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I'm a PC and I'm 85...Wait...86
'Help Lock' Doorknob Protects Olds From Bathroom Peril
PDA/Tablet Concept Babysits Old People
Raku-Raku Phone Helps Seniors Communicate Even Slower
Japan's Makes Maid Robot That Surprisingly Looks like Gundam, Not a Sexy Lady
Assisted Living Communities Using RFID To Keep Track of Residents
Cell Phone designed for Senior Citizens

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kingbob337
03/19/09

In reply to I'm a PC and I'm 85...Wait...86
Sorry Mr. Wilson (if thats your real name) but saying elderly people who have little or no experience using a computer to use linux is by far the dumbest idea I have ever heard. You still have to config your email and the OS to get it simple enough for someone new to use and manage.

Also if you wanted to set up a computer with five icons on the desktop for a person to use, you can easily do that in Windows. If you didn't know that, I guess you learn something new everyday.

Lastly, what would you tell that elderly person when they were trying to expand and run some program on their computer? Intall Vmware or wine? Have you even ever installed vmware in linux? Its definitely not click click click.

Also windows is probably on 90% of all computers. If you have this elderly person using linux what are they to do when they are faced with someone elses machine.
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sir_pantsalot
03/19/09

@kingbob337: Also if you wanted to set up a computer with five icons on the desktop for a person to use, you can easily do that in Windows. If you didn't know that, I guess you learn something new everyday.

You can do the same thing in Linux.

We did that with my grandmother and she was constantly deleting the icons.
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Dustin Hess
03/19/09

In reply to I'm a PC and I'm 85...Wait...86
that keyboard is freaking huge
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Hello Mister Walrus
03/19/09

@Dustin Hess: I don't really know if they need the big keyboard, since typewriters have been around forever. My grandmother is a better typist than me.
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sir_pantsalot
03/19/09

In reply to I'm a PC and I'm 85...Wait...86
This is worthless. There is no "Any Key" and there is no way to call a website number. Retarded old people need to be able to call the website number.
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Jrsy Devil's Advocate®
03/19/09

In reply to I'm a PC and I'm 85...Wait...86
That trackball mouse looks like it should make a squeak toy sound when you use it..
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Jrsy Devil's Advocate®
03/19/09

In reply to I'm a PC and I'm 85...Wait...86
And what happens the first time one of these seniors sits down at a real computer without the Fisher Price keyboard and mouse??
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92BuickLeSabre
03/19/09

In reply to I'm a PC and I'm 85...Wait...86
It actually is really hard for unfamiliar seniors.

I got my folks their first computer this Christmas!

(They had used WebTV up until then. Seriously.)

Essentially I hid everything, except one photo browsing program (labeled photos) and a couple of what were really web apps. One Firefox icon with Google as the home page (labeled INTERNET) and one Firefox with Gmail as the default (labeled EMAIL).

For anything else that accidentally pops up I just repeat the same mantra over the phone. "Click the little "x" on the top right to make it go away."

This way they don't have to know whether it's XP, Vista, or Linus. They can email and look at pictures.

Anything beyond the above can wait until I'm back home next for another tutorial.
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Kaiser-Machead
03/19/09

@92BuickLeSabre: I never knew there was an OS named after a Peanuts character :P

But yeah, I see what you mean. My Luddite Uncle, who's obsessed with porn, wanted a new laptop in the place. I jokingly labeled the Firefox browser "Porn Viewer" to keep things simple.

I'll be sure never to touch it again though, like, ever.
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92BuickLeSabre
03/19/09

@Kaiser-Machead: I had to read my comment again to figure out what you were talking about. That may be my favorite typo ever.

My dad still refuses to use a computer. (Even though he's no Luddite otherwise.) I'm not about to let him know how to open up the world of that particular use.
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Jrsy Devil's Advocate®
03/19/09

@92BuickLeSabre: "This way they don't have to know whether it's XP, Vista, or Linus."

I understand that last one is bundled with a security blanket anti-virus/anti-spyware/firewall application as well....
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92BuickLeSabre
03/19/09

@Jrsy Devil's Food Cake®: Better than my Lucy OS. Every time I get ready to finish something, the file disappears. It charges me 5 cents when I try to ask it what happened. And every time I try to install anti-virus protection it makes fun of me.
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Kaiser-Machead
03/19/09

@92BuickLeSabre: Not to mention pulls the football out just before you can kick it.
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superJennifer
03/19/09

