IT Support for the Elderly (Conclusion)

Tech support for the elderly also includes helping seniors pick the computer that is right for them.

Buy a Computer in Mesa | 480-832-4600

Buying a Computer and Tech Support for Seniors

Seniors are a diverse group of people just like everyone else. To assume that an eighty year old woman just needs a computer for email and for storing recipes is an unfair stereotype. She could be wanting a computer because she wants to challenge her grandson to the newest hot game, or maybe she wants to write a book.  There is no "one size fits all" with computers. When it is time to buy a computer in Mesa, that's the time to ask questions.

A lot of people automatically assume for example that a senior citizen may just want a desktop computer. But some seniors have embraced pads, smartphones, and laptops.

According to the site Assisted Living Today:

"Before shopping for a new laptop, keep in mind the following considerations.

How comfortable are you with computers? Some seniors are brand new to the world of computers, while others have used them for work or hobbies for many years. Those who are new to computers may benefit from modern touch-screen technology or brands with more intuitive navigation and apps.
Accessibility: Some senior citizens can use any laptop without a problem, but others may need adaptive devices to use their laptops. Accessories can be added to a laptop such as a mouse, large-key keyboard, utility managers and more to make them easier to use.
How will the laptop be used? Knowing in advance how you wish to use your laptop can help you navigate the seemingly endless choices when it comes to laptops. If you need your laptop for email, internet connections and pictures, a budget model may be fine. Those running more extensive software or business software may need a heartier laptop with additional memory or processing power. Make a list in advance of shopping for your laptop of all the things you know you will do on your laptop and the things you are dreaming about doing. Then organize the list into “must haves” and “nice to haves”. This will help you narrow your choices as you shop for a laptop.
What software will you need? Your list will also help you determine which software programs you may need to run on your new laptop. Some laptops for senior citizens come preloaded with basic software, while others leave it up to the user to purchase and install additional software.[Read Source]

Buying a New Computer For a Senior

Ultimately, when it is time to buy a computer for a senior, you want to make sure that it is the computer that what they need.  You also want to make sure that tech support is available.

The world is more connected.  Stay connected.  Buy a new computer in Mesa.

Softque Premier Computer Services
1155 South Power Road
Mesa, AZ 85206
480-832-4600
softque.com

IT Support for the Elderly (Contd.)

IT support for the elderly is important in an area that has a big senior population.

IT Support for the Elderly |480-832-4600

Tech Support for Seniors

There is a lot of misinformation out there. For example, there is a belief that the elderly don't like to use computers and as a computer shop offering tech support for seniors, we can assure you that's not the case.  There is a technology gap between seniors and younger people, however, the belief that computers are only for the young is not correct.  A surprising fact is that computer usage is increasing rapidly with seniors over the age of sixty.  It makes sense if you think about it.  Even in the age of texting, email is still a popular form of communication.  Our society is fueled by information, and there are more and more ways to connect to family and friends with common interest including computer games, which many people think that only the young play.  Sooner or later, as a result of all of this, everyone needs tech support.

Computers, tablets, and smartphones are complicated. Constant upgrades, complex software, and the way technology rapidly changes can be confusing for anyone. Computer literacy is more than just fitting in, it is independence. There are lots of seniors who have embraced the computer age.  But, plenty of seniors have eagerly and easily entered the computer age.  The benefits of being connected are many.

Computer Use and The Elderly

Another really good reason for IT support for the elderly is the effect that computer use has on the elderly. Not only do computers help to stay connected, they offer services that make life easier, as well as opportunities to remain active members of their community. In addition, computer use promotes brain health as well as improve cognitive skills.

Online social networking is also increasing among older adults. Seniors are going online for socialization using Facebook, Twitter, e-mail, chat rooms and to access online communities. Social networking is bringing these seniors closer to both friends and relatives as well as giving them connections to help them in other areas of their lives. Helping the elderly with computer issues is important for so many reasons.

A lot of community colleges as well as senior centers offer a variety of courses in how to use computers. Seniors that feel left behind by technology are encouraged to sign up for these courses.   The learning is just part of it.  Tech support for seniors rounds it off.

Continue...

Softque Premier Computer Services
1155 South Power Road
Mesa, AZ 85206
480-832-4600
softque.com

IT Support for the Elderly

IT support for the elderly does more than solving a problem, it helps to connect generations.

IT Support for the Elderly Helps Seniors Stay Connected | 480-832-4600

Why Tech Support For Seniors in Mesa Counts

Tech support for seniors in Mesa counts because the technology of the world is rapidly changing, and the population of seniors is increasing.
According to this article excerpt from AARP.ORG:
"Why more older adults don't adapt to new computer technology, and what to do about it, are vexing questions, says Florida State University's Neil Charness, a researcher at the Center for Research and Education on Aging and Technology Enhancement (CREATE), which is affiliated with Florida State, the University of Miami and Georgia Institute of Technology.

It seems a big reason is that not all computer users are created equal, a fact that computer designers and software engineers have not always seemed to recognize. As we age, changes in perception and motor control may make it harder to see a computer screen, type on a keyboard or use a mouse, Charness says. And then there's the added time it takes to learn a complicated new routine — spreadsheet software, for example.

"Learning new things definitely takes more time as you get older," Charness says. "The brain shows moderately steady decline from your late teens onwards, in terms of the flexibility to form new circuitry."

Psychology and motivation are often overlooked factors, adds Charness, who suggests that older people weigh benefits heavily when deciding whether to adopt new technology.

"If it takes you twice as long to learn something, why would you invest that time when you could be drawing on your crystallized intelligence — your already acquired knowledge — and doing things you enjoy doing?" Charness asks.

At the University of Miami, CREATE director Sara J. Czaja wants to see whether access to a simple, senior-friendly computer system will provide those rewards and maybe even enrich users' lives.

Czaja is conducting a yearlong study with 300 people over the age of 65 who live by themselves. Half the participants have been provided with a customized computer system using a modified version of BigScreenLive, a computer software program targeted at older people. The modified program, called PRISM for personal reminder information social management, has additional functions and different interface features.

"We're interested in understanding what this means in terms of improving quality of life, as well as improving social isolation and social interaction patterns," Czaja says. "In another year or so we'll have some good empirical data."

Her CREATE colleague Charness, who has discussed ways to make the technology easier to use with usability experts in U.S. technology companies, says that some manufacturers used to assume the senior market was too small to bother with.

"But as we're well aware, we have an aging population," Charness says, "and that market is growing by leaps and bounds." [READ MORE]

Tech support helps to keep technology accessible for the elderly.

Technical Assistance for the Elderly: Final Thoughts

Being able to communicate with different groups of people is a key part of the Internet. Not so long ago, computers were king. Nowadays, however, there are several other options, all of which interconnect with each other.

It is a complicated world, and technology connects it all together.  IT support for the elderly helps to navigate and effectively use technology.

Keep Reading...

Softque Premier Computer Services
1155 South Power Road
Mesa, AZ 85206
480-832-4600
softque.com