Comments on: Computing with Elders http://chris.pirillo.com/computing-with-elders/ News and Reviews! Geek, Internet Entrepreneur, Hardware Addict, Software Junkie, Book Author, Once TV Show Host, Technology Enthusiast, Shameless Self-Promoter, Tech Conference Coordinator, Early Adopter, Idea Evangelist, Tech Support Blogger, Bootstrapper, Media Personality, Technology Consultant, Thicker Quicker Picker Upper. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 01:37:17 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: SheeopCashhttp://chris.pirillo.com/computing-with-elders/comment-page-1/#comment-634427 SheeopCash Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:05:51 +0000 http://chris.pirillo.com/2008/01/03/computing-with-elders/#comment-634427 Shitty. :\ :P Shitty. :\ :P

]]> By: rushringleaderhttp://chris.pirillo.com/computing-with-elders/comment-page-1/#comment-634428 rushringleader Tue, 08 Jan 2008 08:21:23 +0000 http://chris.pirillo.com/2008/01/03/computing-with-elders/#comment-634428 yes, i have. she is never gonna learn, at least from me. i dont have the way of teaching that would allow it to make sense to her. I told her to take a computer basics class, because i could never teach her. She is just unchangable. yes, i have. she is never gonna learn, at least from me. i dont have the way of teaching that would allow it to make sense to her. I told her to take a computer basics class, because i could never teach her. She is just unchangable.

]]> By: SheeopCashhttp://chris.pirillo.com/computing-with-elders/comment-page-1/#comment-634429 SheeopCash Mon, 07 Jan 2008 10:39:00 +0000 http://chris.pirillo.com/2008/01/03/computing-with-elders/#comment-634429 rushringleader, have you showed her that it works? xD rushringleader, have you showed her that it works? xD

]]> By: Nicole Freydberghttp://chris.pirillo.com/computing-with-elders/comment-page-1/#comment-575698 Nicole Freydberg Sun, 06 Jan 2008 18:45:15 +0000 http://chris.pirillo.com/2008/01/03/computing-with-elders/#comment-575698 Glad to see you're acknowledging these needs - its good to be inclusive, but you do need to be a bit more careful when making generalizations like "elders don't need high speed or newer computers because they have time and patience." Watch those stereotypes lest they come back and bite you (as Walter did - good on ya!) I'm an anthropologist looking at the aging experience, and know plenty of folk who would disagree. Glad to see you’re acknowledging these needs – its good to be inclusive, but you do need to be a bit more careful when making generalizations like “elders don’t need high speed or newer computers because they have time and patience.” Watch those stereotypes lest they come back and bite you (as Walter did – good on ya!) I’m an anthropologist looking at the aging experience, and know plenty of folk who would disagree.

]]> By: Gord Nelsonhttp://chris.pirillo.com/computing-with-elders/comment-page-1/#comment-575693 Gord Nelson Sun, 06 Jan 2008 18:17:44 +0000 http://chris.pirillo.com/2008/01/03/computing-with-elders/#comment-575693 Way-to-go, Walter! All I would add is that "most of us also were taught how to spell"...something sadly lacking on this and other forums, but then, that's another issue. I'm 68 and have been involved with computers since 1968. I have used a PC since 1982 and have had a PC Repair business and tutoring business since 1995. I work with lots of seniors-about half my clientele. The other half is mothers and fathers asking to clean up the mess left by their kids. (Even the kids call when they can't get their stuff to work) Most senior citizens I have dealt with, even the new-to-computers ones, have just as much talent and perception in the learning process as young people do, so please people...stop treating them like they were "3 steps from the top of the hill" or over it! My kids aged 44, 36 and 38, and their children, all depend on me to keep them computerized...not the other way around. Most young people (and I include the kids who donate their old computer to their parents), don't have time in their lives for seniors so aside from what I have said here, I applaud the commentors who have helped, or tried to help their relatives. Geez, I could go on forever, but obviously I can't. I have to go get my geniatric injection so I can make it through the day! Way-to-go, Walter! All I would add is that “most of us also were taught how to spell”…something sadly lacking on this and other forums, but then, that’s another issue.
I’m 68 and have been involved with computers since 1968. I have used a PC since 1982 and have had a PC Repair business and tutoring business since 1995.
I work with lots of seniors-about half my clientele. The other half is mothers and fathers asking to clean up the mess left by their kids. (Even the kids call when they can’t get their stuff to work)
Most senior citizens I have dealt with, even the new-to-computers ones, have just as much talent and perception in the learning process as young people do, so please people…stop treating them like they were “3 steps from the top of the hill” or over it! My kids aged 44, 36 and 38, and their children, all depend on me to keep them computerized…not the other way around.
Most young people (and I include the kids who donate their old computer to their parents), don’t have time in their lives for seniors so aside from what I have said here, I applaud the commentors who have helped, or tried to help their relatives.
Geez, I could go on forever, but obviously I can’t. I have to go get my geniatric injection so I can make it through the day!

