volunteers. The paper was presented at the 42nd National Conference of Adult Learning Australia, "Catch a tiger by the tail...", Hobart, 9-11 August 2002.

Hazzlewood, J. (2002)

"From crystal set to cyberland: Third Age learners and the Internet." Paper written for the 6th Global Ageing IFA Conference:Maturity Matters, Perth, October 27-30, 2002. Can be downloaded from http://www.ruralfutures.une.edu.au/about/socimpact/retire/neat/neat.html

Hazzlewood, J. (2001)

The TALANT; the third age learner accessing new technology. Paper for the 10th National Conference of NCVER, July 2001. Can be downloaded from http://www.ruralfutures.une.edu.au/about/socimpact/retire/neat/neat.html

Hazzlewood, June & Kilpatrick, Sue (2001),

Seniors online: Learning outcomes from Internet access, Centre for Research and Learning in Regional Australia, for Telstra Research (since published as Kilpatrick, Sue & June Hazzlewood (2001) From window-shopper to eSenior: seniors learning online, Australian Journal of Adult Learning, 41 (2) July) 153-70.
This paper presents some of the findings from a joint project by the University of Tasmania and Telstra Research. The paper explores learning via the Internet by persons over 55 who have not grown up with computers and are at risk of being marginalised in a technological society. Two semi-structured interviews were conducted with each of 21 seniors. The participants were categorised into four largely sequential groups according to their pattern of Internet use, ‘Window Shoppers', ' eMailers', 'Searchers' and ‘eSeniors'. Window Shoppers, Searchers and eMailers are potential eSeniors and are moving at different rates towards this group, depending on training opportunities, time constraints, needs and interests. Motivation to access the Internet came mainly from a desire to keep in touch with family and friends. Retirement provided the opportunity and prompt to get online for many. Training was an integral part of the early Internet journeys of almost all the sample. Support as people tried new skills on the Internet assisted people in their learning.

Hofmeester, Kay & Esther De Charon de Saint Germain (1999)

Presence: new media for older people Netherlands Design Institute. Amsterdam: Netherlands Design Institute, 1999. ISBN 9076492026. Available from Netherlands Design Institute, Keizersgracht 609, NL-1017 DS, Amsterdam desk@design-inst.nl - some details at http://www.presenceweb.org.
"Designing with, not designing for" is the message of this book. It reports on a project called Presence, funded by the European Commission as part of i3, the European Network for Intelligent Information Interfaces. Presence is a group of researchers, designers, and manufacturers from Italy, the Netherlands and the UK who worked together and with communities of older people, to explore new relationships between technology, people and design and how these relationships might support basic human needs.

The publication summarises the programme's goals, methods and results, and describes its tools, the concepts that evolved, and the prototypes created. One research method, used with test groups to find older people's patterns of behaviour and what they want from information and communication technology, was "cultural probe packages". These contained maps, a media diary, postcards, disposable camera, and a photo album. One of the prototypes was the Nonnogotchi (Italian for 'grandpa gotchi' based on the popular Tamagotchi toy), a system with two devices, for child and grandparent, designed to strengthen intergenerational communication. The book is extensively illustrated, and concludes with reference lists of literature, contact organisations and websites.

Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (2000)

Accessibility of electronic commerce and new service and information technologies for older Australians and people with a disability. Sydney: HREOC http://www.humanrights.gov.au/disability_rights/inquiries/ecom/ecom.html
HREOC's work for the Inquiry, done by reference dated 26 August 1999 from the Attomey-General, confirmed that despite the great potential benefits of digital technology, physical barriers, affordability and equipment access barriers, and attitudinal and awareness barriers are preventing some Australians with a disability and some older Australians from having equally effective access to e-commerce and other services using new technologies. Many access issues are common between older Australians and people with disabilities, including accessibility of automatic teller machines, interactive voice response systems, and internet based services/websites. Specific recommendations are made for consideration by the Commonwealth and other parties.

The final report is brief, but in the course of the inquiry the Commission has published through its internet site (and in other formats where this has been required) much valuable information : an initial Issues Paper (13 September 1999); research summary (October 1999); a summary report of input from focus group discussions conducted for the reference (26 November 1999); an interim update of progress (released 10 December 1999); a working paper on web page accessibility issues, dealing with Commonwealth government sites in particular; two consultants' reports on accessibility issues concerning automatic teller machines; those public submissions (eg COTA's) which have been provided in electronic form; and a resource page for the reference, providing links to online resources found useful by the Commission (updated throughout the reference).

