Online social support for older people

Abstract

Until a few years ago, the main activities of internet users were all about accessing information and data. These days, the internet is increasingly used for social interaction and communication purposes. This topic becomes ever more important with the growing popularity of virtual environments, social networking websites and their likes. The fact that more and more people use online communities for social interaction opens new challenges for inclusive design researchers and practitioners. In addition to making information accessible to people with special needs, it is also necessary to ensure that everybody has access to the social aspects of online activities.