]]> By: GoingLikeSixtyhttp://chris.pirillo.com/computing-with-elders/comment-page-1/#comment-575279 GoingLikeSixty Sat, 05 Jan 2008 16:14:28 +0000 http://chris.pirillo.com/2008/01/03/computing-with-elders/#comment-575279 Who the hell is Clay and why did you give him the time of day?Yeah, buy the old folks nothing but crap, they are old and slow, so old and slow technology is good enough. Just enough to get by. Bare bones. Real nice.Don't forget to sign them up for NetZero to complete their experience.Walter Blum is right. I'm 60, I'm a grandparent. "they will only want the internet." Well duh, but everything is on the internet. They will want to upload and manipulate pictures, watch videos, chat.Stuff like this makes me want to puke. Who the hell is Clay and why did you give him the time of day?

Yeah, buy the old folks nothing but crap, they are old and slow, so old and slow technology is good enough. Just enough to get by. Bare bones.
Real nice.

Don’t forget to sign them up for NetZero to complete their experience.

Walter Blum is right.
I’m 60, I’m a grandparent.
“they will only want the internet.” Well duh, but everything is on the internet. They will want to upload and manipulate pictures, watch videos, chat.

Stuff like this makes me want to puke.

]]> By: someonehttp://chris.pirillo.com/computing-with-elders/comment-page-1/#comment-575194 someone Sat, 05 Jan 2008 07:28:55 +0000 http://chris.pirillo.com/2008/01/03/computing-with-elders/#comment-575194 Im in high school. Wow you have a wide variety of audience i love your videos and always talk on the chat. My grandparents are online too. These are really good tips my grandparents love these tips. I have them running ubuntu cause windows was too hard for them. Im in high school. Wow you have a wide variety of audience i love your videos and always talk on the chat. My grandparents are online too. These are really good tips my grandparents love these tips. I have them running ubuntu cause windows was too hard for them.

]]> By: TJENNhttp://chris.pirillo.com/computing-with-elders/comment-page-1/#comment-575119 TJENN Sat, 05 Jan 2008 05:44:59 +0000 http://chris.pirillo.com/2008/01/03/computing-with-elders/#comment-575119 Another tip is to take your time and be patient. I find myself showing the elderly how to use a computer and rushing through. They end up telling me they didnt catch it all. Also, be patient. Some people just dont get it the first time around. It took at least 5 or so times before I could get my aunt to learn how to sign into gmail instead of using her ISP's crappy email service. Another tip is to take your time and be patient. I find myself showing the elderly how to use a computer and rushing through. They end up telling me they didnt catch it all. Also, be patient. Some people just dont get it the first time around. It took at least 5 or so times before I could get my aunt to learn how to sign into gmail instead of using her ISP’s crappy email service.

]]> By: Jack (Jeber) Carlsonhttp://chris.pirillo.com/computing-with-elders/comment-page-1/#comment-575022 Jack (Jeber) Carlson Sat, 05 Jan 2008 01:33:47 +0000 http://chris.pirillo.com/2008/01/03/computing-with-elders/#comment-575022 Good tips, thanks. I've been tutoring seniors (you know, people my age) for a couple of years now and am always looking for ideas on how to make computing understandable to them. Metaphors and similes work well. Sitting next to them as they learn basic commands seems to instill more confidence.Most have already bought their computers, but I'll keep your tips in mind the next time one asks about what to buy. Good tips, thanks. I’ve been tutoring seniors (you know, people my age) for a couple of years now and am always looking for ideas on how to make computing understandable to them. Metaphors and similes work well. Sitting next to them as they learn basic commands seems to instill more confidence.

Most have already bought their computers, but I’ll keep your tips in mind the next time one asks about what to buy.

