Why are there so many elderly people who don't know how to work a computer? They did not appear overnight?

Answer 1

Because we did not HAVE computers in our generation. And we are not so fascinated with them. And even though i use one on occasion, i am not particularly interested in it. And I am 83

Answer 2

When I was 18 I went into the army and was assigned to a
military communications center. That was where you found
computers. On a wall and humongous. We also had teletype
machines that connected to them, and also teletype machines
at other military locations. When I got home and looked for a
job, the first place I went was to Western Union, knowing they
had one in their downtown office. And I was told that only those who were employees of WU would be trained to oper-
ate their machine, if the present employee was let go. There
were no other computers that I know of in cities at that time.
Missle bases had them of course, and they had to have
them to send men to the moon in space craft, but locally
there was almost nothing in the computer line. There wasn't
even computer chip companies like we have today. Things
were handled by telegraph and Morse code.
Most elderly couldn't then, and probably can't now, afford
a computer. Nor would they feel they have a use for them.
What they haven't had, they don't miss. They were content
with their daily newspaper, and the TV, what more could they
need? That was basically the attitude of my last living elderly
relatives.
Today for those who live on a very tight pension or SS,
they are still unnafordable. I know they are for me, so I get
mine recycled from our SIL or a close friend who upgrades
every few years. Some of us can't even stretch our measely
SS to the end of the month, if two live on it. So the elderly
in general, don't want it, can't afford it, nor understand it.
Even Regis Philbin said on TV many times, he doesn't
know the first thing about computers and has no desire to
run one. And with him, money is no object.

Answer 3

Up until Bill Gates came up with the PC, most computers took up buildings to use and you needed to become a programmer to use a computer .

In the mid 80s with the advent of personal computers, most older people still weren't using them, the pcs were mainly for spread sheets and word processing.

It's only really been in the last dozen years that people in the 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond have acquired pcs and that was either for work or because their grandchildren no longer wrote letters but emails.

Someday kid, when you're old and grey and there's new technology some whippersnapper will wonder why you're not au current with that technology.

Answer 4

Picture a time when there were no hand-held calculators,
ATM's, Compact Discs, etc. Things worked MECHANICALLY, not digitally. Back then we heard about something called a computer helping to bring in the Presidential Election returns in the 1950's, and we knew that "computers" helped send men into space in the 1960's. But no-one had a computer IN THEIR HOME or AT THEIR SCHOOL !
People today who are under 40 years old GREW UP with computers. They played games on them, they often learned word processing in school, they heard the terminology from their friends and teachers. It's much more difficult to start learning an entirely new way to do something when you already know a way to accomplish the task which seems to work perfectly well.....But I do agree with the point I think you are trying to make. I believe we never grow too old to learn new tricks :P

Answer 5

For the same reason a lot of elderly people don't fly
airplanes !

When they were young they were studying hard and
developing their creative skills--which they used later
to create and develop and design those Computers
and Airplanes that the spoiled Children of today are
using and taking for granted !

You're darned tootin' Computers didn't appear overnight !
Nor did Antibiotics like Penicillin, Television ,
Cinemascope , Automatic Turn Signals , HushPuppies,
or Space Shuttles !

They are all the result of the work and creative energy of the ones you refer to as elderly people ---most of us are
really young !

We just look elderly because our bodies were used up
making a living for the youngerly during difficult times---
looking after their education--wiping their noses and
creating all those things we use on occasion
when
you are out of the house and they can sit back ,put
their feet up and have a Mint Julep or two !

Answer 6

I haven't had a home computer up until a year or so ago, and I've spent the last 40 plus years working with them (before there was such a thing as a pc) -- just couldn't figure the need in the home for one. Still can't think of a NEED, but they really are fun and convenient.



(remember when mom couldn't get me to come in for supper -- now you can't get kids to go outside to blow the stink off. "Educational" I'm sure. Maybe the elderly resent some of the impact of modern technology -- to a degree I do)

Answer 7

Lots of history in these answers. Let me add a little more:
In my high school days, we were taught "shorthand" and "typing" (and the typing was learned on a MANUAL typewriter). Do any of you youngsters perusng the Seniors Section even know what shorthand is/was? (I cannot be sure that shorthand is even being put to use anymore.) The biggest thing that came along in those days was the invention of the "electric" typewriter!

