Elder Tech

I so agree with the “write it down” point. You aren’t going to be there the next time they try something. They will likely be much more comfortable trying something if they have clear instructions in front of them. But be sure you are clear and write out exactly what they have to do.

Chris, there are a lot of ways I could put this, but I’m going to try to use as neutral a tone as possible.

There’s something condescending about these otherwise very good instructions. And my concern is that people using the instructions will also take on the condescending attitude. While what you say about the way the elderly react to technology certainly has some truth in it, I’d have to say that I’ve seen much the same behavior from young blue-collar men and young blue-collar women, and from middle-aged, women who have spent their careers in non-competitive and non-technical fields — i.e., just about anyone who hasn’t had a lot of experience with computers and who doesn’t have a sense of intellectual self-confidence. “Old people” are just a sub-set of a generally computer-phobic group.

I think I’d behave just as dimly and cluelessly if a neo-Nazi survivalist was impatient showing me how to clean, load, and shoot an Uzi. Hey, I suspect you would, too.

So much for my neutral tone, eh?

Great! I have to teach my grandparents to use computers. My grandmother moved from Florida to Virginia (15 mins away from me) so I am always in close distance to help her with computer problems.

She does not seem to have many problems though, or she does not want to bother me.

She has an EXTREMELY slow computer, and she can cope with it..

It is amazing how they are used to that. I should let her use my computer! she will be BLOWN AWAY.

I love your video’s thanks for all the videos! Really great, and helpful.

“DO NOT INCLUDE INFORMATION THEY DON’T NEED TO KNOW!”

HaHa that is so true! I tried to do that, next thing i know, she is sleeping!!!

This also helped me :) I also have ot help people remotely, because my grandparents live in Holland.

hi chris i think this is a sad video sorry for your loss my grandad also has a radio thingy theyre cool at times lol i hope you had a good new year i mean everyone when i say that
bye bye

This is absolutely true! Try explaining a dvd player to your grandmother…
I used these same basic steps but she still phones me every once in a while to ask why it isn’t working.
Half of the time it’s because the power isn’t on.

I took for granted that she knew that step and it was a big mistake.

lol kool. i will use these tips for my grandparents, and i will definetly write the tisp down. My grandma tends to forget alot

I personally have had alot of of trouble trying to teach my grandfather about computers but he’s come a LONG way lol this one time he called me over to his house because his computer was “broken” it was unplugged XD

I always love watching someone try to teach computer to an elder. Especially if they tell too much to that person.

Hopefully this will teach people to keep it simple and just teach them the basics, not everything about the computer

Chris I think of all the Video’s you’ve made this one hit home more than most. My dad and mom passed away before computers were as accessible as they are now. I can see my dad tinkering with a computer or a DVD player. He was one who loved to see how things worked and understanding why it did what it did. He would have been a natural with chat and surfing the internet. He would have been the type that would have tried to build his own without having any knowledge of what things were for.
Your blog and video brought back some very fond memories of some of the stuff he did and got into. thanks.

the numbers on usernames usually mean the year they’re born

i’m sure smartguy87 is from 1987
so he’d be around 21

how does it feel to have no live be a 30 year old virgian computer nerd and spend all your time on the computer making pointless videos that other **** watch plz comment me back i would like to know how it feels and for all the nerds that will try to diss me and be cool watching yu gi oh is a bad thing

Consider Leo Laporte’s approach to teaching people about computers and technologies. HE is the one that got me into a self-taught geek. Leo on ZDTV’s “Call For Help” and “The Screensavers” kept me glued to the TV with pen and paper literally.

i still use punch card machines

Idiot a 21 year old grandfather your a dumbass

I miss them!

the guy was giving tips about how he gives tips to his grandfather dumbass

My grandmother died a few days ago.

Leo Laporte was (is, I guess) a genius on “Call for Help”

BeijingGirl1 | July 22, 2007 (Block User)
WHEN U R READING THIS DONT STOP OR SOMETHING BAD WILL HAPPEN MY NAME IS SUMMER I AM 15 YEARS OLD i have BLONDE HAIR , SCARS no NOSE OR EARS I AM DEAD IF U DONT COPY THIS JUS LIKE FROM THE RING COPY N POST THIS ON 5 MORE SITES OR I WILL APPEAR ONE CREEPY NIGHT WEN UR NOT ExPECTING IT BY YOUR BED WITH A NIFE AND KILL U THIS IS NO JOKE SUMMET ING GOOD WILL HAPPEN TO U IF YOU POST THIS ON 5 MORE FLASH BOXES

以彼之道，还施彼身！

I find this really difficult, specificaly not explaining everything. I end up in a chain of because, because, because….

I’m 64 years old and think that your article is totally humiliating to seniors. There are millions of seniors using computers for everything from email to managing careers after retirement. As a group we are nowhere as dumb as you think we are and a lot more astute than you will ever believe. Your presumption that you have to dumb things down for us condescending. What you should remember is that we bought the computers on which you learned to be snotty brats.

may she R.I.P

thats how he do =)

I ment that i replyied on some1s comment because they said that smartguy87 ment he was born in 1987 and that would be stupid because his grandfather isnt 21.

srry lol i repyied on your comment!

I can only guess that when you are talking computers and elders you mean anyone over the age of 18.

Thank you very much =D

sorry to hear that my grandmother passed away
on the 15 of December.

Hey Chris, why do all of your videos start out muted? I always have to hold the speaker bar thingy.

That sounds so weird once you say it…
May she RIP.
Random I know. :P

sorry bout ur grandma

my grandfather hooked up his ham radio to an old commador computer.

I’ve noticed that on a few other videos too. I think it’s a youtube bug.

ha ha ah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ah a ha ha ah aha ha aha ha ha ah ha ha ha ah ha ha ha ha

wireles router ha ha ha that will teach you for being a noob, lol

those numbers next to their names are how much they weigh