## 3 Results
### Reported Challenges and Facilitating Conditions around Older Persons' ICT Access and Use
#### 3.3.2 Environmental Factors  
ICT access and use by older persons depended on environmental factors that are often outside the technology and older persons' control. Our paper brought up the importance of the sociocultural factors in shaping the access and use by older persons of ICT in the region. Sociocultural factors are a collective property that includes ideas, beliefs, laws, customs,knowledge, morals, and art to distinguish the older persons in the Arab region from other groups of people in other areas [6].  
Religious beliefs and practices: Religious beliefs and practices acted both as a facilitators and as barriers to ICT use by older persons in the Arab region [2]. One paper noted that some participants rejected virtual interaction due to a strong preference for direct in-person socialization regarding religious education [2]. The paper detailed that many still use traditional cell phones that do not have cameras as many venues still prohibit using cameras, such as wedding ceremonies and educational institutions [2]. On the other hand, spreading religious messages to others through virtual means was also an identified motivation encouraging the use of smartphones [2]. In the Gulf region, cultural, mainly religious, practices prohibit direct non-familial cross-gender interactions with flexibility depending on the region [9]. However, through virtual, online means, such as WhatsApp, cross-gender social interactions are possible and are considered socially acceptable [9]. Thus, some participants enjoyed social media's ability to allow them to have direct communication with others without restriction, judgement, or third-party intervention [9].  
Social norms: Other sociocultural influences on technology access and use included prevailing social norms and socially accepted practices. For instance, many older Saudi Arabian study participants used smartphones to stay in contact with others, and those who did not were encouraged to through social pressure from family and friends [2]. On the other hand, some Saudi Arabians rejected smartphones because internet censorship exercised by the government reinforced negative perceptions within this population about the internet [2]. Additionally, the lack of trust was identified as one of the problems encountered by older users when using mobile applications [6]. For example, older users reported not trusting products that differ in their exterior design and colors from what they are used to in their culture [6].  
Sociocultural expectations related to caregiving: Arabic culture and social expectations and norms give attention to taking care of, or finding care for, older persons while keeping them in their family's home [3]. Older persons accept AAL technologies as they grant them more autonomy and independence [3]. Additionally, the low levels of older persons living in social care homes means higher costs for staff per social care home [3]. One paper noted that AAL technologies might be appealing due to their potential ability to reduce staff numbers and increase efficiency in social care homes [8].