Technology knows no age

It seems that, nowadays, the cult of youth and newness corners old age. Since when has this been happening? Our parents did not marginalize the previous generation… Since they treat us more as consumers than as citizens. Large companies, which have a lot of power, create a social stereotype of success linked to youth and beauty. The important thing is not so much to be as to seem, to show a happy profile, and that stereotype is very far from what older people are. In the end, we conclude that they are not cool, they are not hip. But, in reality, they can guide us in so many things… They have the experience of a lifetime!

You have researched and written about media literacy for older people, and currently collaborate with Obra Social "la Caixa" on various initiatives linked to older people and new technologies. How did you become interested in the topic? It caught my attention that my mother, who was 69 years old, had been a teacher and had just completed two computer courses, was asking me very basic computer questions, such as "how to upload a document to a website". I thought: "There's something here." We weren't teaching them well and that was leaving them out of the game. We started setting up many discussion groups and attending many classes to see how they did it.

And what did you conclude? What needed to be changed in the classes? First, the teachers should not be so young, so that they understand the circumstances of the students and transmit better. Then, we have found that it is preferable to go slower and ensure knowledge than to complete the program. Older people need to repeat a lot. Then there is the diversity of levels in the classes, which is solved by having the more advanced students mentor the others. And of course, there are other issues, such as the font size, often too small, or the laptop mouse, which requires a tactile precision that they do not always have. But well, in the end the key is empathy. Understanding someone who has little education, or has never seen a computer in their life, or has an older computer at home and doesn't recognize the icons in class…

What feedback do they give you at the end? They are very satisfied and fulfilled. They tell you: "These classes have been great for me, because my children are in Canada and thanks to knowing how to use Skype now I can see my grandchildren." Or: "Thanks to Facebook I have managed to get back in touch with a lot of university friends and I meet them for coffee."

You claim that technology is more useful for the elderly than for other social groups. Yes, because it allows them to access a series of services that others don't need as much. For example, if an elderly person needs to buy milk or water, which are very heavy, by doing it online, it's delivered to their home. Or by interacting with public administration online, they save themselves from going to do paperwork at a place that is very far away. Another of their problems, especially when they become widowed, is loneliness. And new technologies put them in contact with family, old friends, etc.

Is it never too late to learn? Never. Look, in my research, we have done discussion groups with elderly people, and there was an 88-year-old lady with mobility and vision problems who was the most proficient with Facebook and everything. She was a hacker by a miracle!

Do you think all elderly people are interested in new technologies? Because many say they pass... That is due to technological anxiety. They are afraid of not being good at it, of breaking something, of pressing the wrong button and deleting everything... But if you ask them if they believe technology is necessary, the vast majority tell you yes.

What can we do, on a personal level? First, get them to give it a chance. Tell them: "Look, once you've tried it, if you don't like it, you leave it, but try it." And, above all, be patient. When I sit with my mother at the computer, after three minutes I also want to leave. But we have to remember when we were little clumsy kids and they taught us to add with all the patience. Let's give them back everything they gave us.

What would a society with well-integrated elderly people be like? There would be more intergenerational communication, less loneliness, easier medical assistance, a richer political debate (given that political discussion today is on Twitter, Facebook, blogs, etc.)... And then there are the intangibles, such as our elderly would be more satisfied with a more active life, or that I could send Barça jokes to my father —who is also a big culé but doesn't use WhatsApp— and it would be great to be able to integrate him into the football group and share more with him. If we want a full and dignified society, let's integrate and let elderly people participate. Let's remember that in 2020, 1 out of 4 people will be over 65 years old. They are the future of our society.

Interview: Ana Portolés Photography: Miriam Herrera

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