It seems that older Australians have embraced new technology, with nine in ten people aged 70 and over owning a mobile phone.
The figure comes from a survey conducted by National Seniors Australia and Crazy John’s which involved 2,712 people aged 50 and over.
Seventy-eight per cent of participants said they felt safer owning a mobile phone while 72 per cent said it made them feel more connected to their family.
Close to half said mobile phone ownership helped them feel more in touch with technology and over 90 per cent of respondents said they had sent a text message.
However many older Australians believe technology is designed with younger people in mind and 87 per cent said learning about new technology posed a huge challenge.
More than half of the survey’s respondents said they sometimes dialled the wrong number because the buttons on their phone were too small.
The CEO of National Seniors Australia, Michael O’Neill said the survey demonstrated the inaccuracy of prevailing stereotypes which suggest that older aren’t interested in technology.
“Despite not growing up with technologies such as the internet and mobile phones, our members have fully embraced them,” Mr O’Neill said.
“It’s just a shame that the majority of technology ignores the needs of seniors.”
Another problem with mobile phones for older users is a lack of education. Almost half of the participants admitting they did not know the purpose of the buttons on their phones.
However 50 per cent said they would use more features on their mobile if someone showed them how. [rc]
© The Intermedia Group.
October 7, 2009
AUSTRALIA: Older generation goes mobile
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SYDNEY, NSW / Australian Aging Agenda / Survey / October 7, 2009
It seems that older Australians have embraced new technology, with nine in ten people aged 70 and over owning a mobile phone.
The figure comes from a survey conducted by National Seniors Australia and Crazy John’s which involved 2,712 people aged 50 and over.
Seventy-eight per cent of participants said they felt safer owning a mobile phone while 72 per cent said it made them feel more connected to their family.
Close to half said mobile phone ownership helped them feel more in touch with technology and over 90 per cent of respondents said they had sent a text message.
However many older Australians believe technology is designed with younger people in mind and 87 per cent said learning about new technology posed a huge challenge.
More than half of the survey’s respondents said they sometimes dialled the wrong number because the buttons on their phone were too small.
The CEO of National Seniors Australia, Michael O’Neill said the survey demonstrated the inaccuracy of prevailing stereotypes which suggest that older aren’t interested in technology.
“Despite not growing up with technologies such as the internet and mobile phones, our members have fully embraced them,” Mr O’Neill said.
“It’s just a shame that the majority of technology ignores the needs of seniors.”
Another problem with mobile phones for older users is a lack of education. Almost half of the participants admitting they did not know the purpose of the buttons on their phones.
However 50 per cent said they would use more features on their mobile if someone showed them how. [rc]
© The Intermedia Group.
It seems that older Australians have embraced new technology, with nine in ten people aged 70 and over owning a mobile phone.
The figure comes from a survey conducted by National Seniors Australia and Crazy John’s which involved 2,712 people aged 50 and over.
Seventy-eight per cent of participants said they felt safer owning a mobile phone while 72 per cent said it made them feel more connected to their family.
Close to half said mobile phone ownership helped them feel more in touch with technology and over 90 per cent of respondents said they had sent a text message.
However many older Australians believe technology is designed with younger people in mind and 87 per cent said learning about new technology posed a huge challenge.
More than half of the survey’s respondents said they sometimes dialled the wrong number because the buttons on their phone were too small.
The CEO of National Seniors Australia, Michael O’Neill said the survey demonstrated the inaccuracy of prevailing stereotypes which suggest that older aren’t interested in technology.
“Despite not growing up with technologies such as the internet and mobile phones, our members have fully embraced them,” Mr O’Neill said.
“It’s just a shame that the majority of technology ignores the needs of seniors.”
Another problem with mobile phones for older users is a lack of education. Almost half of the participants admitting they did not know the purpose of the buttons on their phones.
However 50 per cent said they would use more features on their mobile if someone showed them how. [rc]
© The Intermedia Group.