When I went to work, no computers were initially around. Work was done "by hand," including calculating. (There WERE calculators, at least.) Eventually, the "computer" hit the workplace. This thing was the size of a washer and dryer -- as a matter of fact, that's what the nickname for it was in my workplace. The employers had to hire "specially trained" people that knew how to operate the computers and that was their job -- to adapt it to the work requirements and keep it running. PLUS, these "specially trained" people had the further task of showing the other employees how to operate the "input" keyboards properly so the data would make it to the computer okay...!!! There were no such things as printers at every workstation, or "instant update" computer work. (We had to input data one day and wait for the following day for it to be updated! Sounds ancient, huh?)

A few years after that, the computer games became popular, and computers were scaled down to be able to be sold for the home. The first "home computer" I saw was one that my cousin bought for his daughter when she was 13, I believe. Also, there was no "Internet" at that time. The computer she had was just a game-player back then. (Nowadays, the same types of games are in the "hand-held" electronic elements that kids used to play with, until the Ipods came around.) And, I had to get this 13-year-old to show me HOW TO TURN THE COMPUTER ON !!! (Remember the ATARI games/computers?)

I always thought that "computers" were meant for the workplace, and my employers did not do their work on the Internet. Their computers were strictly an in-house system, and we (the employees) thought it was "generous" of them to include "games" such as the standard solitaire and freecell !!!

So, to you "younger" generation, who must by now think I am so ancient as to be old and gray, I turn 59 next month. To me, that's not old at all -- merely middle aged... Like I said initially, a lot of history has passed in a few years' time.

Answer 8

We bought our first computer in the early 80's, you know the one with the blue screen.. . . .Windows 95, if I remember right.

At the time I worked for the state and I recall having, maybe what was called a main board that connected us with our State Offices.

It took forever to bring up the information needed.

No such thing as email or Internet connections.

My husband had a job with a big company and had the foresight to take some computer classes at our local college.

Because he did, he was able to step up the ladder, from one position to another.

At that time most of the men he worked with were either not willing to return to school or stated that they were afraid of it.

We have friends, the same age as we are and also retired as we are and they are afraid to try.

I feel for them, because they say how boring their life is.

I learn something new everyday.

At 72, life just gets better for me the more I learn.

Thanks for the good question.

Answer 9

I have found that many of us don't miss what we never had. My husband worked for an auto manufacturing co starting in 1970 in computers and they took up a whole room of space from floor to ceiling. They have changed a lot since then.
We initially bought our first pc eight years ago for our grandaughter. I didn't have a clue how to use it but I have taught myself enough to get by. I learned typing in highschool in the sixties and found my fingers still remembered where the keys were. It is an amazing tool and I keep thinking if anything happens to compromise our electricity we are going to be up the creek without a paddle. Our whole system of commerce and all aspects of society are so dependent on computers I hate to even think about the outcome.

Answer 10

There were far more jobs then that did not require computers. Computers have done away with a lot of them. So how would one learn and why would one want to bother with such an expensive toy? They were gadgets, then. Nobody thought they would amount to anything. And remember that the first ones were not PCs. They were monstrous things that filled up an entire room, and they couldn't do all that much, either.

Answer 11

Some of us were busy making a living and couldn't afford a computer. Some of us loaned to much money to our kids and don't have it back yet. Computers have only been affordable for last few years. Some of the computer classes are a joke. I went to two and both instructors spent more time gabbing than teaching. My friend and I got out laptops two months apart and taught each other. I go to a senior center twice a week to play cards and about eight out of ten people there have computers. For many years I saw no use for a personal computer. I didn't need one. Then came the world wide web, Google, Yahoo, and Ebay. I retired and had the time and the money for an inexpensive p.c. I enjoy the heck out it. I am sure there are many other seniors like me out there.