In the context of strong digital transformation, accessing technology is no longer just a story for young people. For many elderly people, the journey to get acquainted with smartphones, digital applications or artificial intelligence (AI) still has many barriers.
However, in Hanoi, "special classes" are helping to narrow that gap, opening up opportunities for the elderly to confidently step into the digital world.
Responding to the "Digital Education for All" movement and the 45-day-night campaign to support digital transformation at the grassroots level implemented by Hanoi City, Mr. Luu Hai Nam and Dr. Kieu Thanh Chung - Hanoi High-Tech College directly went to many wards and residential groups to organize free technology classes for the elderly.
Sharing about this idea, Mr. Luu Hai Nam said that the starting point came from very close things, even from his family members: "I see that my own parents and relatives have many difficulties when using smartphones or public services. Therefore, I and the teacher want to help older people to use technology more easily. Technology is for serving people, it should not become a distance between generations.
According to Mr. Nam, due to psychological hesitation, many elderly people are afraid that they cannot do it, but when guided step by step, they realize that everything is not too complicated.
Also teaching, Dr. Kieu Thanh Chung said that popularizing digital skills for the elderly is an important task but has not been widely implemented.
In the classes, special students get acquainted with practical applications such as VNeID, public service portals or popular digital platforms. Besides, equally important content is skills to recognize misinformation, prevent online fraud - risks that the elderly easily encounter.
“We not only teach how to use it, but also help uncles and aunts know how to access correct and authentic information in the online environment,” Mr. Chung emphasized.
Notably, content about artificial intelligence (AI) is also introduced into teaching by teachers as a new skill. Lecturers guide the elderly on how to use AI to support quick information search, ask questions and verify content from many different sources.
At the same time, students are also warned about the risks when AI may be exploited by bad actors to create fake information, fake images or fake voices for fraud.
As one of the students participating in the class, Ms. Nguyen Thi Quynh Tram (Cua Nam Ward, Hanoi) said that the class brought a lot of practical knowledge. "Previously, I set passwords very simply, without thinking much. Today, being guided, I understand more security principles, and feel much more open.
According to Ms. Tram, such classes are especially necessary in the current context, when many administrative activities and public services have been digitized. Thanks to technology, information lookup, procedures or information gathering to serve social activities have become faster and more convenient.
