Prospectus of Recommended Changes to Web Development - Essay Example

Section/# Internet Usage and the Older Demographic: A Prospectus of Recommended Changes to Web Development With the overall number of Internet users growing by leaps and bounds each and every year, the overall number of active Internet users 65 years of age and over is also rapidly increasing. With the Internet now nearing almost 30 years and widespread distribution, the generation of middle-aged individuals that grew up with the Internet and use it for work and pleasure are now leveraging it even more in their old age. This is a noted demographic shift; at least compared with the way in which individual 65 years of age and older utilize the Internet only a few brief years ago. As a function of this, the needs and requirements that this particular demographic has with respect to the website they visit are inherently different as compared to needs and requirements that other demographics may have. Due to this fact, it is necessary for website developers to be cognizant of this differential and seek to promote a level of recognition that engages these differences and promotes understanding and development in terms of accessibility issues and improving the web experience for individuals within this particular demographic. As a function of this, the following analysis will seek to provide a brief and summary discussion of some of the tactics they can be utilized and how they would benefit the overall quality of life and web experience of individuals within the aforementioned demographic. It is the hope of this particular author that such a level of discussion will not only be beneficial in encouraging web developers to consider these facets but to employ them with respect to websites that are more and more likely to be visited by individuals representing an older demographic. One major consideration that can and should be leveraged has to do with the native platforms that web developers consider with respect to web users that are 65 years of age and older. For instance, web users that are 65 years of age and older tend not to use Android, iOS, and other platforms that are familiar with individuals from different demographic groups (Gencer, 2012). Naturally, this should not dictate that web developers should not be cognizant of the fact that the older demographic may in fact use platforms other than a PC or laptop. Yet, studies with respect to this indicate that web browsing is most commonly conducted via a traditional web browser utilized on a PC computer; at least for this particular demographic group. With this in mind, websites that are specifically focused towards individual within this particular demographic need to ensure that they are fully operational and readily understood based upon Safari, Internet Explorer, Mozilla, Opera, and many of the other major web browsers (Lloyd, 2011). An additional accessibility issue involves the overall text size that many websites utilize. For instance, when going to highly frequented sites, there is generally an option for several different languages; usually those that are most common with respect to the demographic that might be accessing the site. However, one particular accessibility improvement that could be noted is with respect to offering an option for increased text size built in to the website offering (Roach, 2004). As such, in much the same way that an individual might highlight particular flag or click particular region of the world to denote which language they would like to appear on the website, they would select a larger text icon that would appear within either the top left or top right-hand corner of the website and allow them easier accessibility to the information at hand. Although increasing the overall text size of a particular website can be conducted using a variety of different Internet options, web users within a particular demographic in question might not necessarily earlier with these tactics and might need to leverage the alternative approach that has thus far been denoted (Davies, 2008). Research has also indicated that individuals within this particular demographic place a higher emphasis upon As compared to pictures. The past several years has denoted a situation in which web platforms have moved away from text and sought to minimize the overall representation of text on any given website; generally in favor of diagrams and pictographic illustrations. Whereas these can necessarily be included, websites that are to be considered as friendly or frequented by individuals within the demographic questions should necessarily rely upon the older style of presentation; one that represents thoroughness and analysis and presentation over a glamorous or otherwise visually stimulating platform. Yet another alternative within this particular approach is to offer something along the lines of website narration. Website narration can simply be accomplished either by including an embedded link to a YouTube video, similar to platform, or by creating a system in which using a double click or selecting a given piece of text will then dictate what information is represented within it (Berner et al., 2012). For individuals that suffer from visual impairments, this can be an especially appreciated aspect of what websites can offer within the future. Another primary issue that web developers face on a daily basis is how to synthesize and represent increasingly complex issues within a user-friendly interface. This issue is compounded and increasingly important with respect to the way in which individuals within an older demographic are represented with a complex series of choices. Whereas it is true that individuals from any demographic may become frustrated and disillusioned with a