Connecting communities: Designing a social media platform for older adults living in a senior village

Abstract

In order to develop an appropriate social computing application for senior users, the salient point of this research was to explore social and physical environments of a senior living community and social interaction between aging residents, and to investigate the key factors of technology acceptance for those older adults with little or no computer knowledge. The next step was to give an appropriate alternative communication technology applicable to the elderly and their living milieu, and thereby enhance their social interaction. The area of study was also concerned with determining social communication, perceived ease of use, enjoyment, and satisfaction for the new digital social platform via the technology acceptance model. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.