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THE SENIORS COMPUTERINFORMATIONPROGRAM: A PIONEERWEBSITE FOR SENIORSDiane J. Degraves, Richard J. Denesiuka Creative Retirement ManitobaPublished online: 11 Nov 2010.

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Educational Gerontology, 26 : 345–355, 2000

Copyright 2000 Taylor & FrancisÓ0360-1277 /00 $12.00 1 .00

THE SENIORS COMPUTER INFORMATION PROGRAM:A PIONEER WEBSITE FOR SENIORS

Diane J. DeGraves

Richard J. Denesiuk

Creative Retirement Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

The Seniors Computer Information Program (SCIP) is an Internet site hosted by

Creative Retirement Manitoba (CRM). SCIP began as a demonstration project to

explore the ability of electronic networks to meet the information needs of older

adults. An on-line information and communication system was created, and test

centers were established at selected locations where seniors were taught computer

and Internet skills. The SCIP website that resulted from this project oþers a wide

range of information and communication options of use to seniors. Development of

the SCIP website was a major task, and maintaining the accuracy of the data is a

continuing challenge. SCIP staþ members are now partnering with several Cana-

dian educational organizations to develop other on-line educational and informa-

tion projects.

The Seniors Computer Information Program (SCIP) is an Internet site

featuring a wide range of informational, educational, and interactive

resources for older adults. The site was established on the WorldWide Web in March 1995 as part of a demonstration project, the

Diane J. DeGraves is a member of the board of directors of Creative Retirement

Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Richard J. Denesiuk is program manager and

SCIP technical support manager, Creative Retirement Manitoba. We thank Laurel

Strain, director, Centre on Aging, University of Manitoba, for her assistance in cri-

tiquing this article, and Keith Bradley, a volunteer in the creation of the SCIP website,

for providing information regarding that process. Some information for this article

came from announcements, reports, and meeting minutes located in the üles of Cre-

ative Retirement Manitoba.

Address correspondence to Diane DeGraves or Richard Denesiuk, Creative Retire-

ment Manitoba, 202 283 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3B 2B5, Canada.

E-mail : denesiuk@crm.mb.ca

345

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346 D. J. DeGraves and R. J. Denesiuk

Seniors Computer Information Project, designed to explore the ability

of electronic networks to meet the information needs of older adults.

This article traces the historical development of the project, outlines

the SCIP website’s present content and format, describes the prob-

lems and challenges experienced by a small, nonproüt organization inimplementing a project of this magnitude, and discusses the forma-

tion of partnerships in technology education for seniors in Canada as

a result of the SCIP experience.

SCIP was conceived and managed by Creative Retirement Mani-

toba (CRM), a nonproüt, educational organization for older adultslocated in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. CRM has a long and cred-

ible history in education for older adults and had oþered a wide

range of innovative courses for seniors since 1981. CRM is adminis-

tered by a small professional staþ and governed by a broad of direc-

tors that is composed mainly of seniors. The majority of its courseinstructors are also seniors, and the agency’s motto, ‘‘Learning,

Sharing, Growing,’’ expresses its belief in seniors sharing their know-

ledge and expertise with other seniors.

In 1984, computer training courses were added to CRM’s curric-

ulum, and since its ürst session of two classes serving fewer than 50students, CRM has responded to an ever-growing demand. A full

range of computer courses is now oþered in each of three terms per

year. In the spring 2000 term, 347 individuals were registered in 27

courses on a variety of topics and levels of computer instruction.

Computer-literate course graduates have formed two computer clubs(PC and Macintosh). The 220 members who attend monthly meetings

address current topics such as new developments in hardware and

software.

The growth in computer literacy and use of the Internet by older

adults is not well documented in the literature, perhaps because it isa relatively recent phenomenon that is undergoing constant, rapid

change. Statistics Canada reports that in 1994, 25% of Canadian

households had computers, and it noted that this number had

increased by 10% since 1986. Only 7% of households headed by a

person 65 or older had a computer, and only 10% of seniors reportedbeing able to use a computer (Frank, 1995). By 1996, however, 32% of

Canadian households had computers, three times the percentage of

1986 (Howatson-Leo & Peters, 1997). An indication of the move to the

Internet by older Canadians over a short period is seen in a 1998

Globe and Mail newspaper report in which Stephen Bartkiw, manag-ing director of the Internet service provider AOL Canada, claimed

that 25% of AOL’s 100,000 Canadian member were over 45 (Smith,

1998).

