IndexIntroductionThe ProblemLack of Attention to the ElderlyBarriersIntroductionBiological FactorsLack of Instruction and GuidanceFearMental HealthConclusionCurrent SystemsTarget AudienceSocial ConsiderationsEthical ConsiderationsIntroductionAccording to the "Bank My Cell" blog, there are "1 billion more mobile connections than people in the world” (Turner, 2019). This is a community from which the older generation has been somewhat marginalized due to a lack of technological knowledge. We have become so accustomed to growing up with technology that we tend not to imagine the. idea of ​​not being able to use it, it should be our responsibility to help include these people who are not familiar with this technological world “Designers and manufacturers are deliberately ignoring the over-50s when creating new products and services. Logically, older people choose not to use products that have nothing to offer them” (Panda Security Mediacenter, 2019). When writing a research-based argumentative essay on technology, it is important to consider the potential exclusion of older generations and the ethical and social complexities that come with it, while also highlighting the benefits of technology to their mental health and overall well-being. being. My project will focus on encouraging the older generation to become more confident and enthusiastic about the world of computing and technology. This documentation will address the current obstacles they may face when trying to learn to use the technology, as well as considering the ethical and social complexities that come with it. The overall aim of this project is to get older people excited about using technology. There are ever-increasing advancements in technology that are becoming more and more integrated into our lives every day, if the older generation excluded themselves from using technology, they would lose themselves in the technological world. This project will offer older generations a platform specifically tailored to their needs, allowing them to explore means of self-help and communication that will have a positive impact on their mental health, resulting in an enthusiastic use of technology that they have never experienced before. The problem Lack of attention to the elderly Technology and computing are constantly evolving and we have become a digital world, much of this digital world is due to communication and the ability to obtain information. The results of a Quartz article (Murphy, 2019) are shown in Figure 1, with this graph you can see that mobile subscriptions are growing faster than the population, according to Gadget cover "we can estimate around 92-95% of millennials in the UK has a smartphone” (Priestley, 2019). Furthermore, statistics from Tiger Mobiles report that among all mobile phone users in the UK only “around 16% of these people are aged over 65” (Henshaw, 2019). ) Compared to the number of millennials who own and use a smartphone, you can understand why logically most new app developers will focus on adapting their products to a younger audience because they represent the majority of users so frequent of new smartphones and apps and with the advancement of technology ever faster, the older generation tends to be left behind. One reason is that it can be difficult to satisfy older people due to their lack of interest and knowledge on how approach and use technology, especially if they have never used itBefore. Barriers Introduction In this section I will explore and highlight some barriers that have proven to be a common cause of older adults' lack of enthusiasm towards technology. Biological Factors Although older people are interested in learning new computer skills, there are a known number of barriers that pose a significant challenge to older generations. A blog post in Easy Tech Seniors discusses the "biological part of the struggle" to learn new things as you get older. “As our bodies age, our biological processes change and this can also affect our brain. These changes can affect mental function, even in healthy older adults” (EasyTechSeniors, 2019). This shows that there is evidence to suggest that older people find it harder to stay focused due to the natural biological factors that come with aging and therefore can make things like learning to use technology difficult. Lack of Instruction and Guidance Apart from this, another obstacle that discourages seniors from using technology is the lack of instruction or guidance for less technically minded older users. A study on “Older Adults' Perceptions of Technology and Barriers to Interacting with Tablets” found that lack of instruction had a large negative impact on user attitudes toward learning new technologies. They concluded that “the majority of our participants were eager to adopt new technology and willing to learn using a tablet. However, they expressed concern about the lack or lack of clarity in instructions and support” (Vaportzis, Clausen, & Gow, 2017). This is a key factor to take into consideration when developing this project, especially in the user interface design process. The instructions must be clear; many people of the older generation are not familiar with the technological terms that people today are used to, for example "app", these terms can only confuse the user and discourage him. There must be considerable user support throughout the use of the application; this should include options to help any visual or hearing limitations. You should also consider that human intervention may be needed to help guide you through the introduction to the application. Fear: Some older people will reject digital technology out of fear, Science Daily reported that “fear of doing something wrong when using software is a significant factor holding back technology use among older adults” (ScienceDaily, 2018). Understanding the technology used can lead to stress and avoidance of technological devices. Personal worries create a big block in people's minds that make it even more difficult to approach any kind of learning about the use of applications. Security and privacy threats fuel fears of technology: Older adults are concerned about the potential for new technologies to compromise their privacy and the potential for invasions of personal and financial security” (Dahlke, Lindeman, & Ory, 2019). These concerns must also be addressed and clearly explained to the older user in a way that does not send them into panic but leads them to understand the control they have over their information, when to share it and with whom. Mental Health As we age there are several changes in life that can negatively affect our health, especially our mental health. In recent years mental health has increasingly become a topic of discussion, Age UK reported that“nearly half of adults aged over 55 say they have experienced depression and around the same number have suffered from anxiety” (Ageuk.org.uk, 2018). According to the World Health Organization, “older adults are more likely to experience events such as bereavement or a decline in socioeconomic status in retirement. All these stressors can cause isolation, loneliness or psychological distress in older people, for whom they may require long-term care” (Who.int, 2017). As we age, we need to be aware that our mental wellbeing can have the same effect on our lives as our physical wellbeing and this is something that could be improved with the help of technology. Conclusion Elderly people who are computer illiterate or those who suffer from the above barriers need specific guidance and help when it comes to learning to use technology. However, this should not be a community forgotten but encouraged to join the movement with the advancements in technology. This project aims to provide a starting point for users to encourage them to overcome their "computer anxiety" (Igi-global.com, 2019) while benefiting from the positive effects that applications can have on their health. Current Systems There are apps that can create new ways to introduce technology into seniors' lives and I have chosen a few that I think are relevant to my topic and could help me with my project. "Easy Tablet Help for Seniors" is an app that provides simple step-by-step instructions to teach seniors how to use tablets. The instructions are presented in large text and simple language, many of the instructions are combined with images of applications to aid understanding. This is an approach that will be incorporated into the project, as older people will need clear and precise instructions to fully understand what is happening and how the app works. Another application that influenced the project was “Mobile age”; this is a platform created specifically for older people to encourage their social health. It allows them to have profiles and explore events near them. It includes the elements they consider most relevant, for example on the event map the transport locations are clearly indicated, as well as the toilets and benches. Any event they choose to attend is on a calendar and this reminds them. There are a number of considerations about these features for their specific needs that the final project plans to include. "Panion" is an application that allows you to meet people with the same interests, gives you the opportunity to make new friends and gives you the chance to meet people in your area. This is an app that has the positive goal of bringing strangers together, I believe this is something that older people suffering from loneliness would benefit from. From my research, I can see that applications aimed at older generations have a simple interface with clear information, I also found that there are a limited number of apps specifically aimed at older generations that encourage communication using technology. There are a number of them. This is something I hope to present in my application. Target Audience My primary target audience will be members of the older generation who may not have many social connections and people who do not have the opportunity to converse with people every day. Numerous studies have revealed that a lack of social interaction can cause serious deterioration in health. Art and Healing report that “the health risks associated with loneliness and social isolation.