Hey all,
I randomly found your forum googling about senior communities. I'm looking for something for my dad to interact with. He likes talking to people and communicating, but ever since his fall, it's a little harder for him to get out and about. So, I'm looking for online places. Any suggestions on how to make someone older more comfortable with a computer?
Just a new guy
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EverWanted
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2011 10:35 am
Just a new guy
What a lovely idea for your dad. I don't know what to suggest to make him feel more comfortable with computers but I'm sure he would be made most welcome here if you could encourage him to make a post :-6
Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answers...Rainer Maria Rilke
Just a new guy
I'm sure he'd feel most welcome here and a spot of online conversation would certainly help him get aquainted with his computer. He can take it at his own pace, maybe just following the threads as they develop, then when he's confident enough, he can join in and maybe start a thread of his own.
"He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire."
Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Just a new guy
EverWanted;1355996 wrote: Any suggestions on how to make someone older more comfortable with a computer?Simplify the computer somehow. Seriously.
What does a machine need in order to do everything he wants to do? Has he ever used a keyboard? It'll be hell picking that up if he's not. Has he ever used a mouse? The same applies unless he has a week's practice playing Hearts. That's what Hearts is there for.
He's going to want to browse - you say "interact with" but I presume browsing is the key to that. So choose a single browser and set up a row of bookmarks to key sites. A forum, a search engine, wikipedia, whatever specific interest he expresses while you're showing him around.
He might want to write. Wordpad's ideal. A button-free permanently-on networked silent laser printer might be wonderful too, depending on his intentions.
Other than that you need to do your utmost to stop every possible advert and pop-up and "may I upgrade Java" rubbish. A screen-simplifying add-on like Adblock Plus. A virus checker that never asks a question - Avast has a games-mode setting which never interrupts, for example. No email, no complications, just a browser where he can vary the font size pressing ctrl-plus and minus. Tell him to invariably say no to every offer the machine throws at him because the entire online world is a scam from start to finish, it might not be completely true but it's not far off. Warn him about beautiful female Russian graduates seeking life-partners, tell him they're all agents of world communism trying to infiltrate.
Skype and a built-in mic+camera and adequate speakers, auto-logged in and running all the while. Not, absolutely not, anything related to Microsoft Live or Yahoo Messenger or AOL, you have to avoid advert-rich pushy environments.
Clear the desktop, put just those programs into the quick launch bar and sit through several familiarization sessions with him. Make sure from the start that the machine powers up and down without needing any input at all.
If it were me I'd do it with Linux[1]. I'm right, but not everyone would see why or agree.
And buy him a comfortable chair and a desk that's the right height too.
eta [1]: Or, on reflection, the new Android 3.0 ten-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab. And then you don't need the desk or the chair, and it won't tie him to one less-than-convenient location. You'd want a wireless router though.
What does a machine need in order to do everything he wants to do? Has he ever used a keyboard? It'll be hell picking that up if he's not. Has he ever used a mouse? The same applies unless he has a week's practice playing Hearts. That's what Hearts is there for.
He's going to want to browse - you say "interact with" but I presume browsing is the key to that. So choose a single browser and set up a row of bookmarks to key sites. A forum, a search engine, wikipedia, whatever specific interest he expresses while you're showing him around.
He might want to write. Wordpad's ideal. A button-free permanently-on networked silent laser printer might be wonderful too, depending on his intentions.
Other than that you need to do your utmost to stop every possible advert and pop-up and "may I upgrade Java" rubbish. A screen-simplifying add-on like Adblock Plus. A virus checker that never asks a question - Avast has a games-mode setting which never interrupts, for example. No email, no complications, just a browser where he can vary the font size pressing ctrl-plus and minus. Tell him to invariably say no to every offer the machine throws at him because the entire online world is a scam from start to finish, it might not be completely true but it's not far off. Warn him about beautiful female Russian graduates seeking life-partners, tell him they're all agents of world communism trying to infiltrate.
Skype and a built-in mic+camera and adequate speakers, auto-logged in and running all the while. Not, absolutely not, anything related to Microsoft Live or Yahoo Messenger or AOL, you have to avoid advert-rich pushy environments.
Clear the desktop, put just those programs into the quick launch bar and sit through several familiarization sessions with him. Make sure from the start that the machine powers up and down without needing any input at all.
If it were me I'd do it with Linux[1]. I'm right, but not everyone would see why or agree.
And buy him a comfortable chair and a desk that's the right height too.
eta [1]: Or, on reflection, the new Android 3.0 ten-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab. And then you don't need the desk or the chair, and it won't tie him to one less-than-convenient location. You'd want a wireless router though.
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
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along-for-the-ride
- Posts: 11732
- Joined: Wed Mar 02, 2005 4:28 pm
Just a new guy
Hello Everwanted! I hope you and your dad can enjoy your visits with us.
Here's a welcome mat for both of you.
Attached files
Here's a welcome mat for both of you.
Attached files
Life is a Highway. Let's share the Commute.