Computer hardware and software interfaces: why the elderly are under-represented as computer users.
Historically, personal computer usage by older users has been very low, and some have attributed it to lack of interest on the part of the elderly. This article argues that until recent years concepts of universal design were not implemented in hardware and software computer interfaces due to limitation in computing power and oversight by personal computer developers. The article describes how ownership and usage of personal computers has increased steadily since 1980s with older users reaching close to their population share only in recent years. A parallel between human origins and computer development is used to illustrate how developmental changes in computer design blocked or increased access to and ownership of personal computers. The paper concludes by implying that rapid changes in computer technology and design will increase computer usage by older users, however the computer design for the elderly should remain an important objective for computer developers.
Bucur
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University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA. albucur@usc.edu
Kwon
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