Introduction of Information and Communication Technology Essay Example

and their social ties. The advancements of technology are unknown to them, and thus, they are not able to utilize the technology for their benefit. Due to the isolated feeling, they experience health issues creeping in along with a detrimental effect on their well-being, and their mortality risks increase. Therefore, to make use of a disruptive technology in a productive way, introduction of information and communication technology is recommended. It reduces the distance between them and their social connections. Cotten, Anderson and McCullough’s (2013) analysis on the impact of internet usage on senior citizens proves that technology can be used to end social isolation among people.

As people age with time, they lose connection with their social contacts due to various reasons. As a result, they start feeling an increased sense of loneliness and social isolation. This social isolation results in increased mortality risks and rising death rates among older adults (Cotten, Anderson & McCullough, 2013). Various psychological resources are provided for them to support their feeling of social connectedness, so as to promote their well-being and health. One such recommended solution is information and communication technology. The introduction of this technology would help reduce the sense of loneliness among the senior citizens (Cotten, Anderson & McCullough, 2013).

They might feel more connected by using this technology as it reduces the distance between them and their social network. Chen and Schulz (2016) state that information and communication technology, in most cases, served as ausefulapproach for the older adults to remain in touch with others and extend their social connections. It is imperative to make a note that older adult’s use of latest technologies and internet especially improves

their social associations. This approach is has been critical in finding a solution for the high mortality rate among the elderly people.

Social isolation, in general, is an untested concept. The incomplete inspection of the concept as a multidimensional paradigm may possibly be a consequence of the deficiency of a proper scale along with limited data (Yao & Zhong, 2014). However, some researchers show that with proper training, the elderly can benefit from information and communication technology interventions. Furthermore, customized training are required for the elderly, as they face certain physical, social and spatial barriers (Cotten, Anderson & McCullough, 2013). There are diverse methods by which information and communication technologies affect various types of isolation and social assistance amongst the older adults.

Information technology can be used to cure social isolation in the elder adults (Yao & Zhong, 2014). However, research indicates that Information and Communication Technology interference is a one-time solution. Research further shows that the mitigation provided for social isolation and loneliness in the form of Information and Communication technology is a short-term one (Cotten, Anderson & McCullough, 2013). Therefore, the generalization potential of the outcome is narrow. Further assessment is therefore required to check wider their applicability.

In addition, the outcome of certain analyses has put forward that information and communication technology usage does not promise thequality of communication (Cotten, Anderson & McCullough, 2013). As a result, exploring how to employ information and communication technology for producing quality communication among the senior people and other people could be a potential topic for future studies on loneliness and social separation. Cotten, Anderson, and McCullough (2013) tries as much to give specific data to exhibit that even

though Information and Communication Technology and increased internet usage is detrimental for the social interactions, it can be utilized in a positive manner to solve the same issue it creates, i.e., social isolation.

Internet usage among the elderly people has been on the rise in the recent years (Chen & Schulz, 2016). See Figure 1 showing a graph of the percentage of the internet users in each age group who use social networking sites, over time. It shows that the elder people age group of 65+ showed an inclined growth in internet usage. It can be understood that with time the usage of internet has multiplied among the older adults age group and a surge has been noted. It means that the introduction of information and communication technology among this age group would benefit the community as a whole, by improving the connectivity between the adults and their social ties.

Social isolation and loneliness are amongstthe risk aspects thathave harmful effects on older adults’ health (Chen & Schulz, 2016).It is thus imperative to enhanceunderstanding of this concern within the society and suggests substitute solutions to lessen the influence of social isolation amongst the seniors. A variety of technologies is being employed to improve social connectedness among the elderly people (Chen & Schulz, 2016).Large quantities of research point out that ICT practice might assist older adults to retain contact with social links with relations happening both online and offline. Internet usage can also lessen the negative effect of geographic distance for senior citizens, with scattered families, more and more utilizing the internet as the prime medium of communication by which they maintain generational connections (Campbell, 2014).

There is an

immaculate correlation involving technology and social isolation in older adults, especially those living in assisted and independent living communities. Thoughts about loneliness instead of social isolation elements were establishedto be a critical risk factor for escalating mortality in older adults (Chen & Schulz, 2016). Understanding properly the characteristics of this relationship might help to develop the condition of life and existence, particularly in older adults. Making use of the Internet among senior citizens in assisted and independent living communities might be advantageous for lessening loneliness and multiplyingsocial connection (Campbell, 2014).

Studies such as that of Cotten, Anderson, and McCullough (2013), point out that Internet usage is connected with lower stages of loneliness amongst inhabitants of assisted and independent living communities. Furthermore, among the generalpublic, employing the internet to maintain contact with relatives and acquaintances has been related with welfare, further presenting adefense for the proposal that being available online can possibly be advantageous for older population (Mahmoudi, Amini & Hosseinzadeh, 2014).As formal care communities are capable of encouraging social commitment between inhabitants, sustaining subsisting Information and Communication Technology programs and starting fresh ones in groups without the same may well be favorable for nurturing associations among inhabitants in addition to with other people in their public networks.

However, the available evidence supporting the use of information technology to promote societal relationships among the seniors is not sufficient. There is a requirement for further well-formulated research on the consequence of information and communication technology interferences on the social segregation of older adults. However, it is still clear that Information and communication technology, on the whole, is a potential device for dealing with loneliness and social detachment of the

older adults, except it is not in favor of each senior and cannot be generalized (Chen & Schulz, 2016). Care providers need to recognize whom among the senior citizens can most profit from information and communication technology usage and how the guidance and execution of such interference must be modified to make the most of its consequence presents immense value for experimental practice. Additionally, with the rapid growth ininformation and communication technology, the efficiency of other sorts of interferences (like cell phone-based immediate texting applications and YouTube videos) in diminishing social loneliness and isolation ought to be empirically scrutinized (Mahmoudi, Amini & Hosseinzadeh, 2014). Outcomes of such study can make possible inventive and effectual practice of information and communication technology-based social loneliness and isolation interferences for adult people.

It is clear that older adults suffer from social isolation and loneliness, and this affects their health and social well-being. It is also clear that technology plays a role in creating social isolations. However, using the same technology in solving the issue it creates, even if in a different community or age group, is a good example of proper utilization of resources and advancements. Finally, the older adults do not have to feel left out anymore. They now have a way to remain up-to-date and in contact with their social ties. As some studies suggest, Information and communication technology (ICT), along with other current technologies, are the best solutions to this problem.

References

1. Campbell, T.A. (2014). iPads, iPods and technology-enabled isolation: If we’re so connected, why are we so alone?. GSTF Journal of Music (JMusic), 1(1).
2. Chen, Y. R. R., & Schulz, P. J. (2016). The effect of information communication technology
   

interventions on reducing social isolation in the elderly: A systematic review. Journal of medical Internet research, 18(1).