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Seniors Computer Information Program 347

American seniors have been quicker to adopt computer tech-

nology. Post (1996) reported that a 1995 SeniorNet Survey, a tele-

phone survey of a random sample of 600 adults aged 55 to 75, found

that 30% owned computers and 28% ‘‘regularly use[d ] an online

service. ’’ (p. 565) The Winnipeg Free Press cited a 1998 study byNeilson Media Research and CommerceNet that claimed that ‘‘people

over 50 are the second-fastest growing group on the Internet, trailing

only 16–24-year olds’’ (Hughes, 1999).

Perhaps a major stimulus for computer interest among seniors has

been the opportunity to gain computer literacy and Internet skills inan environment compatible with the learning style of older adults,

such as the seniors classes oþered by CRM and other seniors educa-

tional organizations across Canada and the United States. Although

some older adults may be uneasy about learning to use a computer,

CRM’s experience has indicated that, in a relaxed, unhurried class-room atmosphere, most seniors have no difficulty in learning com-

puter skills. It is then an easy move to the Internet, and seniors are

able to become skilled in Internet use after a brief, well-designed

training course. Kubeck, Miller-Albrecht, and Murphy (1999) investi-

gated age diþerences between novice older (mean age 70.6 years) andyounger (mean age 21.8 years) adults in skills in searching for infor-

mation on the World Wide Web. They found that after brief training,

age was not an important factor in ability to conduct a successful

Web search for speciüc preselected information. The older adults in

this study experienced improved computer attitudes following thesearch, and they reported enjoying the experience.

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT

Project Rationale

The driving force behind the development of the Seniors Computer

Information Project was CRM’s belief in the importance for seniors of

easy access to a wide range of reliable information that would allowthem to make choices supporting an independent lifestyle. This belief

was shared by the Canadian National Advisory Council on Aging and

articulated in its study on seniors’ independence (National Advisory

Council on Aging, 1990). One of the study’s recommendations to gov-

ernment and nongovernment agencies was that ‘‘high priority begiven to the dissemination of information about services, and that

this information be targeted to seniors directly, to their informal

network, and to community representatives’’ (p. 24).

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348 D. J. DeGraves and R. J. Denesiuk

The Council approached CRM to develop a seniors information

database project in 1985, and in exploring the idea, CRM became con-

vinced that electronic data would be more accessible and up-to-date

than printed material. In addition, in provinces such as Manitoba,

where 57.3% of the population over 65 years of age live in its majorurban center of Winnipeg (Centre on Aging, 1996), information would

need to be equally pertinent and accessible to both urban and rural

seniors. A determined eþort was made to ünd funding for the project,

but nothing came of these eþorts until 1990.

Project Proposal and Funding

In 1990, CRM was approached by Canadian Healthcare Telematics,

Inc. (CHTI) to develop a seniors database project, and the two organ-izations entered jointly into the development of a proposal for a

national demonstration project on the eþectiveness of computer data-

base technology to meet the information needs of seniors. Four focus

groups composed of seniors, professional gerontologists, and a mixed

group of individuals interested in video and television technologywere consulted regarding the project’s design. The proposal articu-

lated two project goals : (a) to develop a computer-based information

and communication system to address the needs of seniors in urban

and rural communities and (b) to test the eþectiveness of the system

by establishing test centers at which seniors would be taught thecomputer skills necessary to use the system. In 1991, the two organiz-

ations applied successfully for a grant from the Seniors Independence

Program of Health Canada.

