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Friday, November 3, 2006
The elderly PC and me
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
When I wrote a column about shopping for a new computer for my father-in-law, I got an unexpected reader reaction.
My aim was to explain how to shop for a cheap computer. Some of you wanted more details. But many others were interested in how to create a computer system that is friendlier for older users. There are a lot of people who fit into this category. Heck, I’m one of them.
My father-in-law is 86 years old but still as feisty and curious as when he tried cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. Like a lot of others in that age group, he’s still busy in retirement. He wants to keep up with investments, send e-mail, read about the ship he served on during World War II and view family pictures.
It’s hard, of course, to generalize about the needs of any group, as all of us age differently. But there are some things that can make computing easier for those near or past retirement age.
Seeing clearly
Many of us need a bright and clear screen to make reading e-mails and the type on Web pages more comfortable. For my money, that means an LCD monitor and a fairly large one. I’m impressed with the clarity provided by LCD screens, and prices have dropped fast.
You can find 19-inch LCD screens for just a bit over $200. Brands with 19-inch screens in that price range include ViewSonic, Sony and HP.
Software can help too. The new Internet Explorer 7 does a much better job of making type clear and crisp. It also has a magnifier that can temporarily enlarge a Web page — look toward the bottom right of the screen for an icon that resembles a magnifying glass. You can download it using a link on the main Microsoft page here.
That’s for Web pages. Windows itself has the ability to make the screen more readable with its own utility program called Magnifier.
To get to that program, click on Start, point to All Programs, then Accessories, then Accessibility, then Magnifier. You’ll also find other programs designed to make using Windows easier for older users or for those who have some physical limitations.
In fact, lets take a look at one of the other features offered by Windows. Follow the same procedure to get to what Microsoft calls the Accessibility Wizard.
A computer physical
Once you’ve opened that program, you’ll be taken — step-by-step — through what amounts to a mini-physical that can help recommend new settings that may help you.
You’ll first encounter a vision test that asks you to identify the smallest type you can easily read. Then the system will automatically make the adjustments for you.
Next you’ll be asked about your hearing, and whether you have difficulty using the keyboard or the mouse, and about other limitations. Each answer leads you to a solution. The best thing about all this is that the computer will make the changes for you based on the answers to your questions.
The Web is full of answers when it comes to making your computer a helper instead of a hinderance. One good Web page here. You’ll find a list of programs and devices designed to help with everything from minor vision problems to major limitations.
Aging with Mac
As readers often remind me, not everyone uses a PC. So Apple users can check out a page provided by AARP. If you go here you will find a link called Computer Accessibility for Mac OS X. There also is general information for older computer users.
Sometimes the problem isn’t caused by a physical limitation at all. Instead, some older users may need training in using software and computers. After all, many people didn’t grow up in a wired world.
One of my favorite groups is called Senior Net. There are chapters around the country, including Atlanta and surrounding towns. If you go here you’ll be able to find a group near you.
I’ve made speeches to Senior Net groups on several occasions and found that there’s a huge range of skill levels in most groups — there are advanced users who could run circles around the brightest 13-year-old geek, and others who are just now learning to use a computer. That mix of skills makes for an easy-going environment where members teach each other.
The main thing to keep in mind is that, no matter what sort of physical limitations you face, there are ways to make computing easier. If you have tips or tricks that help, feel free to tell me about it.
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