prohibit iconization?

[houghi]

On Mon, Aug 05, 2013 at 08:42:57AM +0100, Neil Winchurst wrote:
> Agreed. I am 70+, in fact I reached the big 80 three months ago. I
> certainly have no problems with learning new concepts, that is part
> of the fun of computing.
> 
> So I would expect most people around my age, if I were trying to
> teach them about computing, to find it easy. I don't think I am in
> any way unusual.

Age is relative and mostly in the mind. (That is what my great aunt said
who lived to become 115).

What I often see with older people is that the older they get, the more
they are afraid to make (or admit) mistakes. That might be the reason that
learning is so hard when people get older: they are afraid to make
mistakes, because we learn that making mistakes is bad.

So if the people (regardless of their age) are willing to make mistakes
and to learn, they will. If it is something they are required to do, so
they can do something they want to (e.g. write an email) they are much
less willing.

If people are forced to so something, then forget it. e.g. have contact
with the grand child? They rather talk to the kid on the phone then to
send an email. They could send a postcard and don't do that either.

So first look what their real need is and then see if you can work
something technical into it. Don't solve a social problem with a technical
solution. This works for older people. This works for all people in a
working enviroment.

Or in other words: you can bring a horse to water, but you can't force it
to drink.

houghi
-- 



					This space left blank intentionaly