The population of the developed countries that is over 65 is growing rapidly, and continues to expand as a result of an increase in life expectancy and decrease in birth rate. It is the challenge of the new century how families, businesses and governments will respond to the needs, preferences and lifestyle of the growing number of older adults.
Old adults are forming today an active and healthier population with improved education and considerable political and economical power, that will keep working until their mid 70-S. Computers and especially the Internet (Information technology –IT) are becoming an integrated part of our “knowledge society” both at work environment, household, education, commerce and healthcare, and communication between people (e-mail, chats, virtual groups, etc). The interactive computer applications can improve dramatically the social and economical life quality of older adults as individuals and of our society as a whole. A rapidly developing area is the E-health (E-care). Proving Interactive Health Services will decrease healthcare expenses, improve the chain of treatment, enhance quality and efficiency of healthcare, and increase the fairness and equality of the distribution of medical services mostly for elderly population and citizens of remote areas.
However, the benefits emerging from Information Technology depends upon the adaptation of the new technology to the needs, possibilities and to the willingness of the old population to use the innovative technology.
The Samuel Neaman institute published a comprehensive brochure entitled “Internet for Senior Citizens”. The manuscript presents the information available in the literature about Internet and the aging population and the problematic of Internet usage and Human Computer Interface in the light of the deleterious procedures in the perceptive, cognitive, and mechanical capabilities of senior citizens.
Several research projects are conducted in order to improve the design of Human-Internet interface for the benefits of the elderly population. Such a research will improve the use of Internet by elderly population for the personal, economical, social benefits of the senior citizen and of the entire community.
