Could the next winner of Fortnite be a pensioner?
Senior citizens, the elderly, the retired, pensioners… there are any number of terms, some more respectful than others, to refer to the over-65s, and that reflect changing attitudes and what it means to grow older in different countries. In any event, like the rest of society, the so-called baby boom generation, which is now reaching retirement age, uses technology in different ways and for different purposes.
Older people’s relationship with technology has evolved and is challenging long-standing stereotypes: we are seeing designs and interfaces to improve accessibility, as well as features such as health monitoring for a market that is growing as people live longer.
At the same time, older people themselves are taking a more positive attitude toward technology: more and more lead active lives, keep abreast of technological developments and are even becoming entrepreneurs and setting up businesses. The Economist has written about older people’s growing use of certain types of devices, replacing passive leisure activities such as watching television with a more active approach using computers, tablets or smartphones. For many older people, social networks mean being able to stay in touch with family and friends, alleviating the sense of loneliness many of us feel later in life. Some basic security habits, such as using password…
