TY - JOUR
T1 - Social Support and Playing Around
T2 - An Examination of How Older Adults Acquire Digital Literacy with Tablet Computers
AU - Tsai, Hsin Yi Sandy
AU - Shillair, Ruth
AU - Cotten, Shelia R.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Southern Gerontological Society.
PY - 2017/1/1
Y1 - 2017/1/1
N2 - This study examines how older adults learn to use tablet computers. Learning to use new technologies can help older adults to be included in today's digital society. However, learning to use new technologies is not always easy, especially for older adults. This study focuses on how older adults learn to use a specific technology, tablet computers, and the role that social support plays in this process. Data for this project are from 21 in-depth interviews with individuals who own tablet computers. We examine how older adults engage with tablet devices and increase their digital literacy. The findings suggest that, for older adults to start to use tablets, social support plays an important role. In addition, a key way that many participants report gaining expertise with the technology is through "playing around" with the tablets. Suggestions for how to help older adults learn to use new technologies are detailed.
AB - This study examines how older adults learn to use tablet computers. Learning to use new technologies can help older adults to be included in today's digital society. However, learning to use new technologies is not always easy, especially for older adults. This study focuses on how older adults learn to use a specific technology, tablet computers, and the role that social support plays in this process. Data for this project are from 21 in-depth interviews with individuals who own tablet computers. We examine how older adults engage with tablet devices and increase their digital literacy. The findings suggest that, for older adults to start to use tablets, social support plays an important role. In addition, a key way that many participants report gaining expertise with the technology is through "playing around" with the tablets. Suggestions for how to help older adults learn to use new technologies are detailed.
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U2 - 10.1177/0733464815609440
DO - 10.1177/0733464815609440
M3 - Article
C2 - 26491029
AN - SCOPUS:85002196310
SN - 0733-4648
VL - 36
SP - 29
EP - 55
JO - Journal of Applied Gerontology
JF - Journal of Applied Gerontology
IS - 1
ER -