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The medical industry is one that sees a lot of UGC. A search on YouTube finds thousands of videos of people talking about their illnesses, from cancer sufferers to people with bullemia. Support groups are flourishing and people are finding that sharing experiences and content online is sometimes easier than face-to-face. Talking about your experiences to video and uploading this to YouTube for others to respond to and comment on is probably easier than discussing it in real life. The internet and social networks probably offer access to a greater number of fellow-sufferers than even a local support group might offer. Beyond support, people can use social media and user-generated content to help understand their illnesses. The supposed danger here is that people will self-diagnose and that this may be incorrect. At the same time, you’d expect that privacy issues would prevent any meaningful and useful exchange of ideas. But in fact, user-generated medical content is a vibrant example of how the social networking and online communities can be powerful for exchanging information.

A report by Jupiter Research in 2007 showed that 20% of Americans turn to others online for information about medical issues. They are clearly not shy of seeking or giving advice, even on more personal issues. They use sites such as OrganizedWisdom, a Wiki-style community, to share information they have and get information they need. The concern over the accuracy of this information still stands, with worries about non-medical professionals sharing information that people use to self-diagnose. But research by the British Medical Journal in 2004 found that in the online support communities it studied only 6% of content was incorrect. If this replicated across all medical content online then it would probably be among some of the more accurate user-generated content on the internet. User-generated medical content shows that people are willing to share and are accurate when they do so. Even in a more niche and potentially risky area such as medical advice and disgnosis, the quality and usefulness of user-generated content is high.

Participation - many are no longer satisfied to just consume the thoughts and opinions of professional experts - but want to be involved in the process of discussing and interacting with the news. Beyond this we’re seeing more and more focus upon citizen journalism where millions of people have the means to engage in the reporting of news - simply by getting their mobile phone out.

Relationality - many of the new forms of media that are emerging not only involve readers in the reporting and interpretation of news - but they create spaces where community springs up around the news and information being shared. People are no longer finding meaning in news alone - but together in social networks. Suspicion of Institution - Government, Church, Big Business and other ‘institutions’ are increasingly being viewed with suspicion. I’m finding in my own daily interactions that more and more people have a growing sense of disillusionment and suspicion of mainstream media outlets and are looking for alternative sources of information.

Customization - we live in an age where we have almost unlimited choice in many areas of our lives. New media allows people to customize the information and news that they want to consume. Using tools like news aggregation they can now choose specific topics that they wish to follow and control when and how they consume it. Immediacy - no longer satisfied to wait for tomorrows paper or tonight’s news broadcast - people are increasingly following events in real time online. While TV and Radio have live coverage of some big events with broad appeal - New Media is light footed, nimble, highly targeted to special interests and quick. Whether it be watching Apple release it’s new iPod live via a blogger at the press event or getting reports and pictures of a natural disaster from a blogger caught up in the middle of the action - new media is increasingly ahead of the rest in getting information out.

Assistive Technologies (ATs) and Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) may improve quality of life, extend length of community residence, improve physical and mental health status, delay the onset of serious health problems and reduce family and care-giver burden.

While the ageing of the population around the world raises serious concerns about social security, pensions, long-term care, health care and family systems, digital-age tools have been proposed as possible resources to improve outcomes. Considerable literature has appeared suggesting that Assistive Technologies (ATs) and Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) may improve quality of life, extend length of community residence, improve physical and mental health status, delay the onset of serious health problems and reduce family and care-giver burden.

The opportunities for liberal education and the open university to provide education in information society skills will be increased, with special attention given to the ageing population. The competencies of adult

72% of respondents are of the opinion that the ageing population is at risk of being excluded from society

The survey strongly indicates that the elderly and people with low education levels are most at risk of being left behind in the development of the information society.

On average, the MBA programme will take about two-and-a-half years to complete. The Certificate programme may be completed in six months and the Diploma programme in 12 months.

there is a danger that they will be excluded from the growing Information Society

six local experiments are trying out the possibilities of utilising ICT to fulfil the needs of old people

e-Learning Services supports the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) by Faculty of Education faculty, staff, researchers and students.e-Learning Services' main functions are:to maintain Information and Communication Technology (ICT) facilities and resources to support classroom use of ICT to maintain faculty websites, servers, hardware and software to consult and provide resource services for the Faculty related to the use of ICT to provide software training and support for faculty and staff.

In this working document of the High Level Group on the Employment and Social Dimension of the Information Society (ESDIS) the health impact of the introduction of ICT in the workplace and its potential for an ageing society is analysed.

There is an assumption that Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) will enhance quality of life. Additionally �electronic accessibility� is one of the goals for the European Information Society to support and enable self-determination and mobility. Dimensions of empowerment such as participation and ability to influence/control one�s life situation imply an approach to health care with the patient/client in focus.

Planning Your Trip:  Know Before You Go! Information Resources Travelers should familiarize themselves with their destinations, both to get the most enjoyment out of the visit and to avoid known dangers.  Travelers should also be aware of restrictions on items that may be taken overseas (see “Bringing Medications or Filling Prescriptions Abroad,” below) and even on items that may be brought into the U.S. upon return (see “Customs and Import Restrictions,” below).  More information resources follow:

Internet use by seniors has increased dramatically since the beginning of the millennium

The main uses of the Internet by people over 60 are email, news, health information, product information, family research, and travel reservations [18, 19]. Less common uses include online purchasing, searching government sites, online gaming, and online photo sharing.

besides practical knowledge, the Internet offers senior learners the opportunity to learn new job skills, access cultures and communities, and satisfy an intellectual curiosity that doesn't die upon retirement.