Bulletin of Social Informatics Theory and Application ISSN 2614-0047
Vol. 4, No. 1, July 2020, pp. 1-5 1
https:doi.org/10.31763/businta.v4i1.96
Smartphone usage on senior citizen
Hidayah Kariima Fithri a,1,*, Jeanny Indra Rifani a,2, Mutyara Whening Aniendya a,3, Nadiratin
Jamilah a,4, Anusua Ghosh b,5.
aDepartment of Electrical Engneering, Universitas Negeri Malang, Indonesia
bSchool of Engineering, University of South Australia, Australia
1 hidayah9a20@gmail.com1*; 2 jeannyindrarifani@gmail.com; 3 mutyaraaniendya@gmail.com; 4 nadiratin.jamilah97@gmail.com;
5 anusua.ghosh@mymail.unisa.edu.au
* corresponding author
1. Introduction
The development of technology makes it easy for humans to complete work but the introduction
of technology is only done to children and adults. This results in a gap of the senior citizen or those
over the age of 60 years [1]. Decreasing physical conditions, reduced income, limited relationships
threaten the existence and happiness of the elderly, causing the senior citizento feel left behind
because the world seems to be faster with technology even though the senior citizen need to stay
connected with technology. The technology that is developing at this time and much in demand is a
smartphone [2].
Smartphones have advantages such as functions to take photos, play songs, record sound and
access geographic information and the global positioning system (GPS) [3]. Now there are many
people who use smartphones that have internet connections with touch screens [4]. In other words,
smartphones can be categorized as mini-computers that have many functions and have high mobility
[3], [5]. Many reasons people use smartphones, teenagers are more focused on social media for the
purpose of communicating this goal is certainly different from the elderly [6], [7].
Previously there was research conducted in Japan [8] the results of the study were the idea of a
method called RemoSupp for the senior citizento teach and support the senior citizenfor internet
technology conducted by Japanese IT volunteers. The research will be adopted in this paper for
research with cases of the senior citizenin Malang. The aim is to determine the ability of the senior
citizento operate a smartphone and determine the suitable method used to teach the operation of
smartphones in a sample of four senior citizenpeople in Malang City. The approaches and
preferences for learning technology vary at various ages. Older adults prefer learning through
printed instruction manuals, compared to their younger counterparts who prefer the trial-and-error
method [9]. The results of this study provide an effort to reduce the digital divide due to age factors
so that an effective method is needed to introduce IT with smartphones to the senior citizen.
A R T I C L E I N F O A B S T R A C T
Article history
Received December 21, 2019
Revised January 14, 2020
Accepted February 1, 2020
The impact of the digital era is the gap between active smartphone users and
those who are not particular. Then IT is not fully felt by the senior citizen. This
study aims to determine the ability of the senior citizen in the use of
smartphones. The results of the study will be used as a reference for teaching IT
to four senior citizen people. As a result, two senior citizen people want to be
taught to use smartphones intensive and privately.
This is an open access article under the CC–BY-SA license.
Keywords
Smartphone
Usage
Senior Citizen
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
2 Bulletin of Social Informatics Theory and Application ISSN 2614-0047
Vol. 4, No. 1, July 2020, pp. 1-5
Fithri et.al (Smartphone usage on senior citizen)
2. Method
2.1. Analysis of the Current System
Previous research conducted by Wei Zhou and Shigekei Yokoi used the remote method, where
the senior citizen can learn about IT guided by volunteers [8]. This remote method allows volunteers
to overcome the constraints of the difference in distance they have. This method provides benefits
not only in terms of transportation costs to approach the senior citizen in learning, but this method
also indirectly makes the senior citizen can apply remote technology to learn about the internet and
solutions to overcome trouble shooting.
In contrast to the research previously outlined briefly, the research we conducted took a simpler
sample by taking data by conducting random interviews in the elderly. The target of our respondents
comes from different social levels, education levels and employment status in Indonesian society,
especially in Malang City.
The interview method is chosen because it is a flexible method. This method has its own
advantages for us, where respondents are far more open and comfortable with us in conveying what
is known, seen, felt, and expected.
The environment in Japan (referring to previous research) is very different from Indonesia. The
hypothesis that we have based on the existence of environmental differences is that not all people in
Indonesia can operate a smartphone. There are social factors, economic factors, and educational
factors that influence. The following is an explanation of each factor we consider:
1) Economical Factor
The essence of the economic problem faced by humans is the fact that human needs are
unlimited [10], while the means of satisfying human needs are limited. This research is closely
related to the problems raised in this study, because economic factors can influence social status in
society.
According to data from Newzoo's Global Mobile Market Report in 2018, it was noted that
Indonesia at 25.4% was smartphone penetration and as many as 67,570,000 were smartphone users
[11]. This means that Indonesia's ranking in smartphone usage is still low.
2) Social Humanity Factor
In this study, this factor leads to public relations which are about strata. This strata is formed
because of the economic factors that influence. Senior citizen in the upper strata, certainly know the
appearance of smartphones and their functions, while those in the middle to lower strata, not many
of those who understand smartphones don't even know the form of a smartphone.
3) Educational Factor
Regarding economic factors and social factors, educational factors also influence [12], [13].
Generally, the people (elderly) who really don't know smartphones are people who lived in the era
before smartphones existed, so education did not introduce the form and function of smartphones.
For the senior citizens who are still productive, such as lecturers at educational institutions, they
certainly know smartphones because they teach the younger generation who know the shape and
function of smartphones. So that the productive lecturers are forced to study smartphones to provide
information online and search for academic data.
