Why I’m not holding my breath.
I have good news, and I have bad news.
The good news is that you are absolutely right. Seniors — or, since it’s not really an age thing, those with different priorities than the more technologically inclined — are underserved. I totally agree.
The bad news is that it’s extremely unlikely to change.
But I do have a couple of options to share.
In search of a simple computer
Big tech doesn’t always care about making computers easier for people who struggle, especially older folks. But that doesn’t mean all hope is lost. With the right tools, a little help, and a good attitude, it’s still possible to make technology work.
Ageism, internal and external
From a tech company’s cold, bottom-line perspective, addressing an older audience is by definition a shrinking market. It’s certainly less lucrative than the next shiny thing they want to invest in.
From my perspective, it’s not an age thing as much as an interest or ability thing, and those things cross all ages. In my recent article, Too Old for Tech? Nonsense, I address my feelings on the matter. There are many legitimate reasons to be overwhelmed by or have difficulty with technology, and most of them are unrelated to age.
Nonetheless, most big tech companies seem indifferent to the issues regardless of their origin.
That means it’s up to us.
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Attitude is everything
I am in no way criticizing your question or your approach. Your frustration is completely warranted and quite common — as are bad and even sometimes embarrassing past experiences.
But the reality is that the only thing we have true control over is our willingness to adapt and cope.
From my perspective, this isn’t just Stoic platitudes or theory; I see it play out all the time: people with even a slightly more positive attitude have better luck overall. They experience fewer problems than their less positive counterparts.
It’s not that the problems are easier or harder; it’s that there are fewer problems. It’s the weirdest thing, and I’m sure there’s some deep psychological reason for it all, but that doesn’t matter. I can confirm that a better attitude leads to fewer problems.
The good news? Our attitude is within our control.
Related
The Plight of the Average User
Most techies don’t get it, but I’ve spent 20 years learning what “average computer users” really need. (Spoiler: it’s not more features.) I'll shine a light on what the industry still gets wrong, and what needs to change if we’re ever going to make tech truly user-friendly.#3378
About that Jitterbug
Jitterbug is a mobile phone designed for and marketed as “simple cell phones for seniors”. Their smartphone has a larger, simplified display and applications customized for its target audience. They also have a bigger-button flip phone.
Even with the aggressive marketing to seniors, the phones might make great devices for anyone who struggles with technology, regardless of age.
So far, there is no Jitterbig laptop, but I do have three products you can investigate.
The Chromebook. I think of Chromebooks as an Android phone with a real screen and keyboard (or larger touchpad) and no phone. It’s a fine solution for people who just want to surf, email, watch YouTube videos (or even stream), and more. Many of the apps in the Android Play Store are available, or there’s an equivalent. I find it much less complex than Windows or macOS.
The iPad and other tablets. I know several people who use tablets almost exclusively. This can be a comfortable middle ground. They’re very smartphone-like (iPads run iOS, the same as iPhones, and most other tablets run a version of Android, the OS on most non-Apple mobile phones), and can run a wide variety of available applications — or not, if you want to keep things simple. You can add a keyboard, if you prefer, and make use of voice-to-text to dictate email or documents.
The GrandPad. I have an 84-year-old relative using one of these, and it’s been a good experience. It’s limited, simple, and designed to be administered by a more tech-savvy family member to gate what the user can and can’t do for their safety. It includes email, YouTube, and the like, but not, say, completely open web surfing. I never expected my relative to do email, for example, and yet they’ve been communicating with my wife regularly that way for a couple of years now. The GrandPad has been a great, if somewhat limited, solution for them.
I think of Jitterbug as being somewhere between these options. I don’t know of a more comparable computer equivalent.
It’s also about support
Whether a device is useful to tech-challenged users also depends on what kind of support is available. I mean support in two ways: from the manufacturer and from your personal network.
Jitterbug phones, for example, have a variety of support options, some of which include direct, personal contact with an individual to help you. Grandpad includes similar levels of support. The support for more generic devices, like iPads, tablets, and ChromeBooks, varies based on where you purchase them.
That next level of support, though, is all about who you can reach out to for help within what I’ll call your personal network. That can include anyone from your more technically inclined family members to support options at local senior centers and libraries.
How you will get help using the device can sometimes be even more important than which device you use. In fact, one piece of advice I often give is to factor in who can help you into your initial purchase decision. If you have several iPad owners in your circle of friends, for example, that might tip the scales a little towards buying the same device.
Do this
Consider the alternatives I’ve mentioned above. Even if they’re not right for you, do what you can to “keep on keeping on” anyway. Technology opens doors. Some doors are heavier than others, but almost all are worth a look inside.
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I’m not sure if tablets are a good alternative.I have several computers and a couple of tablets. I prefer the computers because of the keyboard. I hate typing more than a few words on my tablets or phone. There are Bluetooth keyboards that make it easier, but that might be complicated for some.
I got my 72-year-old younger bother a Chromebook and it does everything he needs without complication. The only learning curve is learning to use the Chrome browser. It seems to be the easiest OS out there. I’d guess that well over 90% of people can use a Chromebook as their personal computer.
It would be good to hear some comments here on how readers use their computers. If you use a Windows or Mac computer, do use do everything on a browser on your home computer. (I’m excluding work computers, because those require a full OS.)