Senior generation and digital transition
In our hyper-connected present, Seniors are discovering a new travel companion. The smartphone or the so-called smart phone.
This device, initially perceived by many as a foreign and complex object, is transforming into a precious tool, capable of improving the quality of life, strengthening social bonds and opening doors to opportunities that were unimaginable until a few years ago. Thus, even among Seniors, in the digital transition, in which we all inevitably find ourselves, thanks to new generation phones, they have found an unexpected great convergence. Read why and how below.
Connect with loved ones
Connection with friends and family is often a primary need, not only for Seniors, especially in an era in which physical distances can only be bridged with the help of technology. The smartphone allows you to make video calls, exchange instant messages and participate in virtual groups that strengthen the sense of belonging and community.
According to Eurostat, in 2022 57% of people between 65 and 74 years old in Europe used the internet regularly, a constantly growing figure (+20% compared to 2015).
In Italy, ISTAT reports that over 40% of over 65s regularly use messaging applications such as WhatsApp or Telegram to stay in touch with their loved ones. A fact that testifies to a significant cultural change. These tools not only reduce social isolation but help improve the emotional well-being of Seniors.
Preserve health
Telemedicine represents one of the most significant revolutions for the well-being of seniors too. Thanks to health monitoring applications, it is possible to monitor vital parameters, such as blood pressure and blood sugar. Furthermore, many health services offer online consultations, avoiding travel and exhausting waits. ISTAT reports that, between 2021 and 2022, the use of telemedicine services increased by 35% among Italians over 65.
A concrete example is represented by applications that send reminders, including for taking medications, a function that is particularly useful for those suffering from chronic pathologies. Additionally, interconnected devices, such as digital blood pressure monitors or smart glucometers, can sync with your smartphone, providing treating physicians with accurate data in real time.
Access to public administration
The smartphone is an immediate gateway to public administration. Thanks to tools such, for example in Italy, as the Public Digital Identity System (SPID) and other dedicated applications, Seniors can request certificates, pay bills and access essential services without waiting in endless queues.
This is a tangible example of how technology, if used well, can simplify daily life.
In the Italian context, the Agency for Digital Italy has launched several initiatives to promote the use of smartphones among the over 65s, offering free courses and technical support. The result is a 25% increase in the use of government applications in 2023 compared to the previous year.
Security in purchases
Shopping online is another fundamental aspect. Through secure and intuitive applications, it is possible to order products and receive them comfortably at home, reducing the risk of physical fatigue and guaranteeing wider access to goods and services.
According to a study conducted by the University of Bologna in 2023, 48% of over 65s in Italy have made at least one online purchase in the last year, favoring platforms that offer guarantees of security and ease of use.
This data confirms that our wonderful Seniors are confidently embracing e-commerce, finding it a practical and reliable solution.
Entertainment and updating
The smartphone is a window on the world even for Seniors. There are digital books, podcasts, videos and online courses. People over 65 today represent 12% of users of video streaming platforms, such as YouTube, according to a 2023 study by the Russian Academy of Sciences. This discovery not only enriches free time but also stimulates continuous learning.
Furthermore, applications such as Duolingo and Khan Academy are enjoying enormous success among seniors who wish to learn new languages or delve deeper into subjects of interest. These platforms prove that age is never a barrier to learning new skills.
The magic of videos thanks to biographical testimonies
Among the many functions of the smartphone, one of the most fascinating, from our point of view, is the possibility of creating videos. This last concept is in fact the fulcrum of the History Is Us! project, conceived, designed and desired by HUBITAPROJECTS ETS which, thanks to the European partnership with Glafka, company based in Prague, specialized in digital training for Seniors, has been concretely structured. Therefore, today, the dignity of memory is finally ensured, through videos produced, in high quality, created by expert video makers, sensitive to unique, original and authentic biographical testimonies, shared faithfully, in an intergenerational and interregional key.
Telling your story today is a generous act that magically gives memory itself a new present, thus creating a solid bridge between past and future.
Speaking of magic, esotericism and mysterious initiations, Marsilio Ficino, Italian, one of the greatest thinkers of the Renaissance, argued that ... memory is the treasure and custody of all things ... .
Today. Through videos, Seniors can become living custodians of their experiences, offering new generations a valuable guide, full of knowledge, skills and transversal skills.
What a beautiful convergence
The concept of convergence also has deep roots in our Renaissance philosophy. Giovanni Pico della Mirandola, a decisive thinker in the history of our tradition, celebrated the dignity of the human being, as a creature capable of shaping itself and its own destiny, overlooking the limiting concept of time.
We have lived famous... and we will live so in the future... where children are taught... principles of human and divine things.
Today, Seniors who use smartphones demonstrate an extraordinary ability to adapt, embodying the ideal of a humanity that evolves through direct experiences, yes, but above all through their understanding, also thanks to the instrumental support of technology.
The smartphone and the Italian contribution
The Anglo-Saxon term smartphone can be translated into Italian with the simplistic concept of intelligent phone. The term conventionally reflects the ability of the device, the subject of this article you are reading, to perform various advanced operations, thanks to the technology inside it and the external network connection. The word smart, in the bard's language, refers to something skillful, underlining the versatility of these devices in solving problems and adapting to the needs of the user - they are intelligent, of course.
Let us not forget, however, that, going beyond the simple, commercial and conventional terminology, in which communication studied at a desk by marketing certainly makes the difference, the invention of the telephone, precursor of this smartphone that we hold in our hands, some even all day and the night, is due to the Italian Antonio Meucci, a genius of 19th century technology. His contribution was fundamental. He started the telecommunications revolution. It marked a path that, today, finds fulfillment in the development of smartphones, accessories and applications, which we can bring to our advantage. In our case, giving dignity to memory.
Concluding
Now. If you also want to be the protagonist of your own history, today, contributing to this great convergence, visit our website www.historyisus.eu now to perhaps also find inspiration and bring your memory into the present, becoming a decisive guide also for our future.
Write to us now at info@historyisus.eu because together we can ensure that your story, unique, unrepeatable and authentic, can be a fundamental chapter of our collective, cultural, shared heritage, even tomorrow.
In a world where technology often seems to divide us, Seniors, thanks also to the History Is Us! project, demonstrate that it can instead be a great convergence, uniting and opening new paths, towards a richer, more connected and meaningful life.