Self-reported use of ICT (Information and communication technology) uptake in 2002 and discomfort amongst Finns aged 45–66

In recent years the use of new technical equipment and the Internet by middle-aged people has increased. This paper presents middle-aged people’s (45 years old or older) usage of new technical equipment and analyses how their (2704 persons) symptoms are associated with the equipment. Over 70% of Finland’s middle-aged population use mobile phones daily and less than 30% use desktop computers at leisure. For example, over 80% of middle-aged people had sometimes or often experienced pain, numbness or aches in the neck and about 70% had aches in the hip and lower back. The use of new technical equipment among the group of people who are outside working life was smaller than the people’s usage in general. In the future, when new technical equipment is developed, it is important to take into account, that people (outside working life) do not use, e.g., the Internet as much as people in general. The working environment will be much more ergonomic also at home and the Internet services will be easy to use for almost everyone, even those who have little experience or knowledge of computers and the Internet.