In Mauritius, the population of elderly has been on the increase since 1962 from 5.4% to 12.3% in 2012. With the rapid progression of technology in Mauritius, there is a significant proportion of the population that remains digitally ‘excluded’; and among them are the elderly population. The lack of ICT access and technological skills has been regarded as major challenges for the ageing people who are still very much digitally excluded in many developing countries. One of the main aims of this project was to bridge this gap by developing an interactive learning tool to help elderly people to make use of WhatsApp, a free communication tool through their smartphones. This will contribute towards significantly improving the quality of their life and tackle loneliness through easy interaction. The animated learning tool on ‘how to use WhatsApp’ has been developed using several software to include animations, use of symbols and voice over in Creole Language to cater for those who have a very low literacy level. The final product has been tested in two Community Centres in Mauritius with 44 elderly persons aged 55 to 80 years old. After the training, the animated learning tool has been revised and is now available for everyone to use.
Keywords
Elderly; ageing population; digital inclusion; Whatsapp; communication; empowerment; Mauritius
