SmartCards as Analogous Tools to Operate Tablet Computers for Elderly-A Feasibility Study.

Background: Older adults sometimes shy away from using modern digital communication devices due to lacking experience and fear of failure. Within the present project, SmartCards were developed as analogous means to operate tablet computers for older adults with little previous computer experience. We investigated whether the SmartCards-Tablet-System would (a) increase use of digital communication and (b) affect loneliness, autonomy, cognitive ability and wellbeing of the users.