It may seem like an impossible scene to achieve, but we might soon be proven wrong.
Acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts Mr Lui Tuck Yew had recently released information about a government plan to help the elderly keep up with technology - by helping making it even easier for them to be computer-savvy.
Assisting the seniors to be tech-savvy is extremely important to keep them connected with the society in a constantly evolving world of information and technology. It is a foregone conclusion that the internet will be the future medium of information.
The minister praised retiree KW Chan who set up a facebook account to share some vacation photos with his friends.
The 66-year old spent a week mastering the online social networking site, and he nows updates his account daily. Mr Chan's example has proven that it not a 'Mission Impossible' for the elderly to master the computer and internet.
The government has decided to set up hotspots around Singapore that would provide sufficient computers for free at places such as community centres and places that provide elderly care services. This is a terrific platform for the elderly living nearby to learn computer-usage conveniently.
To make learning even easier and more convenient for the elderly, the government is planning also to send volunteers ad workers to the hotspots to teach the seniors basic knowledge on computers.
This plan is timely, especially when Singapore is facing an aging population problem. Demographics show that the majority of people are slowly shifting towards the higher end of the age population. Coupled with the good healthcare our country has, there would no doubt, be increasing numbers of elderly roughly between the ages of 50 and 60.
The new plan would aid the seniors greatly in keeping connected to the society and probably contributing to the society for those who are still working, especially when the government is slowly pushing back the retirement for senior workers.
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