Technology as we Age

4/14/2018 0 comment(s)

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The first time I was forced to think about this was when my then 93-year-old dad asked me to get him a phone that he could ‘go on the internet’. All of us as siblings and anyone that I told about this was very impressed. My dad has always been a reader and I know I wanted to go online so he could read certain articles. In the long run we got him a tablet and a phone.

The one thing I remember growing up was how my mom would call us as kids to tinker with the radio or and other newer technologies. I then then made a promise to myself that I would try my very best to sat current with technology. My conclusion it that when you find technology slipping away then you know you are getting old.

Going back to my dad, I was clear that he was the one impressed when we brought him a table. This time he was able to listen to readings and talks he otherwise found difficult in the past. He was baffled by the idea that you could just find what you want and listen to it. My dad also has a bit of a hearing problem, so the wireless headphone is the most marvelous thing he has seen yet. He could walk away from the table and still hear clearly. Today my dad is 95 and it is obvious that he is older than he was when he asked for the phone two years ago. He is having problems answering the cell phone because the concept of swiping it different in WhatsApp. I have decided to do a little research on what is there to hep the elderly with new technology after all it is our generation that is next.

Most of my research uncovered technology that was designed to protect the elderly as they age technology and help temp stay in their homes longer. I found TV ears and more but what I was drawn to is the need to make a website accessible. What does that even mean? A website that makes it easy for people with disability to use them i.e. we need design websites that work for everyone. It means that as we design a website we should think about people with hearing, movement, sight, and cognitive disabilities. Making your website accessible is not limited to people with disabilities but also means making it assessible to users who are using a cellphone or a tablet. What about the user who has an older browser? Is your website still assessible? What about the people with a slow internet connection?

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