The traditional tertiary services approach is now questioned by the new technologies revolution, opening discussion regarding the existence of a quaternary sector. There is no doubt that the internet has changed people’s lives, especially since the beginning of the 21st Century. However, limited research exists about its impact on our ageing process.
Dr. Llorente-Barroso, Dr. Viñarás-Abad and Dr. Sánchez-Valle have carried out a study that aimed to find out the usefulness of the internet for the eldest in society, as well as explain the potential of the intranet to encourage an active ageing. The study included participants with an age range of 56 to 81, where answers and reactions provided valuable results. Focusing on the possibilities for those ageing in the internet era, results show that there are four areas of interest: information, communication, transactions and administration, leisure and entertainment. The internet can be used to optimise their quality of life in relation to these categories.
Bearing in mind that according to the UN, Spain will have the third eldest population in the world by 2050, research that promotes ways of inclusion and progress between the old population and the digitalised world are more than interesting and worth reading. Do not miss your chance to find out details about the above-mentioned article in the following link.
Llorente-Barroso, C., Viñarás-Abad, M. & Sánchez-Valle, M. (2015). Internet and the Elderly: Enhancing Active Ageing [Mayores e Internet: La Red como fuente de oportunidades para un envejecimiento activo]. Comunicar, 45, 29-36. (DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.3916/C45-2015-03).
