Introduction

Introduction - Computing is for everyone

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My name is Keith Paterson and I am 76. Until recently I was a registered volunteer for ITCH (Information Technology Can Help) - the disabled www.itcanhelp.org.uk. This organisation provides free one-to-one computer help for disabled people, in your own home. Deafness had made this increasingly difficult. But I am still only too willing to help people via e-mail.

Picture of Keith Paterson, site author

The author

Silverhairs is a site dedicated to help older people with their computing, whether it be problems with software or hardware. The site has been developing over a period of five years. I am pleased to see that it is rated at level 5 in the Google rankings.

The Silver Surfer awards for 2007 can be viewed at http://www.silversurfersday.org/awards.php

Aug 2007 An Ofcom report says that those Silver Surfers" who are connected to the net are spending an average of 43 hours per month on it compared with 37.9 hours for the 18 - 24 year old age group. The over 50s accounted for 25% of UK internet users (up 158%b since 2002) although only 16 % of over 65s said they had used it at home in the month of the report.. Although over halof of the 25 - 49 group were women but 80% of the over 65s were men.

April 2007 The government's Pension site says : Over 50s take up the internet at the double.....A recent report suggests that the proportion of over 50s who use the internet has doubled over the last five years. They are also taking up the internet faster than any other age group, using it for shopping, chatting to friends, studying and pursuing their hobbies. At the beginning of the 2000s older people in Britain were slower to use the internet than other age groups, with only 30 per cent of 55 to 64 year olds and nine per cent of over 65s being online. In 2006 the figures had jumped to 52 per cent and 15 per cent, respectively. The Office for National Statistics report suggests there are still a lot of over 50s who do not use the internet. The main reasons given are lack of interest, not having a connection and lack of knowledge or confidence.

If you want some training phone 0800 77 1234 to book an Internet starter session with the government sponsored courses. Click http://www.ufi.com/ukol/ and enter your postcode to locate local courses. If you have a disability or are restricted in any way click on itcanhelp for free training in the home

One disabled person wrote "When I work and play on my computer, I can forget my disabilities and concentrate solely on my capabilities. Instead of staring out of the window watching the world go by without me, I can travel, shop and go to the cinema all in the same day. Now that's what I call progress."

Yes, indeed. The development of the human species depends on knowledge. Books have been a tremendous help for the last 2000 years and the burning of the great library in Alexandria set us back years. But now, with the Internet, I can find out almost anything I want to know when I want to know it. I don't get information overload by having to read for hours. All I have to do is put a word or two into a Google Search (see top of this page), whether it is a medical question, or a musical one, a matter of history or one of science. It is all there in one gigantic index which is updated every day. When I discovered an IBM PC in 1982 I thought, then, that it had great potential. But I did not realise that it would be such a powerful influence for enlightenment for people from Alaska to Zanzibar regardless of language barriers.

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You will find a page on my early computing experience if you click here

http://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility/bbc/partnership.shtml is a BBC site in cooperation with Ability.net and shows how to get the best out of the net, even for the disabled. For instance it allows people with motor impairments to read broadsheet-quality news on news.bbc.co.uk without having to turn broadsheet pages, allows visually impaired people to access Delia Smith's recipes in big print on bbc.co.uk/food , allows Deaf and hard of hearing people to "listen" to the Archers via transcripts on bbc.co.uk/archers

If you have any questions about computing drop me a line at Please note that this is not a link. The address must be typed into the address line in your e-mail. I do not charge for answering questions.

A couple of typical 'thank-yous' : One subscriber had been plagued with a very persistent Trojan, called Edmond, which kept coming back despite being 'cleared' by his Anti Virus software. He writes " I’ve deleted everything you recommended me to (in Safe Mode), ran Hijackthis and installed the Microsoft antispyware program. My pc now appears back to its slick, efficient pre Edmond self ! Thanks for sending the Hints and Tips book "

For a good article on getting a new computer see http://www.askbobrankin.com/how_to_buy_a_computer.html

I have also written a page on buying a computer if you click Here

But the reasons for setting up this site are :

I have 24 years experience with IBM compatible personal computers See Earlycomp.htm.
I believe that there are many older people out there who are keen to use computers but who would like some sympathetic help from someone who understands their situation.
I also believe that there are good reasons why older people WANT to get involved.
Firstly it is a great hobby which you can take part in whether you are hard of hearing (like me), disabled, housebound or have poor vision. It is even possible for blind people to take part by having a program which will tell them what is on the screen. Look at www.itcanhelp.org.uk.
What is more, many older people have the time to dedicate to computers and also often have relatives or friends who live a long way away and with whom they would like to keep in touch by E-mail or by chat programs or Video-Phone
Mind you, comments like this do help "I've just spent a good hour on your site......its brilliant!!!! (I am familiar with Fred Langa and am pleased to see that you are too). I'll be forwarding the link to all my silver surfer friends." "I came across your site a few months ago and I must say it's the best 'oldies' site on the web. It contains vast amounts of information, written in plain english, that I can understand (mostly). Many thanks for all the work you put in."

My wife thinks I am a cyber junky. (I thinks she is a shopping junky) She can't understand why I spend time on this until....
she wants a funny greeting card
she wants me to get household, car and holiday insurance (got all three)
and write a letter about that microwave that just went wrong (under guarantee)
or a holiday (booked a nice place in Turkey in October)
or scan and print a photo A4 size as a present
or check on the latest bank statement in case someone stole our identity
or do a title for her videos - she is good at video editing.
or buy a washing machine with £50 off - recently
or email all the people she forgot to send Christmas cards to.
or look up a medical condition.
or to Skype/phone those relatives in Brisbane - 30 minutes, clear as a bell.
or look up the meaning of antidisestablismentarianism or the whereabouts of Llanfairpwllgwyndrobwllandisiliogogoch
or do a map and email it to visitors.
or tax the car.
or what is on in London .........
Ah well ! Perhaps she is right.

Since the Internet really got underway in 1994 the number using it worldwide has risen to over 1000 million!

In a survey by Age Concern and Microsoft most over 50's said that the Internet had made a positive difference to their lives, with e-mail being voted the most important function by 90 percent of the group. 45% said health sites were important. Check out the Health Site Page page for health site links. Another survey showed that 62% of the over 55's surveyed used e-mail to keep in touch with their children or as they say "money isn't everything but it keeps you in touch with your children ! " See more like this on the Jokes page.

So, if you have a computer problem, do not hesitate to let me know. If I do not have an answer I may very well know someone who has, or I will search the net for you. Usually an answer can be found. So read on! And, if you want to get in touch click Here

There are many magazines that help with computing problems these days. One of the best is Computer Active which, if you subscribe, is only just over £1 a copy, delivered.

The Google Pack allows you to choose any or all of the following important software : Picasa 2 (Photo Organiser); Mozilla Firefox (free Internet Explorer alternative - internet Browser); Spyware Doctor (free antispyware) Adobe PDF file reader; Real Player (Music and video player); Skype (Free voice and video calls); Norton Security Scan, Star Office (free alternative to Microsoft Office ) Google Earth (see your own house from satellite) Google Talk (chat to others), Google Desktop - (fast searching of your hard disk) plus some great art work and screen savers. You can even get a link which enables you to check for the latest versions. n.b. some of these are BIG downloads which, without Broadband, would take a long time.

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