Digital Tools for SeniorsKnight School of Communication at Queens

Digital Literacy

➜the ability to use information and communication technologies to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information.

10,000Americans who will turn 65 today

30%Growth in Charlotte’s 65 and older population

91%American Adults who own cell phones

➜Healthcare

➜Entertainment

➜Business

➜Civic Engagement

➜Reconnecting with Family

So what happened at Queens?

8

➜A study released by the Pew Research Center in April 2014 indicated that many older Americans remain largely unattached from online and mobile life

41% Do not use internet at all

23%Do not use cell phones

53%Do not have broadband access at home

Method ➜ Knight Scholars Interviewed

Seniors at the Cornwell Center at Myers Park Baptist Church

Findings Initially ….➜ How to send pictures via. text

and email ➜ How to download apps➜ Accessing Email ➜ Facebook➜ Google Searching

Later on… ➜ The Cloud➜ Connecting to Wifi

➜Interactive toolkit hosted on Digital Charlotte, tailored to fit the needs of senior citizens.

➜Easy to read PDF Tutorials

➜Video Tutorials➜Digital Literacy Map➜Glossary ➜Dynamic

81%Send or receive texts

52%Send or receive email

60%Access the internet

All Adults 18+ Adults 65+

35%

19%

17%

50%Download apps

21%Video calls or chats

48%

Listen to music

Adults 65+

14%8%3%

All Adults 18+

8%Location Sharing

3%

Questions?

Christine Edwardsedwardsc@queens.edu

www.digitalcharlotte.org