Title: Older adults as the internet users: age and gender approach

Authors: Ivana Simonova; Petra Poulova; Pavel Prazak; Blanka Klimova

Addresses: Department of English Language and Literature, University of Jan Evangelista Purkyne, Pasteurova 3544/1, 40096 Usti nad Labem, Czech Republic ' Faculty of Informatics and Management, University of Hradec Kralove, Rokitanskeho 62, 50003 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic ' Faculty of Informatics and Management, University of Hradec Kralove, Rokitanskeho 62, 50003 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic ' Faculty of Informatics and Management, University of Hradec Kralove, Rokitanskeho 62, 50003 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic

Abstract: Currently, aging has become an important topic as the amount of older adults is increasing. Therefore, there are efforts to prolong an active life of older people, and ICT, both devices and services may assist them in this process. The purpose of this study is to explore the use of the internet among older people in the Czech Republic with respect to their age and gender. The key methods exploited in this study include a questionnaire survey. The results indicate that the age is a decisive factor in the use of the internet by seniors. However, the gender seems not to belong to important factors. Generally, older people mostly use the internet for socialising (communication, sharing images), gaining information and exploiting e-services (banking, shopping). The results also suggest that they should be trained in the use of the internet and considering the collected information.

Keywords: older adults; seniors; active; age; gender; internet; internet activities; internet services; University of the Third Age; U3V; questionnaire.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIL.2020.107610

International Journal of Innovation and Learning, 2020 Vol.27 No.4, pp.467 - 482

Received: 22 Dec 2018
Accepted: 25 Mar 2019
Published online: 02 Jun 2020 *

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