Silver Spring Seniors Train to Tweet, Tumble, Text

More than 200 residents came out Tuesday to take advantage of a digital world expo at Riderwood retirement community—located at 3140 Gracefield Road—to learn how to use the latest digital technologies.

The one-day Riderwood Digital World Technology Expo worked with attendees on how to use social networking and other internet-based applications, including Skype, Twitter and iPad. Attendees also learned how to apply technology in areas of electronic health records, digital photography, audiology, genealogy and video gaming.

This interest in technology from Silver Spring seniors is a part of an overall increase from people aged 65 and older.

A 2009 report from The Nielsen Company showed the number of seniors who actively use the Internet increased by more than 55 percent, from 11.3 million active users in November 2004, to 17.5 million in November 2009.

"This was the first time we held a technology expo. The response was incredible," Riderwood Spokesman Mel Tansill said."We hope to make this technology expo an annual event for the public and our residents."