Work in Progress: Seniors' Club - Technology Club and Research Laboratory

As the older people have usually had very little experience with computers in their working years, they are in risk to be left out of the reach of many electronic services modern world both provides and requires. In order to make the increasing number of senior citizens active members of information society, user-centered and humane research approach is needed from both technology and seniors' point of view. To answer this, University of Joensuu initiated a technology club for senior citizens to learn information and communication technology and contribute to Human-Computer Interaction and Educational Technology research. During the first year of activities altogether 21 seniors, aged between 60 and 75, have collaborated with university's researchers and student tutors for mutual enlightenment in older people's approach to information technology. This paper describes the background of Seniors' Club and what happened in the club during its first year