Development of Smartphone Application Usage Skills for the Elderly: A Case Study of Elderly Clubs in Maha Sarakham Province
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This research aimed to investigate the current situation, problems, and obstacles in smartphone application usage among older adults, and to develop guidelines for enhancing smartphone application skills for the elderly in Maha Sarakham Province. A qualitative research methodology was employed, collecting data from 30 key informants comprising 20 elderly club members, 5 club leaders, and 5 community volunteers through in-depth interviews, participant observation, and focus group discussions. Data were analyzed using content analysis. The findings revealed that most older adults owned smartphones and primarily used LINE (95%), Facebook (80%), and banking applications (65%) to maintain relationships with family members and club peers. The elderly encountered three main categories of challenges: 1) physical and health issues, including visual impairment, hand tremors, arthritis, hearing loss, and memory decline; 2) skills and knowledge deficits, including lack of understanding of technical terminology, difficulty memorizing procedures, limited comprehension of basic concepts, insufficient cybersecurity awareness, and problem-solving skills; and 3) social support limitations, including restricted assistance from family members, limited practice opportunities, inadequate community support, inappropriate learning materials, and absence of concrete policies. Based on these findings, the researcher developed the 5D Model Framework encompassing five core components: 1) DESIGN: three-level curriculum design; 2) DELIVERY: learner-centered instruction; 3) DEVELOP: development of supporting media and tools; 4) DIGITAL SUPPORT: establishment of social support systems; and 5) DETERMINE: continuous monitoring and evaluation. This holistic integrated framework addresses the limitations and needs of older adults across all dimensions, enabling them to develop digital skills effectively and sustainably.
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