The time frame for births that fall into the baby boomer classification has been defined by sociologists, demographers and the media as 1946 to 1964 census. Encarta defines the Digital Divide as “inequality of access to information technology: the difference in opportunities available to people who have access to modern information technology and those who do not”. This inequality is recorded in a multitude of classifications such as socioeconomic, national, ethnic, and cultural differences and age groups as well. K. L. Norman wrote about this disparity in the book Cyberpsychology, an Introduction to Human- Computer Interaction. Although some baby boomers are powerful and well-adjusted, the majority is not keeping pace with the lightening speed of technological innovations.
The Great Divide, the Digital Divide and Generation X
The term Great Divide has been defined by several sciences from geographical to sociological to theories in economy. But, it is also associated with the Digital Divide to mean inequality in skills and access. The Internet should be a blessing to older citizens considering increased idle time and difficulties with daily tasks, yet, the opposite is true.
The Pew Internet Project organization sampled 2,200 adults ages 18 and higher of whom 1518 were Internet users. Generation Y (ages 18-24) ranked higher with 22% in comparison to 17% for baby boomers (ages 40-58). Generation X and Y have more time to travel, contact family and friends, attend reunions, enjoy leisure activities etc. According to Aging Hipsters this generation makes up today's largest demographic group and the Baby Boomers Headquarters informs that boomers comprise 29% of the overall population.
Baby Boomers Problems
Understandably, a few difficulties have been identified as crucial when one considers the gap in technology use among senior citizens in general. SeniorWatch, an European Union organization that monitors the needs and market for older citizens reports that 48% of citizens older than 50 agree with the statement “I’m too old to familiarize myself with computer”. The reason for this statement is that older persons think that PC operations are too complicated to be mastered.
For boomers the prospects are more encouraging. The American Life Project reports that Generation X actually has more in common with younger adults than older citizens. Jed Kolko, an analyst at Forrester Research stated: "today's boomers may become seniors, but they won't behave like today's seniors do. They will have carried that history of using the Internet at work and in their past into their senior years."
Pew polled 2,200 adults at random by telephone, the result was that 82% boomers, age 38 to 56, have used computers before which is close to 86% for age 18 to 37. Additionally, boomers and young adults are close ranked in online purchases, researching political information, map directions, etc.
Boomer Power
Aside from sheer numbers Generation X is celebrated in several other ways. There is a web site dedicated to this segment of society called Baby Boomers Headquarters. The site list several impressive names, some could not possibly be technology-challenged, for instance, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and the CEOs for GE, IBM, and the Ford Company. In the political spectrum Barack Obama, Bill and Hillary Clinton, George W. Bush, and Sarah Palin are worthy of mention. The entertainment industry is well represented by iconic figures such as Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard, Tom Hanks, Madonna, Tom Cruise and Oprah.
Closing the Digital Divide
few innovations have come up to close the digital divide for seniors and boomers as well. The Washington Post published an article by J. Buei, in August 2004 titled: Bridging the Digital Divide: Teens Help Seniors Go Online, which shows how teens helping solve this problem. Other programs help seniors connect with others through email and video conferencing. It is very satisfying that such programs have helped seniors provide homework help to their grandchildren and write their own biographies, inclusive of activities where a Webcam is used.
Recommendations for narrowing the digital divide include development of large type pads and fonts to minimize strain on eyes and hands. Software can be developed with the specific functionality, for instance, clearer point and click software to create messages, cards, send emergency notes, games, birthday reminders. The purpose should be mainly to maintain families in contact and provide for leisure activities, although, many of these baby boomers and seniors are retired professionals and college professors whose lives would be enriched by more intellectual pursuits.
Most of these functions are already available or can be made "senior-friendly" with custom-made graphics, easier operation and lower cost. Unquestionably, this day is near considering that 78 million users can have a sizeable impact on software manufacturer's bottom line.
Baby Boomers and Health Care
The American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA) through its division Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST) is in the forefront for assistance and monitoring the advances in this field. CAST has reported on provisions in the Health Care Reform package signed into law on March 23, 2010 that are relevant to aging services technologies. At the top of CAST's priorities is the EHR Grant Program for long-term care facilities and the new technology-friendly funding model that was created by the CLASS Act, see cast .
Sources:
U.S. Census Bureau. The 65 Years and Over Population: 2000
MSN Encarta, 2010. Digital Divide
Norman, K., L., (2008). Cyberpsychology, an Introduction to Human- Computer Interaction, Cambridge University Press.Pew Internet Project Data Demo. Internet & American Life. 2004.
R., Scholes. Exploring the great divide: high and low, left and right. Ohio State University Press. 2008
Science Daily, 2007. Digital Grandparents: Computer Scientists Create New Technology for Elderly Home OwnersBaby Boomers Headquarters, 2010. What’s a Boomer Anyhow?
Senior Watch Inc. Dedicated Exclusively to Senior Care. 2009
Cosgrove-Mather, B., (2004). Boomers Closing Digital Divide - Study: When It Comes to Web, More likeThe Aging Hipsters. The Baby Boomer Generation.
Younger, than Older Adults
Kolko, J., Gazala, M., Baxter S. Why Consumers Buy Technology: It’s a Family Affair. Forrester Research. 2003
Buei, J., (2004). Bridging the Digital Divide: Teens Help Seniors Go Online. Special to The Washington Post
Elza D'Agosto - Elza D'Agosto worked in the computer field for many years, then, decided to change careers (bad economy). She got another degree, this ...
