ABSTRACT
A plunge into the literature reveals that studying digital technologies through social generations is a well-established practice in social sciences and media studies. In addition to changes in technology and media landscapes, there are many socio-cultural processes that can shape the formation of generations and generational identities. While earlier research detected obvious generational differences in technology adoption and use, the patterns of consumption of digital technologies fluctuate over time and across the life course. Later life appears an interesting new life course stage and older consumers are beginning to be targeted as potential users of new assistive technologies and applications. This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts covered in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book brings together contributions from the fields of sociology, social policy, anthropology, gender studies, communication, psychology and marketing. The chapters revolve mainly around European cultures and societies, including Finland, Estonia, Italy, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
