Empowering the independence of older people with everyday technologies

Abstract

In this chapter, Franco explores how older people experience independence as influenced by their adoption and consumption of everyday technologies such as smartphones, tablets and computers. In so doing, this chapter offers two findings: (1) older people experience various impetuses to bring technologies into their lives which can impact upon their independence, and (2) older people face various challenges in seeking and receiving tech-help from others which can enable their uses of everyday technologies. Franco presents various implications for policymakers including the need for policies that consider and support the advantages of each source of tech-help utilised by older people.