The aim of the article is to identify and analyze the social determinants of digital exclusion in an ageing society on the example of Poland. The ageing of societies is nowadays a process recognized as a common trend in the world. Demographic changes cause serious socio-economic transformations. Contemporary social and economic systems are dependent on new technologies. Full participation in a technical environment is possible only for individuals with specific technical, social and psychological competences. The ability to use new information and communication technologies becomes a life necessity. In this context questions about the endogenous and exogenous determiants of digital exclusion in ageing societies, as well as about the impact of the digital technology on the emergence of new dimensions of digital exclusion have been raised. The methodological basis of the study are the theories of social and digital exclusion, as well as science and technology studies. The information bases for the study were the GUS (Central Statistical Office in Poland) reports, Eurostat data base and several statistic reports of non-government organizations in Poland. The analyzed period includes 2015-2019 years in cases where the development trends are discusses and 2019 to show the implications of new technologies impact on polish society. The forecasts reach up to 2060. The theoretical study is based on the analytical and semantic method. It has been shown that the analysis of the effects of digital exclusion in an ageing society should cover a much wider range of factors causing negative consequences. Exogenous factors, i.e. barriers preventing Internet use combined with lack of access to new technologies and lack of digital competence should be treated equally to endogenous factors. Motivation to develop and acquire new skills related to individual life strategies of the elderly plays an equally important role in the process of social self-exclusion. Authors also identifies the main dimensions of digital exclusion and presents them as a multi-factor model: Market - trust - economy; Information policy; Marketing - information - knowledge; Electronic democracy; Quality of life - health. The article provides a theoretical framework for the analysis of new dimensions of digital exclusion in ageing societies. It situates the assessment of new technologies in the social context of the progressing demographic changes implications. It points to new categories of social divides in technologically developed societies.

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The proposed research aims to investigate the problem of age-friendly robot designing from the perspective of the potential end-users. The initial objectives addressed three main issues: how the elderly envision robots and their knowledge on technological development; age-friendly robot design; the elderly’s involvement in the robot design process. The empirical material analyzed are the results of in-depth interviews with people aged 70+. A sociological approach is proposed, based mainly on criticism of writing and the analytical and synthetic method. The theoretical framework is the perspective of an ageing society and technogerontology. The sociological approach enables better understanding of the sensitive problems of age-friendly robot designing from the individual point of view. It is concluded with a conceptual discussion on designing robots for the elderly. In particular, it is revealed how these issues could help in shaping social consensus about age-friendly technologies.

The proposed research aims to investigate the concept of creative urban sustainability. We asked, what are the factors conditioning creativity in spaces where cultures meet in cities and how do they stimulate urban sustainable development. The empirical material analysed are the results of interviews conducted with cultural managers. We introduce philosophical and sociological approaches based mainly on criticism of writing and the analytical and synthetic method. In the framework of the creative city we illustrate Lublin’s model of spatial innovations, in which culture and creativity have convergence with economic development. We conclude with a conceptual discussion of the creative urban sustainability problems. In particular, we reveal how these issues could help in shaping a theoretic consensus about the function of spaces planning in sustainable development strategies emphasising the importance of creativity as a social resource and also as an agent of social and economic change.

Many factors are considered vital in supporting successful ageing and older adults’ wellbeing. Whilst evidence exists around facilitating and hindering factors in the general use of various forms of institutional and family support and personal development-oriented education and/or new technologies, evidence is limited with regards to older people’s motivations, expectations, and experiences surrounding ageing. Hence, in this study, the author used a qualitative explanatory method to interpret the factors influencing seniors’ successful ageing. The author’s focus was on how seniors experience ageing. The second issue was how they have been organizing life in old age. The third point concerned their expectations towards ageing now and in the future. Thirteen older adults (60+) were interviewed nationwide using a semi-structured scenario tool. Their objective was to give rich descriptions of their experiences of ageing. The interviews revealed the older adults’ own experiences and enabled an understanding of their motivations, perceptions, moderators, and expectations around successful ageing. Based on the analysis of the qualitative data, the author developed three main themes, each with its own sub-themes: 1. Life satisfaction (transitioning to retirement, using coping strategies in adaptation to negative changes, reaching personal goals, leading a meaningful life); 2. Supportive environments (being independent but using temporary assistance from relatives and/or people close to oneself, living with family members (e.g., husband or wife, children, grandchildren), having access to health care system); 3. Social integration (social relations, social engagement, independence in using technological advancements). The main categories that emerged from the three themes were social networks, new technologies, and wellbeing. To analyze these issues, the author used a sociological approach. The theoretic explorations were embedded mainly in two methods: criticism of writing and the analytical and comparative one.

In general, the digital economy plays an important role in the achievement of sustainable economic development, creation of a favourable investment climate, increase in income, and improvement of the welfare of the population. The digital economy is a very broad concept and it refers to the digitalization of the economy as a whole. However, it is based on infrastructure and the intensity of the use of Internet technology. To what extent do the EU countries differ in terms of availability and use of Internet technology? What trends occur in the dynamics of disparities in the level of use of Internet technology in the EU countries? In relation to the abovementioned questions, it is necessary to monitor and analyse the level of use of Internet technology in various EU countries in dynamics. The purpose of the research is to assess the level of use of Internet technology in the EU as a basis of the digital economy, as well as to assess disparities in the use of Internet technology in the EU in the period 2012-2020.