Her cousin the history buff gets a charge checking out Cold War sites and digging up declassified documents. My Uncle Joe, who's hard of hearing, chats with his buddies on America Online. She doesn't want to be left behind by her friends. For elderly people who can't travel as before, the Web brings the world to them and helps them stay mentally active. Physically active seniors appreciate the Web as a tool for daily living, providing information, convenience, entertainment and connection to family.
Seniors are an affluent market with real needs and time on their hands to do some serious surfing.
The travel, financial services, health, retirement homes and services industries can get a big boost from the Web if they start targeting seniors. Seniors also will influence Web-page design. Too many Web pages are cluttered and overwhelming. The AARP's site, by contrast, is easy on the eyes. So don't get hung up on youthful glitz.