Portable Internet Device for the Elderly

[Rizla]

I am looking for a simple internet-capable device that an 80 year old can use. I suppose a tablet of some type should work. It doesn't need to be super-powerful. Sure, streaming video would be nice, but wiki and news sites are the priority. What I basically want is a simple to use and very secure browser device with big buttons and text. A portable browser for dummies.

My main concern is, how safe and simple would it be to use? The internet is a predatory place.I would be worried that some site would try to make them download files that would give them viruses, stuff like that. Even simple pop-ups would confuse the elderly. Is there a browser solution that would eliminate all that?

Price is also an issue. I know there are cheap tablet options available, but I need a simple, cheap way of connecting it to the internet. Maybe subscribing to a low band-width dongle solution would be the best bet. I am looking specifically at the UK market.

Thanks in advance.

[Shopaholic]

Originally Posted by Rizla

My main concern is, how safe and simple would it be to use? The internet is a predatory place.I would be worried that some site would try to make them download files that would give them viruses, stuff like that. Even simple pop-ups would confuse the elderly. Is there a browser solution that would eliminate all that?

There is no such thing. The only way to eliminate that is to not use the internet or teach the user what is and isn't legit. If you're worried they won't be able to learn or will forget or be unsure as to what is or isn't legit there is no solution for them.

Sorry.

[susan_cassidy]

I've never heard of a browser that would/could change the relative sizes of buttons, etc. You just have to tap on links and buttons the best you can. The iPad works relatively well for a touch screen. The iPad works with either wi-fi or 3G, if you buy a data plan for it.

[Rizla]

Originally Posted by Shopaholic

There is no such thing. The only way to eliminate that is to not use the internet or teach the user what is and isn't legit. If you're worried they won't be able to learn or will forget or be unsure as to what is or isn't legit there is no solution for them.

Sorry.

Okay, this was my main concern. Thanks.

[dwig]

Originally Posted by Rizla

Okay, this was my main concern. Thanks.

What Shopaholic said plus ...

... you might be best off with a standard Windows netbook with a good browser (I like Opera), a custom made home page with approved links, a clean set of pre-configured bookmarks, and good anti-virus software.

[covfam]

Also For ease of use id suggest an ipad, i have a samsung galaxy tab, and my wife has a transformer prime and we had an ipad 2 for a year before giving it to a family member, while my wife and i both prefer android tablets and phones because of the customizability. for ease of use/beginer tablet ipad all the way one of apples main focuses is easy user experience (at the cost of customizability)

[Rizla]

Originally Posted by dwig

What Shopaholic said plus ...

... you might be best off with a standard Windows netbook with a good browser (I like Opera), a custom made home page with approved links, a clean set of pre-configured bookmarks, and good anti-virus software.

The custom home page etc is a good idea. But why would a windows netbook be preferable to a tablet?

[Rizla]

Originally Posted by covfam

Also For ease of use id suggest an ipad, i have a samsung galaxy tab, and my wife has a transformer prime and we had an ipad 2 for a year before giving it to a family member, while my wife and i both prefer android tablets and phones because of the customizability. for ease of use/beginer tablet ipad all the way one of apples main focuses is easy user experience (at the cost of customizability)

Would the Kindle Fire offer a similarly 'easy user experience'?

[dwig]

Originally Posted by Rizla

The custom home page etc is a good idea. But why would a windows netbook be preferable to a tablet?

It might not be much better but:

• it does have a relatively large and clearly labeled keyboard
• the "scratchpad" doesn't involve blocking your view while using it
• you can easily move the cursor without clicking (movement and clicking are separate actions)

[morantis]

I know that the touch screen was picked up in less than a week by my three year olds, I am not comparing 3 year olds and the elderly, just saying that apparently it is a very natural way of inputting.

[dwig]

Originally Posted by morantis

I know that the touch screen was picked up in less than a week by my three year olds, I am not comparing 3 year olds and the elderly, just saying that apparently it is a very natural way of inputting.

