Use of Information and Communication Technologies to support social connections for older people

For this paper, the University of Manchester conducted a brief literature review on the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) to support social connections for older people.

It found that there is no typical ‘type’ of technology that older people prefer or that works better than others in maintaining social connections. However, it saw a variety of ICT trends that can support greater independence, reduce isolation and build social connections; from internet use to social media and from interventions supported by robotics to video-gaming.