Project Implementation

Work on the project began in 1992, with 18 months of intensive plan-

ning, including assessment and preliminary choice of technology,

selection of six locations to be used as test centers, establishment ofproprietary rights, search for and evaluation of existing databases,

and establishment of a detailed implementation plan. Project imple-

mentation began in January 1994 and continued until the termination

of the funding grant in June 1996. By this time, CHTI had ceased

operations, and CRM was solely responsible for the project. Thisphase was carried out by a staþ of three, a database information

manager, a training and technical support manager, and the project

manager (CRM’s executive director), who were assisted by a small

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Seniors Computer Information Program 349

group of volunteers. A Project Advisory Committee, responsible to

the CRM board of directors and composed of seniors and other

persons interested and knowledgeable in computer technology, was

established. A subcommittee was created to advise on database

content.

Development of the SCIP Website

In the original project plan proposed in 1991, the vision had been of asingle server computer hardwired to the six test centers. By early

1994, however, when project staþ members and volunteers began to

put plans into action, information technology had changed dramat-

ically. The Internet and the World Wide Web had become available,

oþering dial-up access through telephone lines to home computers,and making possible the transmission of text, color, graphics, and

sound. The technology oþered global communication direct to

seniors’ homes, government offices, and senior centers. The plan was

altered to reýect this new technology.

The collection and organization of the great mass of information tobe installed on the static pages of the SCIP website was conducted by

the project’s information manager with the assistance and advice of

project volunteers. A series of focus groups composed of people

knowledgeable about local community resources and representatives

of senior citizens organizations assisted project staþ in the selectionof content and advised that SCIP initially should concentrate on

three areas: health, housing, and income/ünances. A volunteer

assisted in the technical aspects of coding and preparing information

for delivery over the Web.

When SCIP went on-line in March 1995, its website (http :/www.crm.mb.ca /scip) contained the beginning of an extensive cate-

gorized listing of information on resources available to Manitoba

seniors. Throughout the project, its information inventory has

increased considerably, with many added features, including inter-

active options by which site visitors can communicate with oneanother or, for example, with an expert hosting a Web page.

As a newcomer to the World Wide Web in 1995 and a pioneer in

programming for seniors, SCIP caught the attention of the electronic

world and received highly favorable reviews from critics. Typical was

the citation in Yahoo! Internet Life Magazine (1997) that gave SCIP 31/2 stars and said that SCIP is ‘‘arguably the best clearinghouse for

links to areas of interest for Senior Citizens, providing in its wake

some amazing chances to see how the older half lives.’’

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350 D. J. DeGraves and R. J. Denesiuk

Test Center Development

The goal of this part of the project was to bring together a group of

seniors at each of six test centers located in various parts of Mani-toba and train them to use a fully equipped computer. These seniors

would then become trainers and coaches for other seniors in their

area. Six senior centers were chosen as test centers. Four were

located in towns of varying sizes and distances from Winnipeg, and

two were in Winnipeg. Each center was equipped with a 486-33 multi-media computer, software, and computer furnishings. The hardware

and software installed at each center was considered state of the

art—the best and most up-to-date equipment available at the time. At

the conclusion of the project, a total of 51 coaches had been trained.

They, in turn, had instructed 458 student seniors, helping themachieve varying degrees of computer literacy and ability to access the

Internet and SCIP.

THE SCIP WEBSITE TODAY

Content and Format

In the years that have passed since the project’s funding ended, the

website has continued to develop. It is now best known by its

acronym, SCIP, at http ://www.seniorscan.ca. Each subsection of the

Categories, Canadian Geography, and Selected Sites of Interest sec-tions begins with a searchable alphabetical index that gives a brief

description of each resource. Links provide access to those resource

listings that have an Internet presence, and there are numerous links

to other sites. The search process was designed to be simple and the

data concise and easily read. Designed for the special needs ofseniors, the print is clear and large enough for aging eyes. A search

engine for SCIP information is accessed by inputting a keyword or

concept. Although SCIP is targeted primarily to Canadian seniors,

there are many links to American sources, notably in the Health cate-

gory and the Selected Sites of Interest section.SCIP runs software that produces Web server statistics. This func-

tion counts the daily requests for üles based on Web server log üles.

