EquTech

  Background: Due to fast industrialization and the process of becoming a society based on new technology and information, people are being left behind. A notable example of this is the elderly. In this global problem, this article will seek to venture deeper into the problem faced in South Korea. The elderly have trouble accessing modern technology such as kiosks and smartphones. For people aged 70 and higher, only 46.6% had reached digitization compared to the Korean average. This rate is lower than for people with disabilities, low-income people, farmers, and fishermen. According to the National Human Rights Commission of Korea, digital devices are not elderly-friendly and create an uncomfortable environment. Here are two examples, The first example is the kiosk. Kiosks are hard to use for the elderly because first, there is too much information. Kiosks have visual crowding, meaning they have a lot of visual information in a limited space. According to a study by Alabama Unive...

1. Background  Technology has evolved over time. Unfortunately, not all of us can adapt, and I am referring to the group of older adults who are finding it increasingly difficult to use apps and websites. Our society is becoming increasingly dependent on these technologies, as they make our lives and processes easier. The fact that an older adult has a device shows their need and motivation to learn, since through it they can manage services related to Administrations, make appointments with medical specialists, talk to family or friends or stay in touch with those who are far away. But why does this happen? The prestigious journal Neuron, which publishes articles related to neurons and cells, has published a study in which the cause is the deterioration of neurons related to learning and which are called giant cholinergic interneurons of the striatum. As we grow older, these neurons deteriorate, and learning to process things in a new way becomes more complicated, but no...

For younger generations like ours, technologies like smartphones and Apple Pay have become essential. However there are people in the world who have difficulty using this kind of technology. This blog is about how older adults feel about technology. Japanese examples Here I will write about Japanese examples. 1, https://www.kojinbango-card.go.jp/en/ Japan has a government-created system called the My Number Card. This card is a convenient card that can be used as an ID card at hospitals, banks, etc. This is a system created by the government in recent years and citizens need to create their own cards using their smartphones and other devices. Many older people have a hard time getting this card made, and many have not done so yet. 2, https://paypay.ne.jp/store/ In Japan, there is a QR code payment tool called paypay. In Japan, many people buy things with cash, but this is a convenient system that allows you to shop with just your smartphone. This is also difficult for the elderly who h...

  With the world adapting to this new way of living, centered around technology, we commonly find our older predecessors needing help catching up. And this isn’t a United States issue. It’s not an Argentina issue. It’s found in every country with access to these addicting screens. In interviews with my grandparents in Argentina, they shared their experiences and struggles with evolving their daily lives with the world in their pockets. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Argentinean Examples  Online Banking Platforms - Santander Rio, BBVA Argentina, Galicia, Macro https://www.santander.com.ar/personas  https://www.bbva.com.ar/ https://www.galicia.ar/personas https://www.macro.com.ar/home-page All of these online banking platforms provide what is supposed to be accessibility, but elderly people still find themselves in distress when wanting to handle their finances from home. In th...

South Korea: The elderly near us (grandparents) did not express major difficulties in daily life when using technology. However, they did not have full access to the technologies commonly used in Korea.  Japan:  Although the grandparents I interviewed were doing relatively well with technology, I found that they did not have an adequate support system. Companies and governments that create technology need to have adequate support systems in place for the future.