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http://www.nihseniorhealth.gov: the process of construction and revision in the development of a model web site for use by older adults

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Abstract

The NIH (National Institutes of Health) Senior Health Project began as a joint undertaking between the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to accomplish two goals. The first goal was to develop comprehensive research-based guidelines on how to make web sites accessible to older adults. The second goal was the implementation of the guidelines in the construction of a web site for older adults to locate health information. This descriptive article outlines the process of developing the guidelines and the building of the web site, http://www.nihseniorhealth.gov, and includes an overview of what was learned as the project evolved.

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Acknowledgments

This article is based, in part, on two publications released in 2002 and 2003 by the Office of Communications and Public Liaison, National Institute on Aging entitled “Older adults and information technology: a compendium of scientific research and web site accessibility guidelines.” Support for the development of these publications was provided by the Office of Communications and Public Liaison, the National Institute on Aging, to Roger W. Morrell, Ph.D. as the primary consultant on aging and the use of information technology by older adults to the NIH Senior Health Project. The author thanks: Stephanie R. Dailey, MA, Education Research Specialist, Office of Communications and Public Liaison, National Institute on Aging; Claudia Feldman, Former Deputy Director, Office of Communications and Public Liaison, National Institute on Aging; Christopher B. Mayhorn, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, North Carolina State University; Katharina V. Echt, Ph.D., Research Health Scientist, Rehabilitation Research & Development Center, Atlanta VA; and Kate I. Podany, Graduate Student, Department of Psychology, North Carolina State University for their contributions to the original NIA publications. The author also acknowledges Richard J. Hodes, M.D., Director, National Institute on Aging; Jane Shure, Director, Office of Communications and Public Liaison, National Institute on Aging; and Donald A. B. Lindberg, M.D., Director, National Library of Medicine for their continuing generous support to the NIH Senior Health Project.

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Morrell, R.W. http://www.nihseniorhealth.gov: the process of construction and revision in the development of a model web site for use by older adults. Univ Access Inf Soc 4, 24–38 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-003-0085-3

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