Tech notes

Feb 9 2006 By Herb Kim, The Journal

This Valentine's Day, thousands of older people in the UK face a serious and worrying issue - and it's nothing to do with cards, roses or chocolates.

February 14 marks the day when shoppers with a credit or debit card will in most stores be required to enter their Pin to complete a transaction.

I believe this change hasn't truly considered the issues faced by the older members of our society - and could easily have done so.

Like everyone else, older people have got used to using credit and debit cards. A recent survey by Age Concern Research Services found more than 60% of people in their 50s use cards as the main way of buying things and even for people over 80, cards are used as much as cash.

If you're like me, sometimes you'll find it tricky to remember all the Pin numbers for your cards and recognise it's a real inconvenience when you can't. The survey found that 18% of people in their 50s had difficulty remembering Pin numbers, but this rose to 24% of those in their 70s and 38% of those over 90. These statistics are particularly relevant in the North-East, which has one of the oldest populations in the UK.

No doubt the chip-and-Pin scheme is well-intentioned, but it does have some serious practical flaws for older people. In addition to having to remember Pin numbers, more than half the older people surveyed expressed concern that someone might see their Pin number as they entered it. This is another example of technology bringing benefits to many while potentially excluding others.

The good news is that in the North-East we are doing something about it. The Codeworks Assistive Technology Lab (Codeworks ATL) has been set up to conduct research into the issues faced by an ageing population and how technology and design can be used to everyone's benefit.

A significant report due from Codeworks soon looks at the problems raised by chip-and-Pin and a number of issues concerning the way older people are being excluded by new technologies.

Populations in most of the advanced nations around the world are, on average, getting older, so ageing is a hot topic. So, the need for more accessible technology will grow in significance.

Codeworks ATL will help develop products and services for older and vulnerable people.

We will all want to continue using technologies to enjoy the same quality of life.

Herb Kim is chief executive officer of Codeworks, the North-East's centre of excellence for digital technology.