Learning difficulties

[Newportnobby]

My Mum, bless her, has decided to join the computer age at the tender age of 79 due to most things she sees on the telly only giving website addresses rather than a postal address or telephone number. Fair play, I went with her and found her a nice laptop which will cope with everything she is likely to require. Since then, needless to say, the phone line to NN has been the 'hot line'. Despite me giving her lessons as simple as I can and writing things down, it is clear I'm in it for the long haul, even though I have suggested she joins the 'Silver Surfers' etc.
Still, after 3 weeks I do have her up and running on e mail despite Orange giving her such a long and unmemorable e mail address that I set her up with an easy to remember Yahoo mail. Another example is that she took her laptop into Preston's Orange shop today to get them to set her years free McAfee but she hadn't been sent the necessary keyword by Orange so the guy in the shop told her to dial 150 to tell them. Tonight my Mum said she had tried it but it didn't work. After a few questions it was clear she was trying to call 150 on her landline.
There is a moral to all this rambling...................
We all have skills learnt mainly from whatever line of work we have been/are in. In my own case, I have been an office wallah/sales rep all my life so have a fair understanding of using computers, but when it comes to the dark arts of electrickery, anyone trying to teach me would be in the same boat as I am with Mum and her computer.
Since I have been on this forum, I have learnt many things from many people and I would say a big THANK YOU to those with the skill sets and the patience to explain in simple terms what it is I need to learn. The bulk of us have things we need to learn and some are at an age where things don't sink in as quickly as we'd like. Bear with us please - we will get there.

[port perran]

Thats all well said Nobby.
My parents are in their 80s and 200 miles away so have resisted their limited interest in going on line.  Maybe one day ?

[daveg]

Here, Here NN! I'm OK with straightforward wiring. It's when it gets to resistors and the like the blue haze descends.

My dad's 93 has a laptop and every now and then he calls to be reminded of his email password.

We also have his laptop on remote log-in so if he does something a teeny bit wrong,  we can have a go fixing it 'down the wire' rather than arranging a 120 mile round trip.

Dave G

[longbridge]

I found this free computer learning website for seniors Mike, looks like a lot of easy stuff for beginners and I think it may be of some use to your dear Mum.

http://www.meganga.com/

[Newportnobby]

We also have his laptop on remote log-in so if he does something a teeny bit wrong,  we can have a go fixing it 'down the wire' rather than arranging a 120 mile round trip.

Dave G

Thanks Dave - any chance you could drop me a PM with details so I can see if this is something I can use to avoid 'call outs'?

I found this free computer learning website for seniors Mike, looks like a lot of easy stuff for beginners and I think it may be of some use to your dear Mum.

http://www.meganga.com/

Thanks ORB (too many Dave's!) - I'll check that out and see if it will help her. Luckily she's never going to use Microsoft Office

[tadpole]

NN - we're going through much the same with my mother in-law.
I have recently wondered if an iPad is would be easier.
You turn it on, touch the Email icon, and there's you're inbox.
What could possibly go wrong?*

So, she gets my old iPad, I get a sexy new iPad-mini for Xmas.

Sorted.

*answers on a postcard, please

[Newportnobby]

Thanks Tadpole - I now think she would be better off with a mouse as, let's face it, touchpads are an acquired taste and I reckon she would improve her skills.
Oh........and trimming her nails might also help

[daveg]

We also have his laptop on remote log-in so if he does something a teeny bit wrong,  we can have a go fixing it 'down the wire' rather than arranging a 120 mile round trip.

Dave G

Thanks Dave - any chance you could drop me a PM with details so I can see if this is something I can use to avoid 'call outs'?

G'morning!

Take a look at this: https://secure.logmein.com/uk
You'll need 'hard' access to the target PC to set this up but once done it works really well. My other half now has most of our older rellies on the system! If you get stuck drop me a PM and we'll see if we can help.

Dave G

[Pengi]

NN - we're going through much the same with my mother in-law.
I have recently wondered if an iPad is would be easier.
You turn it on, touch the Email icon, and there's you're inbox.
What could possibly go wrong?*

So, she gets my old iPad, I get a sexy new iPad-mini for Xmas.

Sorted.

*answers on a postcard, please

My Mum uses an iPad. She has rheumatoid arthritis but can manage the screen ok - particularly since I got her a stylus. She previously had no interest in using computers but loves the iPad and spends hours surfing. Funnily enough, I've now ordered an iPad mini for her as it is a bit lighter (the arthritis means she has little strength in her hands to lift things) and I'll have get the iPad back.

[EtchedPixels]

I bought my mum a netbook (in pink - so my Dad wouldn't steal it). Before you assume all the stereotypes you might want to see how she does. My mother doesn't use the computer much but she is perfectly capable of operating it when needed.

Alan

[red_death]

Take a look at this: https://secure.logmein.com/uk
You'll need 'hard' access to the target PC to set this up but once done it works really well. My other half now has most of our older rellies on the system! If you get stuck drop me a PM and we'll see if we can help.

You can do the same thing (for free) with Remote Desktop or VNC (eg TightVNC).

Cheers, Mike

[Kipper]

Like most of us "older" ones, I was introduced to computers at work (Pet to start with), and all maintenance and panic breakdowns were sorted by IT. Since retiring, like many, I am missing the comfort zone of the IT Techs, and sometimes get very panicky when things don't go right. Fortunately, the local Apple shop is geared up for me, and sorts me out straight away. Cannot but recommend remote takeover, it's the dog's doodahs.

[daveg]

Take a look at this: https://secure.logmein.com/uk
You'll need 'hard' access to the target PC to set this up but once done it works really well. My other half now has most of our older rellies on the system! If you get stuck drop me a PM and we'll see if we can help.

You can do the same thing (for free) with Remote Desktop or VNC (eg TightVNC).

Cheers, Mike

Always handy to get an alternative suggestion/recommendation. We got Logmein for nowt, too.

Take a look at both and see which looks best/easiest for your needs.

Dave G

[Newportnobby]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I'm sure we'll get my Mum up to a decent level soon, but it's a steep learning curve for her and not one I'd want to attempt.
Anyone remember Supercalc 5?

[tim-pelican]

You can do the same thing (for free) with Remote Desktop or VNC (eg TightVNC).

Remote Desktop, VNC et al rely on you knowing the IP address of the PC you want to support, and it being able to take incoming connections (likely it's NAT'd).

LogMeIn, GoToMyPC and friends glue together two client connections in the middle, so you get around that problem.

Hopefully we'll have the nice, statically-addressed un-NAT'd Internet back before too long with IPv6, which will make things easier.