| This thesis addresses the question, "from the perspective of a holistic model of health and well-being, in what ways do older adults use communication and information technologies and the related services they provide (CITS), and what meanings do CITS hold for older adults who use them?" After discussing literature in this area, two case studies of computer organizations oriented to older adults are conducted. Participants in the case studies appeared to derive the greatest meaning from using their knowledge about CITS to help others, share their experiences in face-to-face communication settings, and feel up-to-date. Some participants also encountered barriers when using CITS, but they seemed willing to tolerate these barriers, or felt it was not their place to overcome these barriers. The possible association between the findings and issues such as ageism, technological utopianism, and technological dependence are also explored. |
