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About 3 years ago, I was sitting in a small restaurant in Columbus, Ohio,
eating a quiet dinner by myself. I started listening to 2 women behind me.
They were in their mid to late 50's. One was explaining how to change out a
card on the second woman's a computer. Giving pretty technical instructions
and suggestions.
They cleared up any questions and then they started talking about their bulb
garden. They were both buying online from a bulb company. They talked about
how much they liked the instant tips for growing the bulbs, and appreciated
especially the related bulbs idea - if you are ordering these bulbs, those
over there will plant and grow well with them. And the free bulbs with every
purchase were great. The bulbs arrived quickly and the women were very
excited to get their garden in.
I sat there open mouthed and delighted. "The web has arrived", I thought. If
2 grandmotherly looking women could sit there having that conversation, then
the 'Net was here to stay.
Now we have to get my 77-year old father-in-law online. Email will be the
compelling application for him. We just have to get him over the idea that
he can hurt something. He is the type to actually read every word of a
manual, so be prepared for comments!
-----Original Message-----
From: bounce-techwr-l-71429 -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
[mailto:bounce-techwr-l-71429 -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com]On Behalf Of Diane Evans
Sent: Monday, April 08, 2002 7:35 AM
To: TECHWR-L
Subject: RE: Tech Writing for Seniors
Just my two cents worth...
I must be really old. If my grandparents were alive, they would range in
age from 101 to 132. But my mother, on the other hand...
My mother got her first computer at the age of 73. The first thing she did
was write me a letter (aka e-mail) that started out, "Dear Diane, How many
of these letters can I write before I fill up the computer's memory?...Love,
Mom"
Eventually, we taught her not only how to write emails but have her doing
Instant Messenging as well. She is just having a blast with the computer,
and knows more about formatting an Excel document than half of the people I
work with!
My grandmother once called and complained that she couldn't get the time to
set on the new digital clock she had just bought. No matter what she did,
it read "12:08". My mother went over, and realized that Grandma had not
peeled off the plastic sticker protecting the display!
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