INTERNET RESOURCES FOR THE ELDERLY PEOPLE: DEMAND AND USABILITY

The Internet audience is increasing every year, and the age group of the elderly people also increases very constantly. But the elderly is a specific audience with specific requirements for the usability and content of Internet web-sites. Web-interface is the main communication channel between the person and the system. The concept of the user interface includes not only the picture which the user see at a screen, but also the ways of user interaction with the system. Each new program or web-site can have its own target audience and should take into account the needs and specifics of the audience. However, at the present little attention is given to a group of Internet users over the age of 55-60. Physical and cognitive characteristics of older users should be taken into account when designing computer interfaces. The article analyzes the demand for the intemet usage by the elderly and practice of testing user interfaces for the elderly people (including eye-tracer tool). During our research, we also analyzed user activity statistics provided by the search engines especially the requests focused on topics giving attention for search requests in four areas: Job for the elderly, Pension, Active longevity, Electronic services for the elderly. In order to study the demand for e-services among the elderly we also analyzed the list of services at a united portal of public and municipal electronic services of the Russian Federation, as well as on the Portal of public services in St. Petersburg.