The Role of Social Technology in the Lives of Older People
A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Aging".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2022) | Viewed by 4917
Special Issue Editors
Interests: technology and behavior; user-oriented design; playful interactions and influencing technology; older adults
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
We use social technology to interact with our network members every day. Social technology has become part of our daily lives and is an important means in communicating with our social contacts. In times of COVID-19, the role of social technology has become even more prominent. With face-to-face contact not being possible, we rely on our smartphones, tablets and computers to keep in touch with our loved ones.
Although older people do not use social technology as frequently and intensely as younger people do, research has shown that for older people social technology may strengthen and enrich their existing social relationships. Social technology fulfils older people’s need for connectedness. Remaining in contact with their relatives and caregivers also gives a sense of safety and peace of mind to the older people themselves as well as their network members.
However, older people also experience barriers in the use of social technology. They struggle with passwords, Wi-Fi and ill-designed user interfaces. In addition, some older people feel that social technology sometimes stands in the way of real human contact.
With this Special Issue, we explore how and under what circumstances social technology can help older people to fulfil their social needs. We aim to help researchers, designers of social technology and healthcare professionals by providing a better understanding of the role of social technology and the effects it has on the lives of older people.
Dr. Janienke A. Sturm
Dr. Tina Ten Bruggencate
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- social needs
- social relationships
- social technology
- older people
- COVID 19
- design thinking
- interventions
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