I have seen similar results. I did a study specifically of how older persons use the internet for health information and found them to be much more saavy than expected. I am also in the midst of a study that compares two demographic groups (18-34 and 50+ on online news seeking). Ages is NOT the key factor determining sophistication of use. Citations for the health stuff are below. The comparison of news usage is still a work in progress: McMillan, S.J., Avery, E.J, Macias. W. (2008). From Have Nots to Watch Dogs: Understanding Internet Health Communication Behaviors of Online Senior Citizens. Information Communication and Society, 11(5), 652-674. Macias, W. and McMillan, S.J. (2008). The return of the house call: The role of internet-based interactivity in bringing health information home to older adults. Health Communication, 23(1), 34-44. McMillan, S.J., Macias, W. (forthcoming). Strengthening the Safety Net for Online Seniors: Factors Influencing Differences in Health Information Seeking Among Older Internet Users. Journal of Health Communication. _____________________________________________ Sally J. McMillan, Ph.D. Associate Professor and Associate Dean College of Communication and Information University of Tennessee 865-974-5518 sjmcmill@utk.edu -----Original Message----- From: air-l-bounces@listserv.aoir.org [mailto:air-l-bounces@listserv.aoir.org] On Behalf Of Conor Schaefer Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2008 7:01 PM To: air-l@listserv.aoir.org Subject: Re: [Air-L] short review: Salkowitz, Rob. Generation Blend -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 As a member of the younger crowd, and of course rather well versed in Web 2.0 and similar paradigms (as is just about every member of this list), I recently collected some data geared toward a paper on increased ICT usage. I fully expected to see a substantial bias toward a younger demographic. This was not at all represented in the actual data, which in fact more closely corresponded to that of "early adopter" crowds. A very enlightening and humbling experience for me. Thanks for sharing your story. Peter Timusk wrote:
I am interested in technology and age difference but this book that helped spur my interest did not help much. I would like to add age and technology attitudes to my thesis simulation so any sharing welcome.
Blog entry
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Interesting but not very complex reading and could be considered ageist in its failings.
I am reading this book right now amongst others.
Salkowitz, Rob. Generation Blend: Managing Across the Technology Age Gap (Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons, 2008) While this book is interesting and covers a vast array technological areas it falls short of having any details. The reason it fails is that it only assumes youth are better and more comfortable with technology and such things as web 2.0 and does not hold back from this view. Again and again the old are considered technological deficient and the youth technologically gifted. So no matter what technology or workplace practice the author examines he does not change from this perspective. This could have been a much more interesting book with much more results. I would suggest the author embark on empirical studies to back up his points. This is book is signed off on by Microsoft which is mud on their fenders in my opinion. _______________________________________________ The Air-L@listserv.aoir.org mailing list is provided by the Association of Internet Researchers http://aoir.org Subscribe, change options or unsubscribe at: http://listserv.aoir.org/listinfo.cgi/air-l-aoir.org
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