You might check out this researcher: 'The Internet and the quality of life of the elderly: a qualitative and quantitative dilemma' Date: 06 December 2005, 15:30 - 17:00 Location: Oxford Internet Institute, 1 St Giles, Oxford, OX1 3JS Attendance: This event is open to the public, if you would like to attend please email your name and affiliation to events@oii.ox.ac.uk Speakers: Dr Lucy Firth, Academic Visitor, Oxford Internet Institute Abstract Computers with Internet access and training were given to Elderly Australians in a project to assess the impact on their quality of life. The interviews indicated that they loved the learning experience, were proud of their achievement and found the Internet to be a source of wonder and amazement as well as a good way to stay in touch with their loved ones. However, the questionnaire survey showed that their quality of life had decreased over the time, both absolutely and relative to a control group. What does this tell us about the Elderly and the Internet, and what does it tell us about qualitative and quantitative research. Biography Lucy Firth is a teacher and researcher at the Department of Information Systems at the University of Melbourne. With a background in economics and social research, Lucy is currently involved in projects investigating the impact of technologies on quality of life, the determinants of adoption (or lack thereof) of technologies by clinicians, the use of ICT in humanitarian disasters, and the potential for e-applications to promote growth in the least developed nations. Lucy comes to the OII from the UN where she focused on emergency ICT and on ICT and development. At the OII Lucy hopes to further her research on the socio-psycho impact of the Internet and on the potential for the Internet to support clinicians in humanitarian disasters. Lucy is the VP of the International Telecommunications Society. Denise N. Rall, PhD. Premier Participant, Lismore Art in the Heart - Fibre Feast & Fantasy Exhibition - with the Lismore Spinners & Weavers 15 Oct - 23 December, adjacent to the Lismore Regional Gallery in the former Left Bank cafe, Lismore NSW AUSTRALIA Mobile +(61)(0)438 233344 http://www.scu.edu.au/schools/esm/staff/pages/drall/