Abstract:

The paper presents an investigation based on two related facts that define the problem under study: a) the rise in life expectancy and quality in older people; we live in a superannuated social context; the UN warns that in 2050, half of the European population will be over 65; and b) The importance of the Internet and the increase in its use by older people, that make use of these resources through necessity or social imperative. Data from Telefónica’s Society of Information (SiE2016) indicates that the biggest increase in Internet use was in the age bracket of 55-64 (59.3%). Our aim is to identify suitable uses for technology and virtual environments. We intend to identify how older people can integrate technology in their lives, but also how they face and deal with the digital gap between cultural and social fields, because they do not have the skills required to use common digital devices in their daily lives yet. We need to recognise the profile with which older people manage their access to the digital environment to design educational, training and even recreational programs with a social purpose that are adapted to the needs of the group.

Methodology:
A quantitative non-experimental method was used in this research, using descriptive-correlational method through the study of surveys. The sample consists of 1651 subjects enrolled in seven senior university programs (Active Aging program). The instrument used in the research is a questionnaire composed mainly of Likert scales and it consists of three categories 1) sociodemographic data, 2) frequency of use of digital technologies and uses and 3) use of technologies for training purposes. Descriptive parameters were obtained through the analysis of frequencies and average scores. An analysis of variance (ANOVAs) was carried out to verify the differences in the use of technological devices for educational purposes according to gender, educational level and urban or rural origin.

Conclusions:
Mobile phones and computers are the most frequently used types of technology by older people. Among different uses of digital technologies in this sample, the most common use is to communicate with their relatives or to look up information. Even though the results show that, in general, they have an internet connection, we found a group of people who occasionally consult electronic documents through the Internet, who rarely use e-mail for educational purposes or virtual platforms in their profession and have never or almost never carried out any online training experience.

Significant differences in access to the Internet have been found, older people in urban environments have greater access than those who live in rural areas, occurring similarly in the use of virtual platforms in their profession. Significant differences have also been found in all the items analyzed according to sex, concluding that men use electronic devices more frequently for training purposes than women. In the same way, regarding the level of studies, we can say that there is a greater use of electronic devices amongst people with a higher educational level than those without education studies or primary studies.The results allow us to conclude that, although the digital society is currently demanding a widespread use of technologies with different purposes, adults and older adults still have difficulties in accessing and using it, especially when we specifically refer to access to virtual spaces with formative purpose.

Keywords:

Older people, Internet, virtual environments, digital devices, technology integration.