Older Adults and Technology: Building Sustainable Systems for Adoption and Impact

Presentation at Broadband Partners and Providers ForumNovember 4, 2013

Reality Check

• Just 53% of seniors online• Seniors are nearly last in home broadband adoption• Low-income seniors 12X lower adoption• Not just computers: cell phones, apps, e-commerce, gaming

devices—a historical pattern of late adoption

Barriers to Adoption

• Social Networks -- Relevance

• Risk/Cost

• Technology Access

• Training and Support

What’s Needed

• Build sustainable systems at scale• See technology as a means to outcomes—health,

finances, etc.• Meaningful public-private partnerships• Invest in strategic, learning institutions

Senior Planet Exploration Center

• 15,000 visitors yearly• Events, trainings, coaching,

gaming, exhibits• 23 additional labs in NYC

Results• 24 labs up and running• 15,000 free classes delivered at 70

locations• Over 500 people signed up for current

classes• 40,000 unique visitors on

Seniorplanet.org• Workforce, social engagement, health,

lifelong learning results

Lessons

• Quality anchor location• Strong partnerships• Relevant content and

methodology• Distributed training• Online channel• Impact areas

Thank You!!!

• Tom Kamber• tkamber@oats.org• seniorplanet.org• oats.org