This article examines the role of information and communication technology (ICT) in relation to older people and their quality of life. The authors begin with this quote: "You can measure the quality of a civilization in two crucial ways: how it educates young people and prepares them for adulthood and how it regards older citizens and provides for their health and happiness."(H. H. Humphrey).

According to the authors, "older people face huge challenges, particularly social exclusion, age discrimination in the work force, and poor access to social protection programs, health care, and opportunities to interact and generate income. Most of them are illiterate and have no access to pension schemes. Moreover, many are facing chronic disease, and visual, hearing, or physical disabilities." Statistics show that the number of older people over the age of 60 will increase from "600 million today to almost two billion in 2050. In less developed regions, the rise will be from 32 million to 265 million..."

The authors believe that there is a need to redefine "aging" so that "independence, participation, care, self-fulfillment, and dignity" are incorporated. They point out that sustained development must include a balance between "social, economic, and environmental factors, and adequate changes responsive to population growth distribution and age structure."

The authors make reference to several international instruments that are directed to older people. In 2002, the Second World Assembly on Ageing in Spain, adopted the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing which promote access to ICTs for older persons. The use of technology to support independent living for older people is included "in many government policy documents."

Concerns on the part of the authors include "the lack of adequate care and services for older people is still very common in the developing world, and their situation is even worse in low-income and rural communities." And, "older citizens are commonly excluded from social and economic activities and many are fully marginalized in most senses." ICT can work toward removing these barriers by expanding interactivity and opening opportunities for older people. And now that government information, education, job and business opportunities are available on the internet, as well as health services (in both developed and developing countries), "the need to bring older persons to access the information highway is greater than ever."

The authors point out that from country to country the reasons differ for why older persons do not use the internet. In developing countries, considerations include a lack of access, prohibitive costs or issues of infrastructure. In spite of the different issues faced by older persons, according to this article "older persons have the same capabilities to learn new skills as their younger counterparts."

In conclusion, according to Professor Davis, "information and communication technology (ICT) can be effectively used to improve the quality of life for older persons, both by enhancing individual employability of knowledge, which can lead to an increasingly active involvement of older persons, and by creating networks of Internet-based information, training, and support, as well as systems of social and health services. In turn, ICT is likely to lead to an increasingly active involvement of all generations in society."

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