Tablets forum: For an elderly person, is the tablet a good move from a desktop/laptop?

Interestig Quetion! I am myself over 80 and prefer a Desktop. First I have used them since 1983, and am comforted by the feeling of knowning a little about the "devil" on my Desk. However I must confess that the space needed will probably be a challenge as I am forced to "downsize". I also love the fact that I can employ a big screen that does not really test my eyesight. However I have taken to Laptops as a necessity. I just cannot carry the darn desktop, monitor, mouse, and cables, to the car and into the place I am going too easilly. So I compomise. I use both styles of machine now.
Thre is another perspective that I will share. I coach "elder" members of th community who wish to start trying to use these communication devices that all their children and grandchildren now take for granted. They know if they do not join the age they will never have any contact with their family, or their friends who have migrated, again. What I am finding is that many of the seniors I see have severe problems with trying to to manipulate the cursor with their finger tip. Their touch is sometimes not sensitiv enough; sometimes they have slight tremors; sometimes they cannot do two things at a time so click and holding the cursor in place just does not work all the time. Another serious problem is icon and print size. The screens are too small for them to always locate what they want. When you expand print size or go to the aids that microsoft provides for visually challenged you often expand beyond the normal borders so that confusion exists as to where the item is that they want. You can solve the touch issue wth an external mouse addition in most cases, but the visual issue I have yet to find an answer to.
So the answer to your question on what to chose -Desktop or Laptop- lies in the space cosiderations at home, the need for transportation, the degree of ageing of the physical condition of your parent, and the amount of previous experince with mahines that exists. I sugest that if it must be a portable then the largest possible within your budget is desirable, and an external mouse is essential. The rest is left to fate and the gods.
My last thought is ---Have you ask him if he has apreference or a special desire? Without his imput at the start you will not succeed in getting any real success!

I am beginning to use a stylus myself, as I find some of the "touch zones" provided are too small for my fat fingers to hit accurately. That means I have to have one handy. But it works well for sliding things around on the screen.

how are his eyes ? i would think he would like the larger monitor, tablets are to small

how are his hands ? does he shake ? the biggest issue i have had with the elderly that i help is using the mouse because of the shaking. but its still easier than trying a touch screen.

at 92, i would not want to have to learn a new OS, i wouldnt even attempt that. keep it simple

Thank you for the comments ,if I buy a IPAD ? can I use Hotmail ,Skype , Sky .com do I have to buy a mike and speakers so I can use SKYPE ,any info most welcome ,thank you Pat .

As we age, we tend to dislike change. The older you get, the less you like it. I think he would be ill served to have to learn another OS and deal with a smaller screen. Juggling a tablet when your grip is not too steady, is not what 'most' seniors want, or probably need. I would tend to go the other way; the older you get, the larger the screen most seniors typically need. I'm not as senior as your Dad, and in discussions with my contemporaries, they tend to not want the gadgets. Bottom line: ask your Dad, and/or give him a tablet to try.

I still like my desktop. I got a 32" TV and use it as a monitor, just fine. Problems with the keyboard, just get a keyboard for kids, the keys have a area 4 times bigger and they are easy to read. I have a tablet too and a notebook. I do not find it interesting to to "learn" I just use it and re-install XP, that I know and for e-mails and news keep the old system with a big monitor.

I am 68 - using computers since1984. Currently use desktops, laptops, tablets and smart phones. I teach others (often much older) how to use what they have to the best of their ability and the range of ability is huge. If cognition and eye sight are good and they are mostly interested in surfing a tablet is OK. But tablets are heavy for older muscles to hold and the gestures awkward for anyone with the smallest hand problem as are the virtual keyboards.

Tablets are fine for looking at email, looking at pictures, playing simple games and reading most anything. But if you want to be more actively involved (such as writing emails - organizing etc.) what you then need to do is add a real keyboard and some kind of stand. If space is an issue - better to get an all-in-one so that there is a good keyboard and good size screen. Otherwise any of the smaller desk tops are much more efficient and usable and less expensive.

One of the problems of age is that for most people everything starts to deteriorate but unevenly so there are often great frustrations in learning complex new procedures. If someone has been using computers for a long time and does not have memory issues pretty much anything can be learned. But if memory or eyesight is failing or using any kind of computer is a very new situation it is very, very difficult.

I suggest that you and your father try out several options at local stores and you can see what he can do and where the frustrations are. Many people have to rely on someone to help them with most computer tasks and need to have a family member, younger friend or local student on a regular basis. This is a good workable solution to keep them from feeling totally left out. I have friends in their 50's who are hopeless about computers - they really aren't interested and others in their 80's who take their phones and tablets wherever they go and have desk or laptops at home. Motivation is another key ingredient. Good luck to you and your Dad.

