The impact of technological developments on the daily life of the elderly

doi:10.1016/j.techsoc.2007.04.004

Technology in Society

Volume 29, Issue 3, August 2007, Pages 361-368

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2007.04.004 Get rights and content

Abstract

American society is becoming an aging society as the number of its elderly citizens continues to increase. Thus, it is crucial that US society address issues regarding the impact of advances in technology on the daily life of the elderly. Following a recent survey of the impact caused by technological developments on the daily life of the aging population in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area, the results showed that the majority of senior citizens view advances in technology in a positive light, as they believe such advancements will produce a better quality of life for themselves and for society in general. This relates directly to a belief that it is possible for the elderly to adopt the advanced skills needed to utilize new technologies. The majority of the elderly respondents also expressed a willingness to learn these skills, although they have not yet taken any steps toward this learning process. One purpose of our research is to determine the attitudes of the elderly population toward new technology, as well as the social factors that influence these attitudes (either positive or negative) toward learning. This study suggests ways to improve available learning opportunities for the elderly, and ideas for motivating and encouraging them to take the necessary steps toward actual learning.

Introduction

America is currently dealing with issues regarding the impact of advances in technology on its ever-expanding elderly population; elders now account for 12.25% of the total population [1]. Advances in technology have helped to decrease birth rates and lengthen life expectancies, with projections estimating an increase in the number of elderly to 20% of the total population by 2025. This means that one in every five Americans will be elderly. There are many issues involved with this dramatic increase, including the impact on their daily lives of rapid technology growth.

The development of technology has, in general, provided people with a better quality, and more comfortable way, of life. When the radio was invented, for example, it dramatically changed people's way of life; information could be shared, spreading rapidly and worldwide. With the development of the Internet and e-mail, the idea of the so-called “global village” has become a reality.

New technology is generally welcomed by most people. This is especially true for our current society, where information sharing and the invention of microchips have been a major cause of rapid change in the past few decades. There is no doubt that such technological advancement has brought about changes in other industrial fields, which has inevitably had an impact on every individual's life.

There are many ways to categorize the impacts of new developments in technology on people's daily lives. For example, Ogburn [2] indicates that there are at least 150 effects directly attributable to the introduction of the radio, including education, religion, government, and politics, with comparable impacts from other inventions. Therefore, a single advancement in technology could become a major steppingstone leading not only to other inventions but also to changes in our social life, such as cultural patterns, power, and wealth [3]. It is no secret that rapid technological advancements, especially in the medical field, have helped to increase life expectancies in societies worldwide. However, technological advancements also help (or fail to help) alter other aspects of people's ways of life. The people, who accept the changes, will more than likely benefit from them; those who reject or refuse the changes will fall behind and be excluded—possibly even suffer from such advancements. Today, most elderly people are considered to be in the “falling behind” category.

Section snippets

Theoretical framework

Almost daily, the lives of the elderly are influenced by recent developments in technology, and most elderly people could benefit even more if they were not being excluded from the advancements and were better informed about them. Exclusion occurs over time, as individuals contemplate life as they grow older, become frustrated by feelings of exclusion, which can cause disengagement from social activities. Originally discussed by Cumming and Henry [4], the theory of disengagement states that

Results (see also Appendix)

This study was completed in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area in 2005, and included 160 elder respondents aged 65 and older. The goal of the study was to collect data and information both from and for local residents and policymakers. The survey questions involved categorical measures and a few open-ended questions that sought detailed attitudes, pressures, and methods of preparation for the rapid growth in the technological community.

Table 1 provides some background information on the 160

Discussion and conclusions

The results of this study show that the elderly view technology in the same way the general public, that is, they see technology as a positive and significant part of society that can and does help improve the quality of life for many people. Also, according to the results of this study, age was not found to be a significant factor influencing the willingness to learn about new technology. However, education was found to be a relatively important variable when analyzing the willingness of the

Yushi (Boni) Li is an associate professor of sociology at Northern Kentucky University. She teaches courses in sociology of aging, technology and social change, and population. Dr. Li's research includes issues surrounding the elderly and their caregivers. She is interested in cross-cultural comparisons of younger adults, their parents’ opinions about their future living arrangements, and institutionalized care services.

References (8)

J. Weeks
Population
(2005)
W. Ogburn
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M. Goldhaber
Reinventing technology: policies for democratic values
(1986)
E. Cumming et al.
Growing old: the process of disengagement
(1961)

There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

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Amanda Perkins received Bachelor degrees from Northern Kentucky University in sociology and criminal justice. Her research focuses on societal and aging issues. As a research assistant, she has co-authored a study of the technological impact on elderly people's daily behavior.

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The impact of technological developments on the daily life of the elderly

Abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

Theoretical framework

Results (see also Appendix)

Discussion and conclusions

Population

The influence of invention and discovery

Reinventing technology: policies for democratic values

Growing old: the process of disengagement