Why Computers Frustrate Older Adults

Science Daily ^ | 3-17-2007 | University Of Alberta

[James W. Fannin]

These issues are real.

[dr_who_2]

In other words, the study didn't prove much of anything, so the authors had to rely on good old fashioned common sense.

[VOA]

bump

[martin_fierro]

[OrangeDaisy]

My Dad is 71 and loves his computer. However, I have to admit that the my laptop's touchpad gives me tendinitis when I use it too much. I had to stop playing so many games!

[tet68]

It's how they scheme behind your back, when they think you are asleep, then hatch their evil "Missing .dll" messages that gets me.

That's why I keep a gun on top of the computer, just in case.

Signed,
Geezer.

[James W. Fannin]

Buy him a trackball, and if your system supports it, a USB/optical (laser) mouse to take with you on the road.

[LurkingSince1943]

WTF is an "older adult?"

If I'm 25 and you are 30, are you an older adult?

Sheesh.

[Freeper]

Older adults are also concerned about how memory issues may impact their performance.

Buy more. In most systems it is less than $50 to double the amoun of memory. /s off?

[svcw]

What is an older adult?

[Fiddlstix]

Rim Shot

[LurkingSince1943]

An older adult is one who cannot type as fast as I can.

[Texican]

Orange:
Boy my friend I am sure glad that I am not "old". Heck I am only 83, and still am able to type a little. However my memory is going to he##. What was your signin name again?? I have only been using computers since the first IBM 5100 came out. 5 inch screen and tape storage. My how time flies.
You have a wonderful evening, and the very best to you and yours.

Texican

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Plenty of old adults can use computers with at least as much skill as youngsters.

[proxy_user]

"What is an older adult?

And what are computer skills?

I know quite a few guys over 50 who can still code in C++ and assembler quite easily. There aren't that many young people who can do that any more.

[blam]

"What is an older adult?"

I was wondering the same. I am 63 and suspect it includes me, lol.

My 38 year old PhD son just got DSL because he didn't want to be lower-tech than his old man, me, who already had it.

[vietvet67]

Do not regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many. ~Author Unknown

[Cacique]

Now that IS brilliant

[GretchenM]

Everyone who uses a computer had to learn how to do so somewhere. Why should anyone think the elderly are any less needing instruction?

I learned to type in high school, before PC's were in use. I learned to use a PC one little step at a time, at work (with an orange-font monitor against a black background and the use of little floppy disks), but most of what I know I learned on my own at home on my own PC, the hard way: trial and error. FreeRepublic was a Godsend as far as starting to learn HTML.