Why Computers Frustrate Older Adults

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

[mountainlyons]

My complaints are there are several keyboard configurations, the basic simple commands like copy*.* are to fast and easy that they had to be replaced by slow cumbersome icons and buttons that you have to find a book (now impossible) to figure out the buttons and commands.

[Popocatapetl]

The solution is rather an easy one.

Most software shares the same few commands that do most of the work. Most everything else is "bells and whistles", unique to that software. Look at Microsoft Word, for example. Most of the time, you just type, then save or print and save, or discard. 90% of the program you almost never use. It is just Notepad with a spell checker.

So when you teach computer to older people, the emphasis should be on teaching the limited important commands that they will use over and over. This gives them a solid foundation on which to build their knowledge.

And yet, when they try to teach MS Word to older people, invariably they want to teach them so many bells and whistles that of course they get flummoxed.

[Ole Okie]

I'm only 80, so I'm one of the young ones.

I've only been messing with computers since 1955, when we had to wire an IBM Card Programmed Computer to do engineering problems. Screens of any size were a long way in the future.

[Ole Okie]

Actually it was an IBM Card Programmed Calculator.

[ozzymandus]

So somebody who never saw a computer until he was 50 isn't as skilled as some 20 yr-old who grew up using a PC? Duh! When I was in college, the only computer took up a whole room, and the people who took computer classes carried around big boxes of punch cards. Now, you can't even enroll unless you own a laptop.

[vietvet67]

Some great age quotes here: http://www.quotegarden.com/age.html

[Woodman]

Two words for you to live by: "Right Click"
Almost everything you could ever want to do with anything is available with a right click on the object.

[humblegunner]

Right click, Granpaw.

[fruitintheroom]

Can you imagine someone paid for something this silly?

[Aunt Polgara]

I can tell you why "older adults" are afraid of computers... they know how much they cost and are afraid of inadvertently breaking something that they paid a pile of money for.

The youngsters didn't pay for it, so they aren't so afraid of breaking it. :-)

[mc5cents]

I'm growing older but not up. -- Jimmy Buffett

[vietvet67]

LOL, that'll work.

[Publius6961]

What's an older adult?
Does that mean that eventually I am justified in hiring a young blonde to help me navigate --- through the FR forum, of course...

[Wheee The People]

What you say?

[Rannug]

I'm not afraid of computers, but I sure as hell hate those gd Indians.

[Ditter]

Get the old f@rts Webtv, now called MSNTV2. It's computer for dummies who have never used one before . Sooooooooo easy even a caveman can use it. I am a satisfied user.

[OldEagle]

Many older folks are intimidated because they know absolutely nothing about a computer. I have pointed out that the most able computer guru also knew nothing when he started.
I have encouraged a number of seniors to take the plunge. It is clearly a case of nothing ventured, nothing won. Most love the email.

[Publius6961]

It is just Notepad with a spell checker.

well... not exactly.
Saving protected sites in Notepad or Worpad is impossible. Word does it with just a little tweaking.
The same holds true of tables on the web.
Not complicated but extremely useful.

[TADSLOS]

Old dog, new tricks. A sweeping generality but largely true based on my observations.

[uglybiker]

For instance, older adults are using email increasingly to keep up their social contact with others ...

They also increasingly use it to endlessly pass on mindless garbage!

I know several 'older adults' whom I would love to get a message from that DOES NOT start with:

Fwd:Fw:Fw:Fw:Fw:Fw:Fw:Fw:Fw:Fw:Fw:Fw:

Usually followed by JOKE, LOL, or PASS THIS ON!