HREOC (2001)

Building bridges over the digital divide: a review of developments in addressing the ‘digital divide' experienced by older Australians and people with disabilities. http://www.humanrights.gov.au/disability_rights/inquiries/ecom/ecom.html [Nov 01]
Identifies developments since the Inquiry report above.

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Irizarry, C and Downing A (2001)

Use of the internet by older rural South Australians, Australasian Journal on Ageing 20 (3) September, 153-5.
Brief results of the SA Govt funded Rural Online Research Project to investigate Internet use by older people in rural South Australia.

Irizarry, C and Downing A (1997)

Computers enhancing the lives of older people, Australian Journal on Ageing 16 (4) Nov, 161-165.
This paper reports on a project jointly undertaken by the School of Social Administration and Social Work and the School of Engineering at Flinders University, South Australia. The aim of the project was to narrow the gap between older people and new technology, beginning with a survey to determine the level of older people's acceptance of new technology and ways in which they could best learn to use it. The findings guided the development of the 'Seniors-On-Line' program. 98% of 369 participants completed the course, whose methods are described.

  
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Kilpatrick, S and J Hazzlewood (2001)

From window-shopper to eSenior: seniors learning online, Australian Journal of Adult Learning, 41 (2) July, 153-70. Can be downloaded from http://www.ruralfutures.une.edu.au/about/socimpact/retire/neat/neat.html

Lewis, Ray (2001)

Seniors and information technology. Paper given to E-commerce, Electronic Banking and Older People Seminar, Victoria University, 22 May 2001. http://www.business.vu.edu.au/ec/PastSeminars/SeminarsOlderPeople.html

Lloyd, Rachel & Otto Hellwig (2000)

Barriers to the take-up of new technology /. NATSEM discussion paper no.53. Canberra: National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling, University of Canberra. ISBN 0858898411. http://www.natsem.canberra.edu.au
Access to and use of the Internet and other telecommunications services are rapidly becoming an increasingly common and critical part of commerce, education and social participation. Groups with little opportunity to participate in the services provided by new telecommunications technology will be increasingly disadvantaged socially and economically. The concept of a 'digital divide' is being used to describe disparities in the use of the Internet and new telecommunications services across different social groups. In Australia the debate has taken a regional focus because of differences in metropolitan and regional rates of access.

Government policies have focused on supply-side issues such as the quality and cost of supply in regional Australia. However, evidence from overseas studies suggests that sociodemographic factors may also influence access to new technology. This study explores the social and economic characteristics of Australians with different levels of access to and use of communications services.

The results show that a large proportion of Australians do not participate in the knowledge economy - not because of where they live, but because of their economic and social circumstances. The most important driver of Internet access is educational qualification, followed by income, then age. After accounting for other factors, region and State of residence by themselves do not explain differences in Internet take-up rates. This result suggests that suppIy-side policy solutions will not be sufficient to overcome the digital divide.

An additional report of research findings is titled Sociodemographic barriers to utilisation and participation in telecommunication services and their regional distribution: a quantitative analysis: report commissioned by Telstra, August 2000 (93p).

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Millar, Pat & Ian Falk (2000)

Seniors online: online literacy and learning by older citizens in rural centres. Melbourne, Adult Literacy and Numeracy Australian Research Consortium (ALNARC) at Victoria University.
Focuses on the learning needs of older rural Tasmanians and the potential of online technologies to foster local literacies and community well being. Report of a project which investigated access to the Internet for rural people over 55 and the literacy and numeracy aspects of that access. It also considered the effects of their interaction with the technology and the implications for community sustainability, training, and lifelong learning.

Mynatt, E.D. & W.E. Rogers (2002)

Developing technology to support the functional independence of older adults, Ageing International, 27 (1) 24-41.
Computer technology has the potential to assist on older people's goal of staying in their own homes and maintaining independence by supporting their everyday tasks, as well as aiding caregivers and family members. Concludes that technology to support the functional independence of older adults will be accomplished through understanding the older adult as a whole person including attitudes, sensory, motor and cognitive capabilities and the interactions of age-related changes in these areas; considering the older person in a broad context as part of a larger social unit; evaluating older adults in relation to their physical environment; and developing universally designed home-based technologies.

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National Office for the Information Economy (NOIE) (Aug 2001)

Save@Home: valuing the benefits of online access. http://www.noie.gov.au/projects/access/online_access/save@home/index.htm [Sept 2001]
Home Internet access has become an important feature of the lives of many Australian households. But how ‘valuable' is home Internet access to households that have it, and how are households disadvantaged without it? The Centre for International Economics (CIE) was commissioned by the National Office for the Information Economy (NOIE) to find out the answers to these questions, and assess the financial benefits that could be expected to accrue to various household types using the Internet at home. Retirees are one of the groups surveyed. Survey conducted Nov 2000.

