building a virtual community of Swedish senior citizens interested in ICT as a communication and service tool meeting at the website SeniorNet Sweden
starting and supporting local SeniorNet clubs which act as social learning centers focussing on ICT-competence. "More ICT-experienced seniors train less ICT-experienced seniors" is the motto.
arranging ICT-activities and projects involving senior citizens, e g SeniorSurf each October in collaboration with 100 Swedish libraries and sponsors. Some 50.000 seniors have accepted the invitation to learn about computers and Internet.
promoting development of ICT-tools in the service of user friendliness especially as related to needs of seniors in society. SeniorNet can offer research groups and private companies testbeds where SeniorNet members can function as competent focus groups for ICT-development purposes.
SeniorNet Sweden was inspired by the SeniorNet Organisation in the US and has a national organisation with a board and a small office as well as 52 regional clubs (as of December 2011) spread over the country, in total about 8.500 members.
Sweden and ICT-use
Sweden is rapidly developing into a nation of computer users. Statistics confirm that Sweden invests more in Information and Communication Technology than any other European country, and reaches top levels of most relevant metrics, such as ownership of mobile phones, accessing PCs and the Internet, now increasingly by broadband access.
In addition to the spreading international market place on Internet, a great number of services, commercial and social, is beginning to make use of Internet and as a result tend to shut down real life services. Bank and post offices close down along with many small shops, as well as health centres, and other community services, that have been accessible to seniors in the neighborhood. Government agencies now prepare to give 24-hour services online. Thus, access to the new ICT-techniques becomes a necessity in our society.
In contrast to the low figures of ICT-adoption among elderly in the national statistics, SeniorNet membership demonstrate among its members a keen interest in ICT-use in old age. More than 20 % of our members are above 75 years of age.
SeniorNet Sweden website
The website is the virtual meeting point for all members with news from SeniorNet central as well as from all the local clubs about their programs and activities. Articles cover ICT-news of interest to the members , new social legislation, national SeniorNet projects and members have access to the central membership database. Ample chances for interaction is provided in about 30 discussion groups in various subject areas as well as online chat. One of the discussion groups - ComputerSavvy - is well frequented by members with pressing computer problems and they get instant help from more competent members. There are also areas online covering ICT-training material developed for members with different skill levels, medical and social articles, economic articles and buying suggestions as well as links grouped in some 40 subject areas. Members also publish their creative pieces - short stories, artwork, homepages and an impressive historical jazz series in 36 sections.
Social economy and life-long learning in local SeniorNet clubs
Increased attention now is directed at the social economy in modern society with emphasis on social responsibility, participation of citizens, social capital and local control. In the social networks of SeniorNet clubs, seniors meet regularly to improve their skills in ICT-use. Some local clubs use the public libraries and their computers, other clubs cooperate with local training enterprises. Special educational materials for seniors is being developed by enthusiastic SeniorNet members, and impressive programs with guest speakers and study visits are carried out each year.
In 2001 during the European Conference The Social Capital of the Future SeniorNet Sweden was given a prestigous award for the most innovative use of ICT within the social economy by the Swedish IT-commission and the Institute for Social Economy.
Learning about senior ICT-use
SeniorNet members have also been researched in a recently published doctoral dissertation by Sirkku Männikkö-Barbutiu (2002) - Senior Cyborgs - About appropriation of personal computers among some Swedish elderly people, a social anthropological dissertation on senior culture of living with new technology.
For further information about SeniorNet Sweden, please e-mail to kansli@seniornet.se or visit the Swedish webpages SeniorNet Sweden
SeniorNet Sweden
Flintbacken 6 nb, S-118 42 STOCKHOLM
Phone +46 8 658 14 60 (10.00-12.00)
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