Age-Friendly Digital Tech Day
As digital technology becomes more advanced, it is vital that all members of society can utilize these resources safely and effectively. The elderly might not be familiar with the ever-evolving new technology, causing them to miss out on helpful resources. For example, ride-share apps like Uber and Lyft provide easier ways of transportation. Additionally, cybersecurity is a very pressing issue. If people are not properly educated on how to avoid scams, they can encounter dangerous situations of physical, emotional, and financial security. Finally, younger generations are not as connected to those of older generations; therefore, it's important to create a tight-knit community by holding events where youth and elderly residents can interact and get to know each other. Therefore, an age-friendly digital tech day would connect all members of our community.
In the Fall of 2023, our Youth Commission hosted an Age-Friendly Digital Tech Day, in which we attempted to address the problems outlined above. To do this, we hosted the event for four hours, where Commissioners delivered a formal presentation as well as an informal question and answer period. We also had middle schoolers adept at tech available to help anyone with specific questions. We hosted our event at the local middle school. We were fortunate to have received donations from generous local donors, such as local bakeries and coffee shops.
Our Age-Friendly City Initiative subcommittee in our Youth Commission, consisting of five people, created a presentation outlining various features of Apple devices, including settings, maps, photos, email, and messages. We reviewed important aspects of these apps and what one could do with them. We also talked about other apps that could be helpful, such as Google Drive, Uber, Zoom, and DoorDash. After that, we discussed how to set up devices, like computers or phones, once one buys them. We focused on cybersecurity and how to detect scams, combat or report scams, and things to avoid when using technology. We also discussed ways for the devices to hold important information, such as passwords and credit card information.
Many Commissioners and other youth volunteers kindly answered individual questions during the presentation. We also had a projector to demonstrate many of these capabilities visually.
Our main area for improvement in the future is publicity. Our primary methods of publicity were posting on Instagram and in digital town publications. However, this was not ideal since most of our target audience does not use Instagram or email. Some ways to mitigate this include mailing invitations, visiting residential homes to notify them of our event, and helping people physically attend our event by providing transportation. Another idea includes bringing the event to them, such as hosting it in a residential home. Additionally, we must ensure that people have access to these devices. In LA County, the Aging and Disabilities Department’s Access to Technology (ATT) Program provides essential digital resources, such as tablets, free internet, and digital literacy education to the elderly and people with disabilities. This program aims to foster more self-confidence, strengthen social connections, and promote more positive and effective use of technology.
Image credit: United Nations