National Office for the Information Economy (NOIE) (2001)

Current State of Play - June 2001, a quarterly NOIE information economy statistical report. http://www.noie.gov.au/projects/information_economy/research&analysis/ie_stats/CSOP_June2001/index.htm [March 2002]

Nielsen, Jacob (2002)

Usability for senior citizens: 46 design guidelines based on usability studies with people aged 65 and older. A summary is available at www.useit.com.alertbox/20020428.html ; full cost is US $125 for a single PDF download.

Noonan, Tim (1999)

Accessible e-commerce in Australia: a discussion paper about the effects of electronic commerce developments on people with disabilities. Sydney: Softspeak Computer Services for Blind Citizens Australia. http://www.softspeak.com.au/ecrep10.htm ; http://www.bca.org.au/ecrep.htm
A very comprehensive paper, also used as a resource for the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Inquiry into accessibility of electronic commerce and new service and information technologies for older Australians and people with a disability in 1999.

Noonan, Tim (2000)

Smart cards in Australia: the impact of smart cards on people with disabilities. Sydney: SoftSpeak Computer Services and Blind Citizens Australia Available from Blind Citizens Australia, 87 High St/PO Box 229, Prahran, Vic 3181 03 9521 3433. http://www/bca.org.au

National Office for the Information Economy (2002)

Older Australians online
A NOIE project working to identify barriers preventing equitable access to the Internet, consiting of an online paper and list of annotated links called Useful information for seniors. http://www.noie.gov.au/projects/access/Connecting_Communities/older_aust.htm

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Owens, Janet & Kaye Smith (2001)

Telecommunication needs of seniors in Victoria: final report. Report to the Cw Dept of Communication Information Technology and the Arts. Burwood, Vic: Deakin University.
Analyses seniors' needs for and use of telecommunications technology and equipment, their preferences for service provision and information provision, and the barriers that hinder engagement with home-based equipment eg telephones and computers, and electronic equipment eg e-banking, in the community.

Premier's Forum on Ageing 2000 (2001)

Seniors and information technology, Dept of Ageing, Disability and Home Care, Sydney.
Report of the Forum held on 22 February 2001 with news of some further developments eg NSW Seniors Online Strategy.

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Sachsse, Michael et al (NCVER) (1999)

Lifelong learning and older people: a discussion paper for the Office for the Ageing. Ageing series no.2. Adelaide: Office for the Ageing. ISBN 0730890600. Available from Office for the Ageing, PO Box 70, Rundle Mall, SA 5000, tel. 08 8226 6852.
The objectives of the project were to develop a conceptual framework for the consideration of educational issues affecting older people; to assess the availability of educational services and identify inadequacies in those services; analyse statistical data relating to the nature and level of participation in vocational education and personal enrichment by older people; propose a range of strategies for widening participation in lifelong learning and identify a set of research priorities relating to learning and older people. The study usefully highlights many issues such as benefits, barriers to educational participation, technological illiteracy despite a high level of interest, high levels of unemployment among older workers plus negative or stereotyped employer attitudes towards their professional development, learning methods, lack of research about learning and older adults. The report also addresses participation by NESB, aboriginal and rural elders.

Scott, Helen, Oliver Burmeister & Steve Roberts (2002)

Accessible e-commerce: crossing the digital generation gap. Paper presented at the 3^rd International Conference of the Australian Institute of Computer Ethics (AiCE), 30 September 2002. http://www.cota.org.au/aice.htm
Several recent initiatives have increased the accessibility of e-banking for older people in Australia. Government and the private and community sectors have built significant bridges to cross the digital generation gap. Yet there are policy deficiencies and a lack of partnering with the community to create interconnectedness, particularly in terms of resourcing. This is particularly evident in macro level issues which need to be better coordinated across tiers of government. Community and consumer groups need to be better resourced to enable people to take advantage of e-services. There is an ongoing need to be socially responsive and responsible toward senior citizens through better supporting their values of respect, dignity, independence and social-interconnectedness.

