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Surfin' Seniors: Computers and the Internet for Baby Boomers
Everybody knows that learning
doesn't end with high school or college. Once we have finished with our formal
educations, we still have a big, wide world to understand and master. Most of
us learn to live with our partners, and make a loving marriage work. We have to
learn to be parents. We have to learn new skills, and abilities to continue to
reach career goals, and find new successes in our chosen fields.
We also live in an
increasingly changing world that finds new developments in technology
challenging our understanding of – and ability to interact with – our
media-saturated surroundings. From radio to television, the automobile to the
airplane, with each new technological development cultural challenges arise
that require new skills and understanding. No single technology has had as much
impact on the 21st century as the computer, and the Internet.
In today's world, it seems
that nearly everything involves interacting with computers. From the cell
phone, to the ATM machine, to the news we watch on the television set,
everything relies on complex computing networks moving information from one
point to another for our entertainment and edification. With the introduction
of the personal computer, we found that this new technology became a part of
our every day lives.
Understanding how to use a
computer, and negotiate the Internet is becoming a crucial part of living a
vital, active life. Today, even our grandchildren are surfing the Internet and
sending email. Learning a few basic skills can provide you with new abilities
that can expand your horizons, simplify your life, and even bring you closer to
the ones you love. There are a number of ways for seniors interested in
computers and the Internet to learn more. Not only can these experiences be
accessible and informative, they can also be a fun way to get out, make new
friends, and open up a world of new experiences.
One of the best ways to learn
more about this brave new world, is to take a look at the programs offered by
your local schools, universities, community centers, and recreation
departments. With just a little investigating, you'll find that these resources
offer a number of options when it comes to learning everything from computer basics
and Internet 101, to mastering sophisticated software applications.
There are a lot of advantages
to this kind of formal, in-class learning. In most of these situations, every
student will have the advantage of learning at their own computer, receiving
plenty of hands-on practice and personalized instruction. This will save you
the expense of needing to buy a computer in order to learn how to use one. It
will also give you a chance to find out what you like to do on a computer,
giving you a leg-up on your shopping once you get around to making a purchase.
Classes of this kind usually
start from scratch, walking students through the basics: hooking up a computer
properly, terminology, using a printer and a mouse, etc. Once you grab the
basics, most courses will move on to an elementary understanding of the Windows
operating system, along with the how-to's of basic word processing and
spreadsheet software.
Like any class for seniors,
these courses are usually paced for your comfort, but what about your physical
comfort? For many seniors, the barrier to computer literacy isn't a lack of
curiosity, or a fear of the unknown, it is difficulty with the physical
dexterity required to negotiate the keyboard and the mouse. Arthritis, and
vision problems can inhibit seniors from even taking the first steps toward
learning more about computers. Luckily, there are a number of new products
available that can remove these barriers, and have any senior surfing away in
no time.
For seniors with vision
problems, computers can be intimidating. Not only does computing require
reading a keyboard, it also requires reading a – sometimes dimly lit or glaring
– screen. However, these issues don't need to be a barrier. Visi-
Key Keyboards are the same size as regular
keyboards, but the letters and numbers are 430% larger. For seniors who need
extra help with seeing and typing, Big
Key Keyboards are a just the right solution,
and products like the Bigtrack
Track Ball and the Vertical
Mouse can assist with the fine motor control
computing requires. Items like the ZoomText product line can magnify and enhance everything on
your monitor screen, making it easier to see under any conditions.
As computers become more user friendly, classes become
easier to find, and new products make it easier for seniors to manage the use
of these new technologies, computer geeks of all ages are free to explore
cyberspace for all they're worth. C'mon, jump in! The cyberspace is fine!
Active and Able: Daily Living Made Easier
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