Of Course You Can Use a Computer

It is ironic that so many senior citizens, the last generation of prolific letter-writers, should shy away from the modern method of keeping in touch through the printed word – the computer.

Yet it is no exaggeration to say that anyone who can write a letter would find it easier and much faster to do so by email.

Moreover, the computer is the instant key to a mountain of hitherto hard-to-access knowledge – hence the description, "information technology".

On a simple level this can mean that if you want to know more about a film, novel, famous figure or event – in fact, just about anything – a quick computer search on the internet can unlock a veritable Aladdin's cave of fascinating detail.

There's an old saying, "Do the thing you fear", and fortunately an increasing number of over-55s are doing just that when it comes to learning about computers.

In the past 15 years some 20,000 have attended courses at nearly 100 SeniorNet tuition centres throughout New Zealand.

SeniorNet was established in Wellington in 1992 by Telecom executive Grant Sidaway, who is quick to set at rest many older folks' understandable fear that trying to learn about computers will prove just too daunting.

"Using a computer is like driving a car – you can do it perfectly well without knowing how it works", he says.

In other words, knowing the basic operating procedures will take you a long way.

A Waikato University study of three SeniorNet clubs, involving 43 men and 55 women, found that participants overcame initial barriers of fear and frustration to become enthusiastic computer users.

Two areas in particular were identified as problems by both men and women – computer jargon and typing skills. However, the motivations were strong – to be able to email family and friends, and pursue hobbies such as genealogy.

In line with overseas literature, the Waikato study found that "the benefits of learning and using computers are significant, particularly in terms of connecting older people to information, to others, to a new-found sense of confidence, and to the modern world".

It also seems seniors are too wise to become addicted to computers like some younger people.

"Older people do see potentially negative consequences to computer use and advocate managing the computer relationship to achieve a balance between mental and physical activity, between virtual isolation and face-to-face socialising, and [between] giving your life an added interest and taking over your life", the Waikato study says.

For your nearest SeniorNet Learning Centre, click here and scroll to the bottom of the page.