2.2. Data Collection
The data we obtain is the result of interviews with four respondents; two of them came from
Malang City, and the rest came from Malang Regency. The interview process that we did was to
invite the respondents to speak as comfortable as possible, but we still have the variable questions
that became our topic. Table 1 shows are our main variables.
Based on the variables we use, this variable is able to extract information from respondents. The
concept of our first interview is to explore the background of the respondents, the second is to
explore information about whether the respondents have used smartphones or ordinary mobile
phones and the length of ownership of their cellphones or smartphones, and thirdly we will ask
respondents to test our ability. This ability test is done to see the ability as well as to find out
whether age, education status, and employment status can influence the interest in using a
smartphone.
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Fithri et.al (Smartphone usage on senior citizen)
Table 1. Variable Data
Variable Description
Region (City / Regency) To find out whether the skills of the City community are superior or equal to the
Regency community
Age Between 55-80 years old
Job Status To find out the effect of work status in smartphone usage
Education Status To find out the influence of the latest educational status in smartphone use
Interest in using HP or
Smartphone
To find out about the interest in using a smartphone
Ownership of HP or
Smartphone
To find out the length of time you have a smartphone
Skill I Is the initial ability before learning
Skill II Is the ability after learning
2.3. Data Processing
Data processing is the stage of the process after the data is obtained. This stage aims to get
analysis and conclusions from the research conducted. The data in the form of videos that we
produce will be transcribed in advance to merge data from four respondents. The results of this
transcript will further facilitate the data analysis process..................
3. Result and Discussions
The results of the interviews and the data processing phase that we did, we got some data and
influencing factors and factors that did not influence. Next we describe the results of the interviews
conducted. Table 1 shows the data that obtained from the interview.
Based on the results of this study, there were one person who could not use a hand
phone/smartphone, three people who could use hand phone/smartphone but couldn’t use the internet,
and no one who could use the internet.
Table II. Obtained Data
Statement A B C D
Age 70 y.o 72 y.o 70 y.o 73 y.o
Job Status Housewife Pensionary Pensionary Pensionary
Education Statis Elementary School S1 Senior High School
Ownership of HP Yes No No Yes
Ownership of
Smartphone
No Yes No No
Time Periode
using HP
5 years - - 10 years
Time Periode
using Smatphone
- 2 years - -
Skill I Only accept incoming
calls
Receive and call, play
music from playlists,
take photos
- SMS, Receive and call
Skill II Open Google and type
on the QWERTY
keyboard
- Introduce
smartphone
features
Open Google and type
on the QWERTY
keyboard
Length of Study 45 minute - 10 minute 15 minute
Interest with
smartphone
Interest Not Interest Interest Interest
Reason Tired of seeing the
news on TV
- Easier in use Faster in use
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Vol. 4, No. 1, July 2020, pp. 1-5
Fithri et.al (Smartphone usage on senior citizen)
For respondent A, she was very interested in smartphones even though his last education was
elementary school. For respondent A, he was very interested in smartphones even though his last
education was elementary school. After the interviewer did a demo about searching for information
on Google, the respondents were able to conclude why so many people use smartphones. When
starting to learn on the QWERTY keyboard, respondents felt very difficult because previously they
were only able to receiving calls on operating their hand phone. When information has been found,
respondent a still does not know that the information has been displayed, from that the interviewer
concludes that more than 1 learning process is needed
For respondent B, she already has a smartphone and she knowing how to do some work on a
smartphone such as calling and receiving phone calls, listening to murottal (reciting Al-Quran) from
the application and taking photos through an existing camera on that smartphone. But respondents B
are not interested in learning anything else that possible to do on smartphone, because he felt it was
enough by the features he usually used on smartphone.
For respondents C, she did not have a hand phone or smartphone, but because of the supportive
environment of almost all children and grandchildren having smartphones, he was very interested in
learning how to operate and use a smartphone[14]. Respondents use smartphones to call through the
Whatsapp Messenger application but this is still aided by their children and grandchildren.
Respondents were also very enthusiastic when taught new things related to smartphones.
For respondent D, he has a hand phone and is interested in learning how to operate and use a
smartphone. After the interviewer did a demo about browsing on Google, the respondent
immediately knew when there was a new page that appeared on the smartphone screen, and then the
interviewer told to the respondent to do the activity himself. When introduced on the QWERTY
keyboard, there were no obstacles it is just to use it takes a long time because looking for letters that
are separate and he previously typed using the abc-def keyboard not QWERTY keyboard.
Respondents are very interested in learning anything else that possible to do on smartphone and he
are interested to buy own smartphones because he felt that having a smartphone would be easier and
faster to obtain information or do a job
4. Conclusion
Technology learning is only focused on children and adults. So that active smartphone users who
are able to operate their features properly start from the age of junior high school to adulthood. Even
though the senior citizen also need knowledge about the use and use of tools as a result of
technological developments such as smartphones, given the many benefits that can be obtained from
the sophistication of smartphones. Although many factors influence whether a senior citizen person
wants to learn about technological developments, especially the operation of a smartphone or not.
Based on the results of the research that has been carried out there are three variations of
grouping in the understanding of the senior citizen towards the operation of the smartphone which
consists of good, the senior citizen can operate the smartphone and use its features as needed,
medium, the senior citizen can know the smartphone features but have difficulty operating the
smartphone and bad, the senior citizen cannot use smartphones at all. An effective method for
teaching the operation of smartphones in the senior citizen is face to face, private with intensive
guidance.
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