website that is increasingly complex and difficult navigate, the overall level of frustration that an individual with an older demographic might experience is particularly enhanced (Servidio, 2014). As such, rather than losing valuable traffic and potential consumers, it is absolutely integral for website developers to ensure that their websites ascribe to the very highest standards of ease of navigation and decreased levels of complexity. Finally, it has been an ongoing trend that test groups and analysis have been conducted as a function of seeking to market and present information to potential consumers. However, a long neglected subset of these users is that of individuals within the older demographic (Daphne et al., 2008). Accordingly, as a function of planning and rolling out any potential changes or product launches, inclusive of website launches, it is essentially important for these entities to ensure that the older demographic is represented within the test groups that they seek to engage. A flawed and universal misunderstanding that exists is with respect to the fact that older individuals do not use the web and as such spending money to seek to engage this particular group is ultimately lost time and energy (Adams et al., 2005). However, as subsequent information has come to life, it is clear and apparent that older individuals are led to a further and further degree. Additionally, as the current generation ages and a new level of Internet proficiency is carried on into further generations, it is expected that this particular demographic will grow exponentially; revealing a situation in which the overall ease of navigation and functionality of website, and its potential profitability and success, is inherently linked to the degree and extent to which it is able to engage with individuals of an older demographic (Zhu, 2010). From the information that has thus far been engaged, it is clear and apparent that there remains a great potential with respect to engaging this particular demographic and seeking to provide them with benefits pertaining to ease of navigation and an improved web experience. For years, companies have downplayed this particular need and focus specifically upon the younger demographic in the hopes that the increasing Internet usage that has been exhibited among these individuals will in and of itself help to buoy the overall success and long-term viability that they seek to exhibit (Jinmoo et al., 2011). However, in light of the information that has been represented, it is clear and apparent that this particular approach to the market is no longer feasible. Instead, it is necessary for websites, businesses, and any individual or entity that wishes to have a web presence to focus specifically upon the means by which accessibility is represented and how it impacts upon the overall rate of traffic that they experience. Whereas it is true that there are a litany of different approaches that could be utilized, the ones that have thus far been denoted only represent a brief listing of some of the most salient. As further analysis and research is performed with respect to the specific demographic, it is likely that further purchased that have actionable means of improving the web experience and quality of life for older Internet users will also be exhibited. However, a fundamental shift must initially be made with respect to the issues that have been denoted. No longer can companies take for granted the fact that the majority of all of their business will be conducted with individuals middle age or younger. Instead, the age of the Internet and the changing demographics of use create a dynamic by which firms find it absolutely necessary to consider these issues and seek to ameliorate them in a rapid manner. Bibliography Adams, N, Stubbs, D, & Woods, V 2005, Psychological barriers to Internet usage among older adults in the UK, Medical Informatics & The Internet In Medicine, 30, 1, pp. 3-17, Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 20 August 2014. Berner, J, Rennemark, M, Jogréus, C, & Berglund, J 2012, Distribution of personality, individual characteristics and internet usage in older adults, Aging & Mental Health, 16, 1, pp. 119-126, Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 20 August 2014. Daphne, H, Nicholas, H, Paul, T, & Sylva, C 2008, Internet Use for Health-Related Purposes Among Seniors’,Telemedicine & E-Health, 14, 3, pp. 255-260, Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 20 August 2014. Davies, T 2008, Emporium, Macleans, 111, 20, p. 12, Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 20 August 2014. Gencer, S, & Koc, M 2012, Internet Abuse among Seniors and Its Relations to Internet Usage Patterns and Demographics,Journal Of Educational Technology & Society, 15, 2, pp. 25-36, Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 20 August 2014. Jinmoo, H, Junhyoung, K, & Young-Shin, W 2011, Exploring the Relationship Between Internet Use and Leisure Satisfaction Among Older Adults, Activities, Adaptation & Aging, 35, 1, pp. 43-54, Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 20 August 2014. Lloyd, S 2011, Rise of the cybersenior, Brw, 23, 12, p. 64, Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 20 August 2014. Roach, R 2004, Internet Exerts Significant Influence on Users, Survey Says,  Issues In Ageing, 21, 15, p. 33, Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 20 August 2014. Servidio, R 2014, Exploring the effects of demographic factors, Internet usage’, Computers In Human Behavior, 35, pp. 85-92, Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 20 August 2014. Zhu, X 2010, A Doers profile, Training & Development, 49, 8, p. 6, Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 20 August 2014. Read More