Abstract
This study was conducted to clarify the relationship between the input devices for the Internet and the factors such as age, health status, and future need of a mobile phone (MP) and the Internet through personal computer (IPC). The magnitude of the relation was evaluated by the odds ratio (OR). The survey was done in December 2000 and January 2001. The study sample was forty women, 78.5±4.5 years of age (70-89), who lived in their own houses in Y Town near Himeji City, Hyogo, Japan. As a result of analysis, the touch screen was the most preferred input device among the elderly with high age [OR=3.86, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.83-18.98]. It was also preferred by subjects with more difficulties (OR=5.00, 95% CI 1.05-25.41) and less future need of a MP and the IPC (OR=7.22, 95% CI 1.34-43.88). These results suggest that the future need of a MP and the IPC was the most highly correlated with the input device for the Internet.