]]> By: resko35http://chris.pirillo.com/computing-with-elders/comment-page-1/#comment-574979 resko35 Sat, 05 Jan 2008 00:07:16 +0000 http://chris.pirillo.com/2008/01/03/computing-with-elders/#comment-574979 Hey, Thanks for the Tips!My parents are classified as "seniors" or "elders", because they had me when they were in their forties... well now that I have aged some and almost out of high school, my father kind of learned off of me how do use a computer, and every now and then he needs help with a program not working correctly, or something of the sorts.My mother started using a computer only until recently, and the ONLY thing she does and knows how to do is to use her homepage! She double clicks on the Mozilla firefox icon, and it takes her to the homepage (QVC) and she checks it for a short bit (5 minutes MAX), and then she is off!The tips for the old computer is brilliant, my brother thought it would be a good idea to get a new computer for them, and I said they are fine with the older PC, because they would be angry with changes and what not, because they do NOT like changes. So sure, they can wait a while!I always help them out as I still live at home because I am in high school.Anyways, thank you very much for the tips!Take care! Hey, Thanks for the Tips!

My parents are classified as “seniors” or “elders”, because they had me when they were in their forties… well now that I have aged some and almost out of high school, my father kind of learned off of me how do use a computer, and every now and then he needs help with a program not working correctly, or something of the sorts.

My mother started using a computer only until recently, and the ONLY thing she does and knows how to do is to use her homepage! She double clicks on the Mozilla firefox icon, and it takes her to the homepage (QVC) and she checks it for a short bit (5 minutes MAX), and then she is off!

The tips for the old computer is brilliant, my brother thought it would be a good idea to get a new computer for them, and I said they are fine with the older PC, because they would be angry with changes and what not, because they do NOT like changes. So sure, they can wait a while!

I always help them out as I still live at home because I am in high school.

Anyways, thank you very much for the tips!

Take care!

]]> By: Walter Blumhttp://chris.pirillo.com/computing-with-elders/comment-page-1/#comment-574893 Walter Blum Fri, 04 Jan 2008 19:10:02 +0000 http://chris.pirillo.com/2008/01/03/computing-with-elders/#comment-574893 Geez, what a crock! I'm 80 years old and a grandparent, and I don't remember when I read such nonsense. The Dvorak keyboard? Listen, friend. Most of us learned to type long before you were born; the Dvorak keyboard would be holy hell to learn at this stage of the game. A BIG monitor? Yes,that's OK. But Internet browsers like Firefox can blow up the size of type, as can MS Word. They don’t need a fast computer, you say. Listen, old chum, at our age we need the fastest we can get. We don't have that many years left. At my age, I don't the time or patience to mess with a dial-up modem. Been there, done that. And having my grandson, the nerd, help me with computer stuff is a waste of time. We're not on the same wave length.Walter Geez, what a crock! I’m 80 years old and a grandparent, and I don’t remember when I read such nonsense. The Dvorak keyboard? Listen, friend. Most of us learned to type long before you were born; the Dvorak keyboard would be holy hell to learn at this stage of the game. A BIG monitor? Yes,that’s OK. But Internet browsers like Firefox can blow up the size of type, as can MS Word. They don’t need a fast computer, you say. Listen, old chum, at our age we need the fastest we can get. We don’t have that many years left. At my age, I don’t the time or patience to mess with a dial-up modem. Been there, done that. And having my grandson, the nerd, help me with computer stuff is a waste of time. We’re not on the same wave length.

Walter

]]> By: fr34k1np0wn3dhttp://chris.pirillo.com/computing-with-elders/comment-page-1/#comment-634430 fr34k1np0wn3d Fri, 04 Jan 2008 18:41:23 +0000 http://chris.pirillo.com/2008/01/03/computing-with-elders/#comment-634430 thats a pretty good list =] i got my grandpa a 32W by 20H screen for christmas ^.^ thats a pretty good list =]
i got my grandpa a 32W by 20H screen for christmas ^.^

]]> By: David Dawsonhttp://chris.pirillo.com/computing-with-elders/comment-page-1/#comment-574859 David Dawson Fri, 04 Jan 2008 16:11:05 +0000 http://chris.pirillo.com/2008/01/03/computing-with-elders/#comment-574859 If the older folks have broadband, buy a copy of PCAnywhere and install it on the their box. (no, I won't use GoToMyPC; I refuse to pay for something forever). There's nothing like being able to remotely control the box when they have problems, and, its a great way to walk them through how to do things. I live in California, my dad in South Carolina, and my aunt a long drive in CA. Being able to provide instant support for their problems from the comfort of my study is a blessing indeed. If the older folks have broadband, buy a copy of PCAnywhere and install it on the their box. (no, I won’t use GoToMyPC; I refuse to pay for something forever). There’s nothing like being able to remotely control the box when they have problems, and, its a great way to walk them through how to do things. I live in California, my dad in South Carolina, and my aunt a long drive in CA. Being able to provide instant support for their problems from the comfort of my study is a blessing indeed.