In reply to I'm a PC and I'm 85...Wait...86
there needs to be a keyboard with big buttons for "ON", "OFF", "SEND EMAIL", like on the Jitterbug... also should probably include a "TAKE CHILDREN OUT OF THE WILL FOR NOT CALLING" key. A "SEND GRANDKIDS MONEY" key would be nice... they should make it look a lot like the "ON" key...
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Jrsy Devil's Advocate®
03/19/09

@superJennifer: And don't forget the classic, "GET OFF MY LAWN!"
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moonphrogg
03/19/09

In reply to I'm a PC and I'm 85...Wait...86
Who would pay $1300 for a stripped down HP?
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Kaiser-Machead
03/19/09

@moonphrogg: And there's another point. An older person who just needs basic computing at home will probably pass over this and go to the nearest Gateway system for $300-400, because it's so cheap. Once they know how to turn on the browser, access a page, go back/forward in the browser history, and turn it off, the rest falls into place.

Fail.
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Jrsy Devil's Advocate®
03/19/09

@moonphrogg: Yeah, way to fleece seniors on fixed incomes out of what precious little cash they have...
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Kaiser-Machead
03/19/09

In reply to I'm a PC and I'm 85...Wait...86
Sounds like admission to piss poor software design. Are the standard versions so unbelievably convoluted that Ma n' Pa Mummykins can't learn how to use the same buttons we all use?

Why not just develop software specifically designed to respond to their raspy cursing and cane waving via cam and mic?
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Kaiser-Machead
03/19/09

@Kaiser-Machead: On a serious note, this is more like goofy pandering. The old guys in the office I work in are pushing over 70, and they handle the standard software just fine. They don't know what the hell RAM stands for, but that's not necessary to now how to operate a browser, Outlook, Microsoft Word and so forth. These things have not changed in basic design principle for many years, so I don't see the point of this.
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Hello Mister Walrus
03/19/09

@Kaiser-Machead: I would imagine that this is more about marketability than the actual difficulty of learning how to use a computer once you already have one. Presumably, there are many old people who don't buy computers because they only think that they will not be able to learn how to use them. *Cough* *McCain*
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infmom
12/30/08

In reply to 'Help Lock' Doorknob Protects Olds From Bathroom Peril
Wow, I could use one of those right now. My husband loves to park in our only bathroom and read. Set a timer to set off a good loud alarm and get him the heck out of there!
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GitEmSteveDave_Isn'tFreshPerked
12/30/08

@infmom: Find a remote control switch/outlet(check after Christmas sales) and hook whatever you want into it(blender/strobe light/It's a Barbara Striesand Christmas CD,etc...). I used to have one in the bathroom in my garage. I could turn a space heater on as I was walking towards it.
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OMG! Ponies!
12/30/08

In reply to 'Help Lock' Doorknob Protects Olds From Bathroom Peril
Great. Just what I wanted - a doorknob that looks like a bomb.
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GitEmSteveDave_Isn'tFreshPerked
12/30/08

@OMG! Ponies!: I think it looks BSG-ish.
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discounteggroll
12/30/08

In reply to 'Help Lock' Doorknob Protects Olds From Bathroom Peril
implement a snooze button, because old people take super-long dumps also (albeit nothing generally comes out)
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GadgetPlayPissedSomebodyOff
12/30/08

In reply to 'Help Lock' Doorknob Protects Olds From Bathroom Peril
Just get your "old" a "Panic Button" to wear like the lady in the infamous commercial. Undoubtedly cheaper (you're probably paying a monthly fee either way), works in all rooms of the house, and is not nearly as failure prone due to its lack of a steep (for an "old") learning curve. The only downside is if your "old" would become unconscious without hitting the button. You could add a feature that beeped at preset intervals that required a response from the "old" to prevent the alarm from going out.

I'm having lunch with my maternal "old" today. I hope she doesn't need anything, or become inconvenient in any way.
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GitEmSteveDave_Isn'tFreshPerked
12/30/08

@GadgetPlay: They had a system for cops where if they were knocked down, it would automatically radio for help. I saw this many moons ago, so maybe it's made the civilian market by now.
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Curves
12/30/08

In reply to 'Help Lock' Doorknob Protects Olds From Bathroom Peril
The only trouble is trying to train seniors to use it or to get them to close the door in the first place.
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GitEmSteveDave_Isn'tFreshPerked
12/30/08

@Curves: I find using Lawrence Welk Liver Snaps as a treat/reward greatly helps in the training process.
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GitEmSteveDave_Isn'tFreshPerked
12/30/08

In reply to 'Help Lock' Doorknob Protects Olds From Bathroom Peril
Since I moved one of the cats litterboxes into the bathroom to teach them how to use the toilet, I haven't closed my bathroom door. Besides, I'm in there for longer than 20 minutes, especially if the book is good.
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