26 Nov 2015 - Have you noticed that more seniors around us are using a smartphone, computer or accessing the internet? This is an observation made by IDA’s Annual Survey on Infocomm Usage in Households 2014 (Survey). The Survey showed that in 2014, about 74% of Singapore residents used the computer in the last three months with highest increase in the last three years reported for senior citizens aged 50 years and above.
Singapore, 26 November 2015 | For Immediate Release
Senior citizens’ tech adoption rate shows highest percentage increase
Have you noticed that more seniors around us are using a smartphone, computer or accessing the internet? This is an observation made by IDA’s Annual Survey on Infocomm Usage in Households 2014 (Survey). The Survey showed that in 2014, about 74% of Singapore residents used the computer in the last three months with highest increase in the last three years reported for senior citizens aged 50 years and above. Between 2012 and 2014, there was a significant increase of 14 and 11 percentage-points in computer usage by senior citizens aged 50-59 and 60 & above respectively. This brought the total percentage of computer usage among senior citizens to 63% for those aged 50-59 years and 27% for those aged 60 years & above respectively in 2014.
In addition, the Survey showed that internet usage rate by senior citizens aged 50-59 and 60 & above rose significantly to 75% and 31% respectively in 2014, an increase of 24 and 15 percentage-points from 2012 respectively. In fact, in 2014, more than three-quarter and one-third of senior citizens aged 50- 59 years and 60 years & above respectively used a smartphone to access the Internet in the past 3 months. This represented an increase of 30 and 19 percentage-points for the two age groups respectively from 2012.
This annual Survey has been conducted for more than 20 years, and its objective is to assess the extent of infocomm adoption in Singapore resident households and residents. This latest survey’s data was collected from about 3,500 households and about 3,500 residents via face-to-face interviews.
The household internet and broadband access also continued to increase in 2014 and households are increasingly using internet-enabled mobile phones for internet access. Home internet and broadband access rates rose to 88% and 87.5% respectively in 2014. For households with school-going children, internet and broadband access rates were 98% and 97% respectively in 2014. Fibre and wireless broadband continued to replace ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) and cable modem as the internet connection choice by households with 62% of resident households using fibre broadband in 2014 (up from 25% in 2012), and 56% using wireless broadband in 2014 (up from 38% in 2012).
Another trend that was observed from this Survey is the rise of online shopping among Singapore residents. Online shoppers were mainly aged 15-49 years, with credit card payment being the most common among those aged 25 & above, and majority of online shoppers spent at least $100 on their online purchases. The three most popular items purchased online were apparels, travel products and tickets for entertainment events.
On the cyber security front, the Survey found that more than eight in 10 installed anti-virus software and security updates on computer used to access the internet at home while adoption rates of anti-virus software installation on smartphones were comparatively lower at about three in 10.
The top three primary internet activities among Singapore residents were related to communication, leisure activities and getting information, with the topmost online activity on mobile equipment being the use of social networks.
Mr Steve Leonard, IDA’s Executive Deputy Chairman, commented, “We are encouraged to see residents becoming more tech-savvy and connected, particularly the silver generation. This is useful to help the industry explore new opportunities to serve our citizens better and help build Singapore into a Smart Nation.”
The full Survey report can be downloaded from IDA’s corporate website.
1 A smartphone has more sophisticated functions than a feature phone. Examples of such functions are: i) able to open and read documents (e.g. pdf, office document) and ii) able to add / install applications on phone. These two categories are mutually exclusive, i.e. a mobile phone can only be a feature phone or a smartphone.
2 Households with access to the internet via both broadband and narrowband had been categorised as those with broadband internet access. Please note that some households may have more than one type of broadband connection at home.
3 Mobile equipment is defined as portable equipment excluding laptop/notebook.
ISSUED BY THE INFOCOMM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE
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About Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore
The mission of the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) is to develop information technology and telecommunications within Singapore with a view to serve citizens of all ages and companies of all sizes. IDA does this by actively supporting the growth of innovative technology companies and start-ups in Singapore, working with leading global IT companies as well as developing excellent information technology and telecommunications infrastructure, policies and capabilities for Singapore. For more news and information, visit www.ida.gov.sg or follow us on Twitter @IDAsg.
About Smart Nation
Singapore strives to be a Smart Nation, in which our people are empowered by technology to lead meaningful and fulfilled lives. By harnessing the power of networks, data and info-comm technologies, we endeavour to improve living, create economic opportunity and build a closer community. We have the conducive environment to experiment, prototype and deploy innovative solutions that can be shared with other global cities. It is an exciting journey, and we want your ideas to help us realize our vision. For more information, please visit www.smartnation.sg.
For media clarifications, please contact:
Joycelyn CHAN (Ms)
Senior Manager, Corporate and Marketing Communications
Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore
Tel: (65) 6211 1151 / (65) 9088 0733
Email: Joycelyn_Chan@imda.gov.sg
Chloe CHOONG (Ms)
Senior Manager, Corporate and Marketing Communications
Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore
Tel: (65) 6211 1149 / (65) 9879 1683
Email: Chloe_Choong@imda.gov.sg
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