Older Adults in an Aging Society and Social Computing: A Research Agenda

The expansion of the social computing environment as a new basis for socioeconomic activities could enhance the quality of life of older adults, but also it could make the problem of digital divide more serious. In this study, the research directions and agenda of social computing for an aging society are presented, which have two major directions: basic study and applied study. Regarding human aspects in social computing mainly dealt with in the basic study, existing research and related theories on cognitive characteristics, information usage patterns, and social network site use of older adults were examined. In the applied study, a study about the most effective contents application and interfaces through user needs analysis, usage context analysis, prototype design, and so on, was conducted. Those studies are discussed to develop applications on a PC platform, mobile platform, and IPTV platform targeting the older adults population.