The Council of Third Age’s survey said that half of the seniors polled are using their smartphones to surf the Net and stay connected to friends and family members.

 

Singapore seniors are using technology to stay connected and to keep active, according to the Council for Third Age (C3A), an organisation that promotes active ageing. According to a recent online survey done by C3A in August with 612 seniors aged 50 years and above from the Council’s database, more than half of the respondents use the Internet on their smartphones. Of this group, 86 percent access e-mail on their phones, 75 percent use mobile Internet to access information and news, and 57 percent use it for social media.

The survey also found that 71 percent were influenced by family members and friends in the way they use the Internet, mostly through the sharing of new and useful websites, whilst 40 percent were influenced by their children and grandchildren.

Gerard Ee, chairman of C3A, said: “Baby boomers are now more tech-savvy and IT-literate than before. They are proficient in e-mail, social media and know how to use the Internet for learning purposes and personal finance, to hunt for new activities, make travel arrangements, entertainment and more.” He said this during the launch of C3A’s one-stop portal for seniors which features news, events, activities, special deals and a directory featuring a wide range of organisations which have products and services catering to seniors’ needs and interests. (The date also coincided with the UN International Day of Older Persons.) C3A also launched a mobile and tablet app which is Apple- and Android-compatible.

C3A is working with over 84 content partners including Health Promotion Board, National Library Board (NLB), Fei Yue Community Services and NATAS. Also on its website, seniors can view selected eBooks and e-newspapers recommended by NLB. Moving forward, there will be an online banking demo site to be launched in the first quarter of 2013 that aims to familiarise seniors to the world of electronic banking. C3A is working with its banking partner POSB.

Said Senior Minister of State (Prime Minister’s Office) Heng Chee How during the launch: “The elderly have made contributions to the building of our nation. Without their contributions, Singapore will not be where we are today.”

 

(** WRITER’S NOTE: Agelessonline is one of C3A’s content partners in its portal.)

 

---