JohnPW wrote:
I represent a UK Charity that is considering rolling out the use of i-pads to older people who attend day centres so that when they are at home they can access, very easily, information about local services, activities, friends, family etc. I have so far concluded that an i-pad with a mobile contract should allow them unfettered access the Internet thus information and e-mails. It would not need another computer to piggy-back on nor a wireless router. Applications specifically tailored to older people who are living alone. I would like some guidance on the realities of persuading older people that the i-pad is not a 'computer' but merely a window to the world. I would welcome guidance on how to set up such a roll out programme, costs, pitfalls, unexpected advantages etc.Help !!?
I would try a few iPads first, may work for some just fine, others likely not at all.
Some of the drawbacks of the iPad for some seniors I've found are as follows:
1: can't scale the UI for their poor eyesight
2: touchscreen issues with colder fingers
3: UI has a lot of hidden and not clear cut references, lots of guessing, harder to learn
4: difficult to hold, no mouse, having to raise their arms to use, fragile device easily dropped.
5: some sites they use are not compliant, or use plug-ins the iPad can't use, like historical records, government sites and such designed for a desktop OS and a mouse pointer
Believe it or not, I've found Windows XP to be the best for seniors as they have had the most familiarity with it, but adopting to Windows 7 themed as close to Windows XP to be the most trouble free on newer machines.
Your results may vary and your learning level of the seniors you work with may vary.
Usually the ones are active will go out and buy their own iPad or computer they like, however with shut-ins your likely looking at doing everything for them and they are more interested in your company and may only feign interest. You'll find out the iPad is only being used while your there.
If you really want to help them, then give them something as close to what they already know how to use or others can assist to take the workload off you.
They mostly prefer a mouse, pointer and a keyboard over a touchscreen.
All I can suggest is s mixed approach, not all iPad and not all desktop computers, however you will find the desktop computers are considerably less headache, cost less , autoupdate etc., and break down less than a iPad.
You can set the desktop machine to do things automatically, it's always hooked to the power, the iPad needs to be charged, it needs this or that update and so forth.
Not knocking the iPad, and it can work for some, but likely not all.
I know as a young person it's tempting to think a lot of older seniors can grasp new technology as easy as the young, but a lot don't, it's a whole new different way of doing things and it's foreign to them, take them so long to learn they they don't want to bother.
So sometimes it's just better to give them something as close to what they already know, your trying to help them remain active, not torture them with every new technological gadget that magically appears on the market, is popular now but won't be 3 years from now as something newer is released.
You'll catch on soon enough who you can use a iPad with or not, unfortunatly a "organization" is thinking a global rollout, when a much more tailored approach is better.
I've hope I've made my point.
Good luck 🙂