Scott, Helen (2001)

Information and education initiatives and strategies - COTA perspectives. Paper for Accessible e-commerce forum 5^th meeting, 29 November 2001 at HREOC, Sydney. Melbourne, Council on the Ageing (Australia). http://www.cota.org.au/infoedstrat.htm

Scott, Helen (2001)

"Old dogs learning new clicks" - older Australians in the information age. Paper given to E-commerce, Electronic Banking and Older People Seminar, Victoria University, 22 May 2001. Melbourne, Council on the Ageing (Australia). http://www.cota.org.au/ecommerc.htm

Scott, Helen (1999)

Seniors in cyberspace: information and older people Strategic ageing: Australian Issues in Ageing vol. 8/99. Melbourne: Council on the Ageing (Australia). ISBN 1325-4359. Available from Council on the Ageing (Australia), Level 2, 3 Bowen Crescent, Melbourne 3004, (03) 9820 2655. $11.00.
Reviews literature on the information needs of older people; how they find out about services; how to promote services and present material better. Best approaches to disseminating information are discussed and examples of current information services described. The paper also focuses on seniors' attitudes to new technology, and how they use computers and the Internet. Survey results in Australia and the US are compared. It describes innovative programs currently operating to help older people make the most of IT, and outlines possible future scenarios. Senior surfers are one of the fastest growing groups on the World Wide Web and the paper highlights the development of some relevant sites. (see its Bibliography for literature pre 1999).

Seniors Canada On-line. 2001

Seniors Survey. http://www.seniors.gc.ca/index.jsp [Oct 2002]
Results of a three-part qualitatative survey between November 2001 and January 2002 which aimed to collect information on the best practices of computer and internet training courses and to identify the obstacles that prevent seniors from taking advantage of the 'information highway'.

Spry Foundation (1999)

Older adults and the world wide web: a guide for web site creators. Washington, DC: Spry Foundation. http://www.spry.org/sprys_work/education/web_guide.html [July 2002]
Provides specific guidelines and ideas for the creation of websites that will be user-friendly for older adults. The guide reports on the best practices as described in a national conference in March, 1999 conducted by the National Institutes of Health, which brought together health educators and researchers, educators, website developers, and experts involved the application of technology serving communities and older adults.

Steinberg, Margaret & Linda Walley (1997)

Technology: do older people need or want to use it? National Seniors Association National Convention, 10 Oct 1997. Available from University of Queensland. Dept of Social and Preventive Medicine. Healthy Ageing Research Institute, Herston Qld 4006, tel 07 3365 5448.
Paper on research being done at University of Queensland Dept of Social and Preventive Medicine's Healthy Ageing Research Institute. The project's original focus was on whether technological change was a perceived or actual barrier to the employment of older workers. Extra work is currently being conducted on public attitudes and practices towards technology.

Swindell, R. (2002)

"Technology and the over 65s? Get a life." Social Alternatives 20, 17-23. Can be downloaded from http://www.ruralfutures.une.edu.au/about/socimpact/retire/neat/neat.html

Swindell, R & Vasella, K (1999)

Older learners on-line: an evaluation of Internet courses for isolated older persons. Funded by the Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs (DETYA)., Mt. Gravatt, Queensland, Griffith University. Available from Faculty of Education, Griffith University, Mt Gravatt Campus, Queensland 4111, (07) 3875 6820. http://www.u3aonline.org.au/AA_entire_report.pdf [Nov 2001]
An evaluation of two pilot courses used to gauge the potential of the University of the Third Age's Isolated Bytes concept. The program involved older volunteers in writing and delivering courses via the Internet to older people who are isolated by distance or circumstance like poor health or disability. The eight-week program proved highly successful and could become an examplar demonstrating the benefits of computer-based technology to older people. The report documents quantitative and qualitative findings in detail and provides useful background on the USA Online project, which was funded by the Dept of Education, Training and Youth Affairs.

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Tay, A (2000)

Ageing and technology: is there a slow lane on the information superhighway? Issues of exclusion and discrimination confronting older people in the information age. Paper delivered to 2000 Fulbright Symposium – Implications of an Ageing Population, 5-7 Sept 2000, Perth. Australasian Journal on Ageing vol.20, no.3, supplement 2, Sept 2001, p42-49

Teaching skills to Third Agers.

http://www.uni-ulm.de/LiLL/5.0/E/teaching/teachingframes.html [Oct 2001]
A short online booklet, written by two U3A members of Hastings and Rother U3A (UK) - Mike and Elaine Williams, and based on their own experience in U3As,, of advice for those running computing courses. Provides ideas, tip, hints and suggestions in teaching ICT skills to older learners. Topics covered include: teaching in later years, how to help someone use a computer, approaches to teaching and the specific of teaching computer skills. Sample exercises on word processing, spreadsheets and databases and further readings on computer applications and teaching are also provided.

Telstra Consumer Consultative Council (2001)

"Electronic communities - problems and potential." Proceedings of the inaugural TCCC Annual Forum, Sydney, 14 November 2001. Melbourne, Telstra Secretariat. Tel. 1800 804 591.
Includes a session called Seniors Online with papers by Nan Bosler (Aust Seniors Computing Clubs Association), Ray Lewis (Greypath) and Cherry Grimwade (Telstra Research Labs).

