Posted on 03/17/2007 4:11:09 PM PDT by blam
Why Computers Frustrate Older Adults
I'm an older adult and these computers don't frustrate me. I may be falling apart but my grandkids are still asking, "Grampa how do I " Now the Wi Fi, wireless and keyboards that don't work from time to time and VISTA may Pi$$ me off every day but I can handle that
Oh for the Good old XP Pro days. Now I'll wheel myself over to another chat room
My mother is a 74 y/o stroke victim who has had limited right side mobility for about 17 years. I bought her first computer 8 years or so ago. She can't these days type anthing close to the over 80 wpm perfect that she did as a steno decades ago and this natural right hander must operate the mouse with her left hand. But she travels the world online - talking and corresponding with dozens of friends she would not have if not for web. She shops and banks online, and she's always only an IM away from me. We tend mostly to be fenced in by those barriers that we accept and submit to.
Good post.
I notice as I get older, I can't sit as long at the computer. It really messes up my vision and causes eye stress. Plus my body needs to move around more and not get cramped sitting in one position all the time. I find myself, more and more, getting up often for a break.
I know it is tough to get older people to use a computer if they haven't learned it before.
I started with the things when first available, so there is less stress in navigating.
The first time I consulted with a small businessman on what kind of computer he wanted, he showed me a system he had seen in a magazine for several thousand dollars.
He wanted a label maker. I got him a computer that did labels, then I showed him how he could do a simple inventory with a little freeware program. He was thrilled to death.
Cost him less than $250. Then once a month I showed him just one more simple thing he could do on his computer.
By the time he was ready to upgrade, the next generation of computers from what he had, had become inexpensive.
He could have been messing around with spreadsheets, databases, and all sorts of other software, but he neither had the desire, the need, or the time to do so. He might have learned them eventually, but he got what he needed.
I don't need to save protected sites. Why would an 80 year old grandmother need to? She needs Notepad, not Word.
For her, Word is just an overly complex version of Notepad, full of crap that she doesn't need and will never use.
I am not believing some of the hateful replies I am seeing here. I am an OLDER ADULT who enjoys the web, (SO OLD I HAVE 9 GREAT GRAND CHILDREN ) and some of you are condemning us to whatever you decide is our RESTING PLACE as you decide it.
Let me say a few things.
My grandchildren ask for help from grandpa. My Greats love me.
Some of you Freepers who are condemning us older folks, (not all freepers) need to LOOK AROUND, CONDEMN YOUR OWN OLD FOLKS, I am sorry to say I belong to the SAME GROUP AS THE OLD FOLKS. HUMAN BEINGS.
I don't see Sr Citizens committing rape
I don't see Sr citizens robbing people
I have gone far enough. The haters are not going to get any more of my time except to wish them well and to go to He!!
Take your hate and go elsewhere. No I shall take my knowledge and go where you can not offend me. To the intelligent side of the room. You OLD PEOPLE HATERS need to forget who put you here, who preceded you.
I am not believing I saw such hatred and bias on FR.
Well, I have read the same 46 replies you have, and I sure can't say I saw anything the least bit hateful.
I've gotten my folks (mid-70s) to the point that they understand and appreciate being able to research online, especially medications and dietary supplements. But, they just don't "get" how to do it themselves, and I have a pristine (and I do mean pristine, it only came out of the carton when I used it, maybe ten times) original tangerine iMac that I bought for them to prove it. They call to ask me to "look something up on the computer" for them, and ignore their own computer, lol. They really are afraid they'll break it, no matter how many times I remind them to just turn it off if it does anything screwy. I've thrown up my hands.
Mark
>Research found that older adults less confident about computer knowledge than younger adults.<
Tell me this was not done under a government grant! Common sense claims these conclusions, since older adults weren't born with their fingers on a keyboard. My grandchildren were teaching other kids computer at five and six years of age, but I didn't cave in and buy a computer until they were in their twenties!
>What is an older adult?
>I was wondering the same. I am 63 and suspect it includes me.<
Nah. Gotta be at least 65 or 70 to earn that description these days. :o)
I've not said or seen anything hateful on this thread. Have you been drinking?
Plug in a usb mouse and use a wrist pad.
I'm one of those and I also teach college classes in those subjects plus C#, VB.NET and Java if necessary. 50s is not old, Our generation introduced the younger generation to computers, video games etc. and we still use them.
Just give me a computer with font panel switches, and I'll program it like a real man.
Model 604, I presume.
You got me beat in the experience column by about 8 years. At least by then we did our programming in FORGO on a 1620 with punched card I/O.
I went to work for HAL--oops, I mean IBM--shortly thereafter and maintained a lot of old card equipment. Some of our customers were still using 604's, 650's and even a 704.
There-right there! That's the kind of hate of old folks that's been displayed throughout this thread!
You can use a full size one or a more compact version that is designed for portability.
My preference is for the Logitech brand followed closely by Microsoft
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