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. 2017 Jan;36(1):29-55.
doi: 10.1177/0733464815609440. Epub 2015 Oct 21.

Social Support and "Playing Around": An Examination of How Older Adults Acquire Digital Literacy With Tablet Computers

Hsin-Yi Sandy Tsai  1 , Ruth Shillair  2 , Shelia R Cotten  2
Affiliations

Social Support and "Playing Around": An Examination of How Older Adults Acquire Digital Literacy With Tablet Computers

Hsin-Yi Sandy Tsai et al. J Appl Gerontol. 2017 Jan.

Abstract

This study examines how older adults learn to use tablet computers. Learning to use new technologies can help older adults to be included in today's digital society. However, learning to use new technologies is not always easy, especially for older adults. This study focuses on how older adults learn to use a specific technology, tablet computers, and the role that social support plays in this process. Data for this project are from 21 in-depth interviews with individuals who own tablet computers. We examine how older adults engage with tablet devices and increase their digital literacy. The findings suggest that, for older adults to start to use tablets, social support plays an important role. In addition, a key way that many participants report gaining expertise with the technology is through "playing around" with the tablets. Suggestions for how to help older adults learn to use new technologies are detailed.

Keywords: digital literacy; learning; older adults; social support; tablet computers.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests

The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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