]]> By: Luke Wallacehttp://chris.pirillo.com/computing-with-elders/comment-page-1/#comment-574840 Luke Wallace Fri, 04 Jan 2008 14:37:04 +0000 http://chris.pirillo.com/2008/01/03/computing-with-elders/#comment-574840 I wouldn't recommend using Dvorak unless you can get them a keyboard that has the layout printed on it. I've been using Dvorak for years now, and it always confuses other people when they have to use my computer. Teaching someone new to computers to use something that is different from 99.9% of other users is asking for confusion. I do find the layout less stressful on my hands and wrists, but I couldn't recommend it for someone who needs simple, easy computing. I wouldn’t recommend using Dvorak unless you can get them a keyboard that has the layout printed on it. I’ve been using Dvorak for years now, and it always confuses other people when they have to use my computer. Teaching someone new to computers to use something that is different from 99.9% of other users is asking for confusion. I do find the layout less stressful on my hands and wrists, but I couldn’t recommend it for someone who needs simple, easy computing.

]]> By: TheDubhttp://chris.pirillo.com/computing-with-elders/comment-page-1/#comment-574782 TheDub Fri, 04 Jan 2008 10:21:08 +0000 http://chris.pirillo.com/2008/01/03/computing-with-elders/#comment-574782 I'm going to have to say starting an elderly person out on Linux would be a bad idea... IMO. Even with Ubuntu which I dual booted for quite some time I got lots of little errors or bugs that I did not know how to fix and would have to google around and hope that I find the correct way to fix it. Maybe I just pushed it to hard by installing so many different programs. Also many older people I have met will not pay for DSL or high speed but stick with dial up because they only need the internet to check email or something like that. A lot of modems cause issues in linux and are weird to work with in my experience. Yes even in Ubuntu. I would have to say go with the Mac for an older person OR Windows.Windows XP on an older machine with some minimal protection is more then sufficient for an older person such as grandma. So is MacOS X Tiger or Leopard. Between Linux and Windows on the PC side I would give them Windows anyday over Linux simply because I would rather update their virus software occasionally (assuming they just click it off all the time) then try and figure out a problem they are having in Linux. Imagine the calls you may receive? Since they do not know much about computers in the first place they may buy a hardware device that doesn't have linux drivers or they may buy a piece of software that they thought looks nice and would be confused when they can't install it in Linux.I know I know use Wine and search for Linux drivers AND use open source alternatives. I know this BUT I'm not going to try and explain to grandma how to use the package manager. Seriously... I know you are a little anti-windows these days but Windows would be so much easier. If you do not give them Windows give them a Mac.TheDub I’m going to have to say starting an elderly person out on Linux would be a bad idea… IMO. Even with Ubuntu which I dual booted for quite some time I got lots of little errors or bugs that I did not know how to fix and would have to google around and hope that I find the correct way to fix it. Maybe I just pushed it to hard by installing so many different programs. Also many older people I have met will not pay for DSL or high speed but stick with dial up because they only need the internet to check email or something like that. A lot of modems cause issues in linux and are weird to work with in my experience. Yes even in Ubuntu. I would have to say go with the Mac for an older person OR Windows.

Windows XP on an older machine with some minimal protection is more then sufficient for an older person such as grandma. So is MacOS X Tiger or Leopard. Between Linux and Windows on the PC side I would give them Windows anyday over Linux simply because I would rather update their virus software occasionally (assuming they just click it off all the time) then try and figure out a problem they are having in Linux. Imagine the calls you may receive? Since they do not know much about computers in the first place they may buy a hardware device that doesn’t have linux drivers or they may buy a piece of software that they thought looks nice and would be confused when they can’t install it in Linux.

I know I know use Wine and search for Linux drivers AND use open source alternatives. I know this BUT I’m not going to try and explain to grandma how to use the package manager. Seriously… I know you are a little anti-windows these days but Windows would be so much easier. If you do not give them Windows give them a Mac.

TheDub

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