It oþers a reliable assessment of the way in which the site is used by

visitors. Based on data generated by this software, the mean number

of daily requests for Web pages (üles excluding graphics) calculatedover 30 consecutive days is 1,710, with a range of 675 to 3,660. The

software also identiües the frequency of requests for individual

pages. Health is the information category used most frequently, and

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Seniors Computer Information Program 351

within this category, Arthritis Management is the page most often

requested. SCIP Cafe oþers seniors an opportunity to reach out to

one another through Cyberpals, a listing of seniors who are looking

for e-mail penpals. This feature has been extremely popular. Individ-

uals are listed by geographic location so that respondents can choosecyberpals from anywhere in the world. Also popular are query and

response pages such as Ask Great Granny, where family relationship

problems are discussed, with questions posted and responses archived

and available for perusal.

Profile of SCIP Users

An ongoing survey of website users has been in operation for 3 years.

The survey is conducted on-line, with respondents volunteering infor-mation about themselves and their computer use. Data from this

survey should be approached with caution, as respondents are self-

selected and the information provided is not veriüed. However, the

survey data oþer a general proüle of SCIP users.

As of May 1999, 2,360 individuals had responded to the survey, rep-resenting 3 years of data. Of these respondents, 49% were located in

Canada and 34% in the United States. Although all age groups were

represented, 80% of respondents were over 55 years of age, with 33%between 66 and 75 and 8% over 75 years old. Fifty-eight percent of

respondents were fully retired. Male respondents outnumbered femalerespondents by a ratio of 2 : 1. Seventy-eight percent of respondents

reported having either some community college or university educa-

tion or a community college or university degree, and 73% reported

annual incomes over $30,000.

Responses to questions concerning computer use yielded someinteresting data : 44% of respondents reported that they began using a

computer when they were over 55, and 57% claimed to be self-taught.

Only 10% reported taking computer training in a classroom setting.

Internet communication was the primary computer use for 49% of

respondents, with 29% using computers primarily for word pro-cessing. When asked about Internet use, 53% cited the World Wide

Web as their primary use, and 39% cited e-mail.

Challenges in Developing and Maintaining SCIP

The creation of a website of the magnitude of SCIP is a major under-

taking for a small, nonproüt organization such as CRM, which is

dependent for funding on user fees and project grants. The highly

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352 D. J. DeGraves and R. J. Denesiuk

dedicated group of professional staþ members and volunteers who

worked on SCIP were stretched to their limits by the demands of the

project.

From the beginning, maintaining the accuracy and scope of SCIP’sinformation has been a major challenge. Although the technologywas new and exciting to those involved with the project in 1994, the

same could not be said for some local and provincial program and

service providers who were asked to contribute information for

listing on the database. Although most were aware of this new tech-

nology and its potential for disseminating information, others werenot, and they had to be persuaded to participate. As time passed and

most government offices and many community service providers went

on-line, their web pages were linked to the SCIP website. For those

services and programs without their own Web page, the policy has

been to provide a web presence for them on the SCIP site. This hasled to difficulties in maintaining accurate data, as many agencies

neglect to notify CRM of changes in their services, with the result

that SCIP’s information is sometimes outdated.

Maintaining a website is a labor-intensive task, and since the expi-

ration of project funding, SCIP’s content has been managed on a part-time basis by a staþ member with other organizational

responsibilities with some volunteer assistance. This is an ongoing

concern for CRM.

NEW DIRECTIONS

Like the Internet itself, SCIP is continually growing and developing. It

is ürmly entrenched in top-level senior sections of all major search

engines on the World Wide Web, and new requests for links arereceived daily. New features are being reviewed for inclusion, such as

listings of seniors computer clubs and computing tips and tricks for

seniors. Additionally, SCIP is moving closer to becoming a national

resource. Through SCIP’s Canadian Geography section’s links to

other Canadian provinces and territories, seniors programs and ser-vices in other parts of Canada without home pages of their own have

been given Internet presence.

