14 February, 2000.

"The tragedy of old age is not that one is old, but that one is young." - Oscar Wilde

Amid the buzz about B2B and B2C eC, with the attending tales of brash e-trash and their wealth, it is easy to forget that the web is also a powerful tool for social change. Consider how many people now have access to information and communication options that would have seemed impossible not ten years ago. Websites have sprouted for everyone from teenagers to necrophiliacs. The advertising cant has dubbed these "communities" in a very nice euphemism for targeted marketing opportunities. But few can deny that the internet offers seemingly limitless opportunities for folks of common interests to gather together.

With the millennium behind us (or upon us depending upon how you view the matter), it is an opportune moment to examine one particular offering on the web - sites for seniors.

It has often been noted that elders in America, as opposed to other cultures that venerate their older members, are too frequently cast aside or forgotten. Never mind that they have heaps of disposable income and free time (a marketer's dream), in a society that worships youth and newness, anyone over 50 is inevitably relegated to lesser status. Not any more. Armed with the staggering power of the web to unite people far and wide, sites for the graying set are here with a vengeance. And seniors are logging on in record numbers.

The Evaluation Process

To keep the competition fair, only sites that can best be described as senior "hubs" were considered. A number of sites offer goods and services (pharmaceuticals, travel, etc.) designed specifically for the older consumer, but these sites purport to offer the whole web experience for the elder surfer.

The specific criteria were as follows:

1. Selection: What is being offered to seniors at this particular site? Does the content mirror the actual needs and interests of seniors?

2. Organization: How is the site arranged? Is there a logic that senior surfers can follow?

3. Features: What does the site offer in the way of ancillary features? Are there links to other sites that may interest seniors?

4. Usability: How easy was it to locate information? Would it be possible for a senior surfer, often coming onto the net for the first time, to find what they're looking for?

5. Presentation: How does the site look? Is this something that might actually appeal to seniors?

We rated each site (on a scale of 1 to 5) for each of these criteria and then gave the site an overall rating.