Aging & Social Change: Ninth Interdisciplinary Conference

Abstract

Quality of bonds and relationships are critical throughout the life cycle. Because they have shared biography, family and/or cultural history, older people may experience greater affective resonance by expressing feelings, losses, and hurt to their siblings and friends. In addition, being updated in the daily lives of their children and grandchildren ensures the feeling of being cared for and remaining caring. Geographic distancing, economic and health difficulties can hamper the access of the elderly to these multiple sources of socialization and support. The technological gadgets with Internet access that have shortened distances in the world are not always available to this population because they do not take into account normal motor and visual difficulties in aging, but also because the current social beliefs lead to think of technology as a young issue that produces self-exclusion. Considering that researches have indicated motivation, not age, as the main variable to master technology and that aging does not impact curiosity, interest and the desire to learn, it becomes fundamental to develop equipment and apps elder friendly, as well as inclusion and digital literacy systems. The purpose of this study is to share how we are developing a methodology for inclusion and digital literacy for people over seventy that allows the easy and safe use of tablets and smartphones through which they can have access to information, art, leisure, new learning, maintaining relationships, and using social media.