It's not so much the naturalness or intuitiveness of that is my issue. With touch, the act of moving to the desired location and the act of "clicking" are one and the same.

With mouse/scratchpad interfaces the two acts are separate. One can move to a location and review their decision before "clicking", something a cautious and unsure user may find more reliable.

[Rizla]

I think the touchscreen tablet interface would be okay. The problem is having a secure browsing environment. Never thought I'd consider buying an ipad...

[anabellita]

I got my husband's aunt a netbook with windows 7 starter and spent quite a bit of time customizing it:
* placed shortcuts to skype, picasa, chrome, windows mail and word starter right on the desktop.
* I renamed the shortcuts to "pictures", "mail", "internet", etc.
* I set the chorme homepage to google, so she could easily "write and search", I created bookmarks for the key things she needs (news, cinema... and she really wanted facebook!) and put them on the toolbar on top.
* I opened up accounts for her, and set chrome to remember all IDs and passwords (and I used the same all over)
* I customized picasa and windows mail so that no unnecessary buttons and options were there, created an address book to facilitate her writing to the family, uploading to facebook could become automatic, etc.

She's happily surfing the web and posting on facebook now and so proud to say she now "has" the internet.

A friend of mine, went the other route and got her 80-something mother an ipad, which he also customized as he could to simplify. She learned very quickly (didn't need him to set everything up for her like I had to), and communicates with children and grandchildren across the ocean with no problem.

I think it's more a matter of how you set up the device than what device you choose. I do believe that touch screens are more intuitive than cursors, but I think the virtual keyboard may be a little more difficult to use. All in all, though, you can't go wrong if you set it up right.

[ebusinesstutor]

There are some computers made for the elderly with special operating systems, but not as much for tablets yet:

http://www.mywowcomputer.com/

Here is an Italian company with Android tablet software (and computer software) for the elderly:
http://www.eldy.org

Here is another tablet directed to seniors:
http://memotouch.com/

Other software for PCs for seniors
http://www.softarama.com/Products/Seniorama/
http://pointerware.com/c/pages/home

[LuvReadin]

Originally Posted by Rizla

Okay, this was my main concern. Thanks.

It is possible to reduce the risks quite a lot by activating parental controls and by hiding the main account so that the user can only use a restricted account. Windows 7 is actually quite good for this - there are very few things that it will allow to download via a restricted account. Add in some good antivirus and antimalware software set up to run automatically, and you've gone a good way towards protecting the user. A Gmail account will head off most of the spam. The main thing really would be to warn the user never, ever to use their credit card, and to have someone available that they can ring up if they're worried about anything.

As you're in the UK, you should also enquire with your local adult education network and possibly local schools, as many of them run 'silver surfers' courses, and if you're not able to provide support yourself, these groups can put the elderly user in touch with volunteers who can help them: http://www.ageuk.org.uk/work-and-lea...-and-internet/

Re price, there are also a number of charities that offer free or low-priced computer equipment to the elderly - Age UK should be able to help with that as well. Or try Freecycle - many people are happy to give away their old computers to help someone.

You may well find, actually, that a desktop PC would be better. Many elderly people (especially of the age you're talking about) find even the weight of a netbook quite painful on their wrists, and if they're anything like my MIL, are terrified of dropping it. Having a 'proper' place for the computer seems to make it a bit more manageable - more like a TV, I suppose.

Re internet costs - take a look at www.moneysavingexpert.com to find the cheapest deals. One of the problems you might have is that a lot of elderly people are on BT - they've never used anything else, and are reluctant to move away from it. Plus a lot of the aids available (for calling for help, for instance) will only work with a BT phone. If this person is already on BT, though, it might be worth ringing up BT and seeing what they can do. However, assuming that isn't the case, you'll probably find that the easiest way (might not be absolutely the cheapest, but won't be far off, and it'll mean dealing with only one provider) of getting the internet is to buy the cheapest TalkTalk bundle - they're doing a half-price deal ATM and it includes parental controls.