Abstract

00 H sham & Edwards
are based on a Malaysian case study. This case study refers to the pilot projects, the
Warga Emas Networks and Eagle Nest, that were organised in collaboration with The
Malaysian Institute of Microelectronic Systems (MIMOS) and the former Ministry
of National Unit and Social Development of Malaysia. Related examples and data
were also taken from interviews with older adults at senior citizens centres, and a
survey of awareness and usage of computers by senior citizens in Malaysia that was
conducted in September 2005 by the first-named author. It is hope that the examples,
based on the Malaysia scenario, will have broader significance. Most existing work
on elderly users and the Internet primarily focuses on the elderly users in more
developed regions such as UK, U.S., and Japan. There are a number of new factors
introduced when one considers the situation in developing regions, including to
cultural differences, demographic variables, and applicable legislation.
Referring to the World Wide Web (WWW), the user survey (Cultural Issues Questionnaires)
conducted by the Graphics, Visualisation and Usability Center, Georgia
Institute of Technologies, Atlanta, has shown that cultural preferences and biases
affect user satisfaction and performance while browsing the Internet. For example,
some Middle Eastern and European respondents stated that American images make
the computer harder to learn, while Asian and American respondents believe American
images have no effect on learning. What is more, Asian respondents suggest that if
the Web sites were designed for their language and culture, more people would be
willing to use the Web (Barber & Badre, 1998). Though the survey was not specifically
targeting elderly users, nevertheless, it showed that cultural differences and biases
exist among the Internet users regardless of their age group. Those dissimilarities,
especially in the ageing group, would be new challenges and prospective areas for
future research and trends in universal Web design.
What. do.we. Need.to....................
Know.about.Ageing?
Gregor, Newell, and Zajicek (2002) states that the elderly can be categorised into
three different groups:
• Fit elderly who do not appear—nor would consider themselves—disabled, but
whose functionality, needs, and wants are different to those they had when
they were younger.
• Frail elderly who would be considered to have one or more disabilities, often
severe ones, but in addition, will have a general reduction in many of their
functionalities.
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