New 50+ Technology project to help seniors in embracing touchscreen technology

A new 50+ Hellas Technology project was launched recently, this time focusing on seniors’ education in touchscreen technology.

Led by the founder Mr George Pavlidis, Lecturer at our Psychology Department and PhD Candidate in Gerontology, the programme aims at enhancing the digital integration of older people into modern communication and information methods, thus reduce the likelihood of social exclusion and loneliness at this age. This is achieved by helping seniors use technology and consequently embracing communication and information.

Participants will learn to use tablet technologies, Internet use, e-mail, and social media as well as other applications that will make their daily lives easier in a rapidly changing world.

Photo credits: THESSNEWS

Mr Pavlidis said “The experience of ‘social exclusion’ can be painful". Perhaps this explains older peoples’ thirst to learn new technologies. The pleasant surprise is that "cyberseniors" are great students of new technology, as long as they are taught in a specific way. Classes must include fun, simplicity, structure, repetition, and positivity.”  As he describes, even for him it would be painful to live in a society where communication and information were based on technological media if he had no access to them.

The team behind the project comprises our psychology postgraduate student, Georgia Papaioannou as well,  Lina Tzani, graduate from our Psychology Department and Ms Anna Paraschou, Agronomist at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

The project is led by the founder Mr George Pavlidis, and supported by The Municipality of Thessaloniki, 50+ Hellas, and COSMOTE.