Design and Evaluation of an Experimental SNS to Promote the Use of ICT Devices by the Elderly

Abstract

In recent years, the aging society and the information society have progressed, and digital divide has become a social problem. In order to solve the social problem, this study proposes an SNS with support functions for specific users, aiming to improve the digital utilization skills of the elderly and to expand the range of their use.

As the first step of this study, questionnaire survey about use of SNS and ICT devices in senior people was conducted. Through the analysis of the results using text mining, it was confirmed the tendency and interest in ICT devices and SNS use among seniors. Based on these results, that an experimental SNS for seniors is designed and implemented to share their information skills with each other through ICT devices and SNS. Using this system, it has been planned an experiment about SNS usage with seniors as the second step of this study.