Location
Portland State University
Start Date
5-3-2014 9:30 AM
End Date
5-3-2014 11:30 AM
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/26357
Description
In an era where technological advances are made on almost a daily basis, there are still many people who aren’t able or are scared to use modern technology. While computers and phones get smarter and more powerful, they are also getting smaller and more precise. Trying to push a tiny button, either real or virtual, can be a real problem for those who suffer from arthritis.
According to www.arthritis.org, over 50 million people are diagnosed with arthritis, most of which are senior citizens. Many of these seniors don’t use technology to its full potential because they simply can’t. For some, it’s physically difficult with all the small keys and the pain in the wrist from using a mouse. For others, it’s simply too frustrating, with too many buttons, too many programs, and constantly being scared that they’ll do something wrong and break the computer. Many of us who grew up with technology may laugh at this, even though it is a real concern.
While many of these elderly people limit or even entirely refuse to use technology, they still want to stay in touch in loved ones, take care of their finances, shop, and do a number of other things that are all easily done on a computer.
Fieldwork Journal
Tech for Arthritis
Portland State University
In an era where technological advances are made on almost a daily basis, there are still many people who aren’t able or are scared to use modern technology. While computers and phones get smarter and more powerful, they are also getting smaller and more precise. Trying to push a tiny button, either real or virtual, can be a real problem for those who suffer from arthritis.
According to www.arthritis.org, over 50 million people are diagnosed with arthritis, most of which are senior citizens. Many of these seniors don’t use technology to its full potential because they simply can’t. For some, it’s physically difficult with all the small keys and the pain in the wrist from using a mouse. For others, it’s simply too frustrating, with too many buttons, too many programs, and constantly being scared that they’ll do something wrong and break the computer. Many of us who grew up with technology may laugh at this, even though it is a real concern.
While many of these elderly people limit or even entirely refuse to use technology, they still want to stay in touch in loved ones, take care of their finances, shop, and do a number of other things that are all easily done on a computer.
Comments
Mentors: Branden Driver, Tanya Kindrachuk
Tech for Arthritis is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.