With the rapid development of technology in the 21st century, convenience is increasing in many areas of life. People can now buy things without having to go out, and can handle various tasks with their smart phones. However, this wider use of technology may not be welcome news for all generations. In particular for older persons, the digital gap created by the development of technology may cause difficulties in daily life.
The digital divide between the generations has recently emerged as a major social issue. It has been found in many studies that cognitive decline accelerates as age increases, making it difficult for older persons to accept and use new technologies. Korea is an IT powerhouse, where technological development is fast compared to other countries. In this situation, digital alienation of older persons is emerging as a new social problem. Relatedly, older persons have difficulty using the electronic kiosks deployed throughout stores and managing the smart phones that are indispensable in daily life and other modern electronic devices.
In the mid-2010s, an unmanned ordering machine known as a kiosk began to be introduced in Korea, and as of 2023, these kiosks, where goods are ordered and paid for electronically, are found in most stores. Kiosks have been introduced to enhance convenience and save cost, but some older persons have difficulty using them. In fact, we can often see older persons leaving a store without having purchased anything. There are many kiosks that do not accept cash, and their height is not adjustable.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government is implementing various projects to narrow this digital divide, one of which is the Seoul Citizens' Safe Job Project. The aim of this project is to link assisting older persons and providing jobs for the unemployed, or vulnerable low-income people, strengthening the economic independence of the vulnerable, and their capacities, by cultivating vocational skills, one of which is working as a Digital Guide. Digital Guides complete digital competency education and volunteer training for about two weeks, and then work for thirty hours a week, helping older people to use digital devices such as kiosks, to find directions on map in smart phone or to call taxi by using smart phone. The wage is 58,000 KRW (around 47 USD) per day, and 6,000 KRW (around 5 USD) are paid separately for incidental expenses. In addition, a car allowance is paid, and the four major insurance schemes are subscribed to, so as to guarantee income and stability during the contract period of about five months to be extended.
Digital Guides recruit people in all generation, however there is a project named 'Anywhere Support Groups' that recruits only older persons. 'Anywhere Support Group' is a specialized project which fosters instructors specializing in digital education for older persons based on older persons care by older persons. There is a difference in monthly payment (22,000 KRW per hour) compare to Digital Guide and Anywhere Support Group instructors work only 20 to 30 hours a month. In addition, various welfare facilities, including welfare centers, are making efforts to help older persons not to be isolated from the new technology by providing smart phone education and kiosk education.
Twenty years ago, people didn't imagine they would be using cell phones with touch screens. The pace of technological development is getting faster and faster, and new high-tech devices are being released every day. Companies are trying to create devices that are more convenient to use and with diverse functions, and artificial intelligence is entering our daily lives. But older persons are left behind.