A new direction that emerged for SCIP and CRM following the

completion of the project has been the development of partnerships

with other organizations across Canada. CRM’s experience in theüeld of education for seniors, together with the expertise achieved

through the development of the SCIP website (especially in the

person of the SCIP technical support manager, who has directed the

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Seniors Computer Information Program 353

technical aspects of the project from its beginning, has placed SCIP

and CRM in the forefront of a number of new Canadian initiatives :

1. The University of Regina’s (Saskatchewan) Older Adults and

Learning Technology Project (OALT) is a university extension ini-tiative directed at on-line training for seniors. It has researched

hardware and software speciüc to the needs of older adults and

developed models of on-line instruction, including instruction in

computer technology. SCIP is a partner in OALT and in OALT’sLifelong Internet Virtual Education project (LIVE), which islocated at http://www.crm.mb.ca /scip/live. LIVE produces on-line

courses for seniors and conducts research on what seniors want in

virtual learning.

2. SCIP staþ members assisted Ryerson Polytechnical University inToronto, Ontario, to develop its website, Senior Centre Canadian

Eyes of Experience (http ://www.seniorcentre.ca /), an information

directory of training resources for seniors groups in Ontario.

3. CRM is a founding member of a consortium of seniors educational

programs across Canada. CATALIST (Canadian Network for ThirdAge Learning (http ://www.catalist.org/) has come together with an

interest in coordinating information and sharing resources on edu-

cation for older adults.

CONCLUSION

SCIP has been a visionary project. At the time of its conception, theInternet was virtually unknown to most people. When SCIP went

on-line in 1995, understanding and acceptance of the Internet was

low, especially by Canadian seniors (Frank, 1995). Emerging techni-

cal developments required research and mastery on the part of staþ

members and volunteers, placing great demands on them. However,the end result, the SCIP website, has been received with enthusiasm

by Internet visitors of all ages and by critics and observers alike. The

second part of the project, computer training for seniors at the six

test centers contributed to computer literacy and Internet access for

over 500 Manitoba seniors and provided computer hardware and soft-ware for six Manitoba senior centers and their members.

SCIP was conceived of as a demonstration project to explore the

ability of electronic data to meet the information needs of older

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354 D. J. DeGraves and R. J. Denesiuk

adults. It was based on the premise that access to reliable information

would empower seniors, allowing them to make proactive decisions in

support of an independent lifestyle. However, the project was not

intended as research, and it did not produce insights concerning the

kind of information required by seniors, how they use information,and whether it actually assists them in living independently.

The absence of hard answers to the questions raised by the

project’s goals notwithstanding, some inferences can be drawn from

the quantitative data generated by the site’s web server statistics and

the on-line survey of SCIP users. For example, the site is reaching itstarget group. The majority of survey respondents were over 55 years

of age and retired. The greatest number of requests for information

was in the Health category, and arthritis management was the most

requested health topic. These data suggest that these seniors are

looking for information that not only increases their knowledge ofhealth-related issues, but more speciücally assists them in taking

control of their health care by learning techniques for living with a

chronic disease such as arthritis. Given the number of seniors who

use SCIP’s cyberpals, seniors home pages, and other interactive fea-

tures, it also appears that many seniors use SCIP to connect withother seniors.

By providing web links to seniors programs and resources through-

out Canada, SCIP is becoming a national resource. However, it is

also exerting national inýuence in the area of technology education

for older adults. Because it is operated by a seniors’ educationalorganization with experience in technology training for seniors and

staþ members with expertise in both training and website manage-

ment, SCIP and CRM are engaged in major partnerships with nation-

al and provincial projects concerned with training resources, on-line

training, research into training methods, and the development of net-works promoting on-line communication for sharing information on

these issues. These new projects go beyond a view of the Internet as a

vehicle to support the independence of seniors to that of the Internet

as a vehicle for lifelong learning.

Seniors are embracing computer technology and the Internet withgrowing conüdence, destroying agist myths about their reluctance to

use computers, and agencies like CRM are struggling to meet their

needs. The current demand for computer training now outstrips

CRM’s classroom space. Despite this shortage of resources, however

there is reason for cautious optimism. Federal and provincial govern-ments in Canada are looking to increase on-line information on gov-

ernment and community services and to expand Internet access for

Canadians. CRM is well poised to use the experience it has achieved

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Seniors Computer Information Program 355

through SCIP and seniors education to respond to new developments

in this expanding üeld.

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Hughes, J. (1999, May 19) Seniors : The last frontier. The Winnipeg Free Press. May 19,

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