Umiker-Seboek, Jean, Thompson, A & Crosby, A (1999)

Teaching older adults to use computers. http://www.seniorcybernet.org/resource_usecomputer.html [Oct 01]
Reviews (US) research on teaching older adults to use computers.

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Using technology? Positively!

A series of fact sheets on everyday technologies and older Canadians (2001) Novia Scotia Centre on Aging/Health Canada. http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/seniors-aines/pubs/tech_fact_sheets/intro_e.htm [March 2002]
no. 1 - Series Overview
no. 2 - Telecommunications: Phones and More
no. 3 - Looking After Your Money: Technology and Banking
no. 4 - Computers: Getting Online -- Using the Internet
no. 5 - For the Good of Your Health: Technology and Health Care
no. 6 - How are Everyday Technologies Kept Safe?
no. 7 - Older Adults Mean Business!

West, Deborah (2002)

Engaging the non-user of information technology: motivations and barriers. Electronic Networking 2002 - Building Community, July 3-5 2002, Conference proceedings [CD-ROM via www.ccnr.net/2002]
The paper is based on data collected from 200 participants in Seniors-On-Line and 337 participants in the Technology Classes for Older People project in South Australia. Prior to beginning the course, participants were asked via a self-completed questionnaire to identify their reasons for undertaking computer classes and any barriers they found in the use of technology. Terminology and design features were found to be the most important barriers to the use of technology, followed by learning issues.

Whittall, Dawn; Grace, David (2002)

"Bridging the technology gap: enhancing communication between residents in a nursing home with local community school children using the Internet", Geriaction 20 (4) Dec, 2002. p15-17.
In June 2000 the Victorian Department of Human Services in conjunction with VICNET and Multimedia Victoria called for expressions of interest from ten State run aged care facilities to participate in a pilot project to establish Skills.net projects within the facilities for the residents. The aim was to use IT to help residenets remain involved in the local community. Grant Lodge, part of Djerriwarrh Health Services, located approximately 50 kilometres west of Melbourne, was allocated $10,000 non-recurrent funding to assist with hardware, software, training and telecommunication costs. Diversional therapists incorporated raining into their program, and school children became part of an email buddy program.
The project was deemed very successful and has received widespread coverage.

Williamson, K et al (2001)

The role of the Internet for people with disabilities: issues of access and equity for public libraries, Australian Library Journal 50 (2) May, 157-174.

Williamson, K, Bow, A & Wave, K (1997)

Encouraging public Internet use by older people: a comparative study of city and rural areas, Rural Society 7 (3/4), 1997, 3-11.
The study used 3 Victorian public libraries to investigate how access to new technology for older people, in particular public access to the Internet, can be improved.

Williamson, K & Bow, A (1996)

Older people and the Internet. Melbourne, RMIT. Video recording, available from Internet Training Institute tel. 03 9670 6077.

Other papers by Williamson are listed at http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/itnr/

Wilson, Laurie (2001) The caring computer: the role of information and communication technologies in aged care, Australasian Journal on Ageing, 20 (4) Dec, 164-5.

Tutorial examples online

Computers Made Easy for Seniors

http://www.csuchico.edu/~csu/seniors/computing.html
"A non-profit Web site designed to help retired folks understand how computers work and locate some resources for improving their computing skills" by Rick Sheridan, a Butte College computer science instructor. It links to many free Internet tutorials and other instructional sites along with information about organizations, research techniques, a glossary of terms and other resources. US based but a possible model for an Australian version.

A Helpful "How-to" on Computers & the Internet / SD&G County Library

http://www.sdglibrary.ca/tutorial/intro.html
A Canadian library computer tutorial explaining basics about the computer, windows, email and the Internet. Straightforward and accessible though some of the colour contrasts are poor on the link buttons.

Learn to Search the Web

http://www.seniornet.org/php/default.php?PageID=6636 [2 Oct 2002]
A free, self-paced tutorial on the US SeniorNet site that contains, in four lessons, information about the Web, explanations about how information is collected and organized and tips for how to find things on the Internet. A glossary is available. SeniorNet's Guide to Using eBay is a step-by-step guide to using eBay to buy or sell items.

Multnomah County Library, Oregon, US. Has tutorials on the CyberSeniors section of its site.

http://www.multcolib.org/seniors/ [15 Oct 2003]

Online Seniors: Absolute Beginners tutorial, Internet guide, Glossary of terms, Internet FAQ. Australian site.

http://www.onlineseniors.net.au/

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