Internet use: Perceptions and experiences of visually impaired older adults

Okonji, Patrick, Lhussier, Monique, Bailey, Cathy and Cattan, Mima (2015) Internet use: Perceptions and experiences of visually impaired older adults. Journal of Social Inclusion, 6 (1). pp. 120-145. ISSN 1836-8808

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Abstract

Many older people are increasingly using the internet. This study investigated the experiences of visually impaired older people on internet use and explored how it fits into their lives. 20 visually impaired older people aged 60 years and over were recruited from a voluntary organisation for blind people. Qualitative interviews were conducted with all participants to investigate how they perceive the relevance of internet use to their daily lives. Findings suggest that the internet not only has potential to promote their ability to perform daily tasks, cope with vision impairment and feel socially included. However, the rapid pace of technological advancement is feared as a development that could further widen the digital divide if they are not carried along by addressing barriers to their internet.

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