Two studies were undertaken with older adults using websites. The first study observed five pairs of older users accessing websites specifically aimed at their age group. It found that the older adult is keen to use websites, but that several obstacles are encountered based on the typical older adult’s conceptual knowledge of the environment. Navigation proved difficult in many cases because the older users did not understand directives given and were unable to apply any declarative knowledge in order to problem solve. The second study observed twenty-five older users locating information from a local government website. Again the older users showed that they were keen to utilise computer technology, and the study revealed that age related skills were not as problematic as users’ worries “about what to press” with many users preferring to ask for help rather than problem solve themselves.
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