Towards Understanding E-Government with Older People and Designing an Inclusive Platform with them - Preliminary Results of a Rapid Ethnographical Study

Abstract

The ageing population and the growing importance of e-government reinforce the need for further e-government research with older people. We have conducted a rapid ethnographical study aimed at understanding attitudes of older people towards e-government related activities and Information and Communication Technologies. We present initial results derived from our study and discuss a potential scenario for supporting information sharing and promoting a more active and dynamic participation of older people in their neighborhood, which we consider a relevant aspect of e-government with older people. Our initial findings suggest that a variety of inclusive aspects, such as socialization, face-to-face contact, or mutual support impact the use and adoption of e-services by older people.