The Internet is no longer a product of the younger generation. For example, Vint Cerf, Google’s chief Internet evangelist and one of the fathers of the Internet, turns 68 in June. The web, often viewed as a realm for just the young, is getting older. The senior citizen demographic has become one of the fastest growing. Senior citizens are given easier ways to access the web, through companies making their sites easier for the older generation to use, as well as devices that cater to some of their needs like the ipad. Many senior citizens today are joining the ranks of smart phone users, but have not hit high numbers just yet. Ipad's are a happy medium between wireless accessibility but with a screen large enough to accommodate poor eye sight. Many argue to use of ipad's among senior citizens has become a cultural trend.
As for websites making it easier for senior citizens to use their sites, the major problem at hand is the fonts. It is harder for older people to read from a screen and be able to see the small font well. Sites that are geared towards senior citizens are using larger fonts and bigger spacing between characters. The ipad allows a user to zoom in easily, which is another reason it has become a hot item for senior citizens.
My research brought up many sites that offered classes and lessons for senior citizens to become more savvy with using the web. There were on-site locations in local communities, as well as online courses. These classes are becoming more obsolete as the numbers of senior citizens using the web grows.
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