Disconnected: Many seniors miss being able to simply pick up the phone or go to the bank branch.
Image: Vario
The pandemic has accelerated digitization at a rapid pace. This leaves older people in particular out, even with the simplest things of everyday life. The protest is growing because there are no good inclusion strategies.
Whe used to want to go to a public swimming pool, needed swimming trunks, a towel and some small change. In the meantime, he also needs: a computer or smartphone and plenty of patience to maneuver through the mostly confusing menu of the municipal bathing establishments in order to book a “time window”. It is helpful to know that the nice term “menu” – unlike in the past – no longer refers to a sequence of dishes, but a sometimes confusing description of the contents of a website or digital application, which is usually located on the left or top, less often on the right or below. But that also happens.
Anyone who wants to go to a museum or a theater is also well advised to consult the Internet beforehand. The same applies to those who want to contact the authorities or arrange a vaccination appointment. Even those who are willing to stand in line for hours with a good book – as they used to – will no longer be lucky: In the analogue world, they usually come across uncomprehending staff at the entrance who ask why they didn’t get there well in advance “Time window” I chose, meanwhile everything has long since been fully booked. In the modern world, on the other hand, those who have their digital vaccination card ready in addition to the online ticket booked early have arrived.