I am just a few weeks short of my 80th birthday and have noticed a problem using the touch screen on my iPhone. As we age, the circulation in our extremities is reduced. That's why elderly people always seem to have cold hands. As a result, the touchscreen keyboards do not respond as quickly as when a younger person uses them.

This is something to consider when we "old folks" use the "newfangled" devices:-)

I appreciate the fact that you said practically what I was going to say.

I don't even come into cnet any longer unless it's for a good reason - and this is a good reason.

No one should be "pigeon-holed" - not by age or any other criteria.

If you have arthritis a tablet is probably not for you but that could be anyone from infancy to an ancient (over 100) but there are variances on that too.

Those who move and try to stay moving will be able to do much more than the couch potato who does nothing but type on a keyboard all day and who might as well have a toilet attached to his computer chair...

"Ageism" is becoming a huge problem, and Lee Koo should know that by now and say something, but he hasn't and probably won't - why? Because of his age. Sad.

I am 63 yrs old,and i started using a computer about 10 yrs ago. I promised my son i would not buy a computer or a mobile phone,but now i have the Two. My son dosn`t evan read the instructions either, for to tune a TV in.He is just gifted to do this, has a lot of people on this site are has well. The biggest thing was the Mouse. I tried for a couple of months,and gave up. I went back to this place where i was learning to use a computer,and the person in charge new i had a problem with the mouse,and he said just stick at it. I did,now i can use the mouse with no problem at all. Then i bought a graphics tablet. I thought this would be very easy with a pen,but again i found it hard to use.I watched the experts at it,and i noticed they were keep pulling their hand back.I was doing the same.I bought a PC at first,and this system to me was a nightmare when it changed to Windows Vista.Again the person in charge said why don`t you try an Apple Mac. I answered back whats that. To cut a long story short i bought a Mac-Mini,and the system to me was very user friendly. I must stress i found out about who Apple was,and why their computers were so expensive. The answer was that the parts where made in Vietnam,Malaysia,and Thailand and then shipped to China where they are assembled. They used cheap labour,and they were not the only ones doing this. I am not an Apple fan has they say,and i am ashamed using, this computer. When people over in these countries are suffering because of the likes of me.

Adults in their 50's and 60's don't have the sight they had when they were in their 20's. Even though the trend is to go smaller screen, good luck if the older population makes that move. Size does matter! Nothing like a good ol' 27" monitor. Being 92; anything smaller than 20" creates a unjoyable experience. To answer your question...the bigger the better!

don't forget....we are talking about a 92 y/o person.

50s and 60s? The answer of someone relatively young I suspect. Unfortunately many employers share your opinion - sight at least can be corrected with the right glasses. Elderly as defined in medical terms is 75 or older.

I'm a technician/analyst in my late 50s and I certainly don't have problems with technology, but then I've been using it most of my life. I absolutely love messing about with anything technical including building robots which is one of my hobbies.

Technical skill is not based on age. None of my neices, all in their twenties, are much good on a computer basically because they have no interest, but all use smartphones. It's down to whether or not the technology fits into your lifestlye not age.

Beginning to use technology later in life may be more difficult because of physical or cognitive limitations but motivation is a great teacher and not everyones abilities decrease at the same rate. If the only way to communicate with the grankids is over the internet you learn! If your memory's a little sketchy at times and you need to remember an appointment you leave a voice message on your smartphone. Simples!

As I've said before - fit the technology to the person not vice verce.

Either way, "new school" or "old school", you have the heat issue. Computers are going to get hot. Don't buy a "new and improved PAD" ( unless the electric heating pads are insufficient) If you're going to be laying these units on your torso, beware. Check out a Google search, 'iPad heat'. Sure, they've done preliminary tests that suggest the heat is tolerable, but what if an old person was to slumber a few hours with that unit on his or her body? Stick with 'snail mail'; ' sattelite televisuals'; 'sattelite radio', and 'old electric heating pads', by cracky. That's what my grandpa used to say. Who needs "new and improved"!

I will be 92 in June. I bought a 7 inch tablet because I wanted one. Does your dad want one? Ask him. How is his health My left hand trembles so I hold it on my lap or some other hard surface. and I have a hard time when the icons are so small. I also have fat fingers which compounds the problem.
There is a learning curve. I am fortunate that I have a daughter who helps me .She learned from kids she worked with. And yes, I don't remember as good as I used too but I consider myself pretty Intelligent.

What about his eyesight? Does he have glaucoma? Macular degeneration? etc? For me. the 7 inch tablet worked fine. Remember, a tablet is not a complete computer. No dvd drive. No mouse. No typewriter.

This is my experience with a tablet.If i can help u some more, E-mail me and I will give you my Phone number.

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Because I have built computers, people think I am a whiz, but if you know anything about computers, you know how little I know, Bernie



Note this message was edited by: Lee Koo (ADMIN) 04/27/2012 11:52AM to remove email address to prevent abuse by spammers or others