Senior Computing: A Growing Market for Information and Communications Technology

Gary Moulton, a long time employee in the Accessibility Business Unit at Microsoft, is now focused on spearheading an effort to evaluate the senior computing market. A primary goal of the effort is to help ensure seniors have access to technology to communicate with family and friends, and have access to online news, information, and entertainment.

REDMOND, Wash. — Apr. 5, 2007 — For nearly two decades, Microsoft has been an international leader in providing accessible technology for people with disabilities. Over the past few years, however, we have broadened our work on accessibility to address more directly the growing needs of the world's aging population.

My current focus at Microsoft is to help coordinate a companywide effort to explore the senior market for information and communications technology (ICT), identify the technology needs of the senior market, and design strategies and tactics Microsoft can use to cultivate those opportunities. Fortunately, Microsoft has many employees worldwide who are already working on issues important to seniors. Several of them have volunteered for a virtual team we have put together to address this new opportunity.

Defining the Senior Market

Defining the senior market isn't easy. For example, are we talking about everyone over 50—or only those who are 65 and older? There are some things we know with absolute certainty, however. First, seniors are a diverse group with a wide range of interests, priorities, and life experiences; their needs cannot be met with a one-size-fits-all approach. Second, the senior market for ICT is growing rapidly.

Some seniors are tech-savvy and completely comfortable with technology while others have little or no experience with computers. In today's connected world, people without access to computer technology, and at least basic ICT skills, have fewer opportunities to communicate with family and friends, and to take advantage of online news, information, and entertainment. They may also have reduced access to important government and community services that are increasingly offered online.

Technology Can Improve Quality of Life for Seniors

We are reaching out to older computer users through strategic partnerships with organizations that have expertise in senior issues, such as AARP and the United Nations. As society ages, healthcare costs will continue to rise; and many other things will change as a direct result of the evolving needs of the growing senior population. One way to address these changes is to develop and integrate technology solutions.

With our partners, we are working with the healthcare industry to develop technology that can enable long-distance diagnosis and treatment, and help people stay in their homes as long as possible. We are also working with some of our hardware and software partners to develop special technology offerings that will make it easier for seniors with little or no computer experience to get started using ICT. In addition, we are exploring the possible advantages of handheld and mobile devices for seniors instead of traditional computers.

At my age, I am part of the senior market or soon will be, no matter how we end up defining it, but I really got interested because I could see my parents benefiting from the kinds of opportunities technology can provide.

Professionally, it's exciting to have the chance to explore an underserved market with great potential, and to develop new products tailored to the needs of the people in that market. But on a personal level, the real rewards are in seeing the social and emotional benefits we can offer seniors by helping them stay in touch with their friends and family and by making it possible for them to join the global online community.