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Posted on November 11th, 2009 by Mark Newton
SimplicITy ‘over 50s’ PC is so un-PC
This morning I had a press release emailed to me about a new range of systems by simplicITy computers to be launched today by Valerie Singleton, her of Blue Peter and ’sticky-backed plastic’ fame. She was also presenter of the BBC Money program for many years.
What got me fuming was that this range of computers was for the ‘over 50s’, those people whose brains are just too old and addled to understand new technology, like me and a lot of my friends. I find the term ’silver surfer’ particularly annoying; my hair went grey in my mid-30s so presumably dementia set in then as well. Heck, even our own youthful Jon Honeyball has a few threads of grey, so perhaps he’ll need some help with his computer soon!
By all means market a computer for ‘those who find existing computers confusing,’ but this assumption that the over-50s and silver surfers have special needs is just plain ageist.
As for this computer launch, the operating system is Linux, so you are not going to find as much local help for that as you would with a Windows machine. By all means build an easy-to-use interface on top of Windows, make a simple email client, and remove all the unnecessary buttons from the browser (or use Chrome). But keep an operating system underneath that your kids can help you with, and that has support for all those devices that you might want to plug into it.
I’ll get off me soapbox now.
Tags: silver surfers, simplicity computer
Posted in: Rant, Real World Computing
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21 Responses to “ SimplicITy ‘over 50s’ PC is so un-PC ”
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November 11th, 2009 at 11:22 am
Just a point of discussion – Saga offer holidays for people of retirement age. I’m assuming the holidays they offer are not of the extreme sports variety. Is this ageist if you happen to be a 65-year-old bungee jumper?
I think there is a large demographic of people who just want a PC that reacts in a simple way. I think over-50s are being targeted here because they form a large part of this group. I think this is a shame, because it alienates younger people who could benefit from this sort of system – those who see a PC as a communications and media tool, who simply need a secure and intuitive interface to access the web, type a letter or two and maybe watch a DVD with.
November 11th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
I am 64, have never had any training in computing, yet young people come to me with their computer problems.
Most computers use Windows so I see incompatibility problems popping up with Valerie Singleton’s over priced Linux based PC.
November 11th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
I don’t see many compatibility problems if these machines are marketed for people who have never used a PC before. They should probably be seen as an all-in-one technology rather than a normal PC.
November 11th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
I provide tech support and on the whole older ( 60+ ) people do need more help because they didn’t grow up with computers as a child. These days most children have some access to a computer and so at least some basic PC skills.
Of course this will slowly change as the computer generation grow old.
November 11th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
mark – Surely they’re simply targeting older people who aren’t computer literate. People fall outside of that demographic in terms of both age and PC skills, but as a target group it’s perfectly legitimate.
Nowhere are they saying that all older people have poor PC skills – and “Silver Surfer” seems to have been used in the press coverage, but not by the firm themselves.
Methinks you’re doing them a bit of a disservice.
Incidentally, one of the people behind the product is a certain Mt Liam Proven, who I’m sure has written for PC Pro on occasion.
November 11th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
I work in IT (at 57) and present sophisticated IT systems to major NHS clients and their ‘very young’ IT professionals, with whom I can relate and understand. Yes I am a dark shade of silver on top. I came into IT at 47 and I can promise Ms Singleton that I do not need any help with ‘Simple Pc’s’, especially running Linux. How many local PC shops even know what Linux is? I find the reference to anyone over 50 being gaga an insult. Anyway, I need to get my zimmer frame in a more comfy position, so, rant over.
)
November 11th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
Seems to have hit a raw nerve.
This would not be an issue if some of us in the IT industry find ourselves suffering from Ageism in the work place.
this just adds to the negative stereotypes relating to age and computers.
My son – a graduate brought up on computing who has built his won PC, still comes to me for advice and help!
November 11th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Paul – the email I recieved said nothing about people who find computers tricky regardsless of age, it was aimed at the 50+ only as is the web site. It is this blanket feeling that 50+ ’silver surfers’ don’t know their way around technology that gets my goat.
November 11th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
Some older people are likely to be VERY computer literate – They invented them !!
Linux is ideal for this sort of thing anyway – My 85 year-old mother-in-law uses OpenSuse
November 11th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
I looked at the website (http://www.discount-age.co.uk/simplicity_computers/) and didn’t spot anything about age.
Have you just had a ’significant’ birthday Mark? If so, your rant is fully understood!
November 12th, 2009 at 8:07 am
I’m 55 and have been using a computer (various platforms) for decades as have the majority of my colleagues; we don’t need nor want this “easy pc”. Oh yes – and my 84 year old mother is doing just fine with her laptop running Windows Vista.
November 12th, 2009 at 8:48 am
I’m 61 and have been using and building computers since the mid 60s, I currently build or maintain computers for many people in the town where I live.
Their ages range from approx. 15 to 80 years old, there will always be those in society who understand various things and those that don’t it does not depend on age in any way.
Just like Keith Oldham said quite a few over 50s will be very computer literate because they are the people who invented computers.
November 12th, 2009 at 9:02 am
I am 63 and enjoy computing. I think it’s sensible to get as many older people as possible on line, even if it sounds a bit naff, there are so many benefits, particularly if age brings physical disability, it is still possible to shop, chat, play and explore on a p.c. – I’m just off to get some hair dye to cover up the silver bits!!
November 12th, 2009 at 11:13 am
I think anyone who is reading PCPro columns is not the target market anyway. You would not believe the number of rows I have with my Dad because he expects things to read his mind or work the way he thinks is right despite having no knowledge of the limitations of software or hardware.
I think the Linux system is being used because it will reduce needs for any antivirus which would just add complication to what is supposed to be a simple device.
November 12th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
The problems with soapboxes is you can fall off them. A computer with the simplicity of a TV is long overdue. Who cares what the operating system is.Your TV probably employs a version of Linux somewhere in its mysterious innards. You don’t need to know anything about engines and gearboxes to drive a car. If it breaks you take it to a garage. If your computer does not work you call a Geek.
November 12th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
@ Paul Ockenden: you mean the very name of the website didn’t give you a clue?
Nor, it would seem, did you look at this page http://www.discount-age.co.uk/simplicity_computers/whatdoiget/ “Everyone who buys the simplicity will benefit from one year’s free membership of discount-age.co.uk, the website dedicated to getting the best deals for 50-pluses.”
I agree that the younger generation who’ve grown up with personal computing are more likely to be tech-savvy than those who didn’t, but I know plenty of people in the 25 – 45 age group, for example, who are way less knowledgeable than I am .. . and I’m an old fart of 57.
Apart from any other considerations, the price of these PCs is a complete ripoff.
November 12th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Interesting is this, as in year 2000 I published a short tutorial of Microsoft Publisher for fast track learning of this software. When it was used for the first time during Government trials an 82-year-old lady completed her entire publication in just 53 minutes with nil faults. The publication is called ‘Easy Publisher’ and has only three pages of content excluding the front and rear cover. Every one on the trial had only basic keyboard skills and no prior knowledge of the software.
Your Government wanted me to publish more yet would not employ me to do so, I was unemployed at the time.
You may download a copy of Easy Publisher here, http://tinyurl.com/ybanq76 and try your luck at beating the 82 year old lady’s record of just 53 minutes.
Signed Carl Barron Chairman of agpcuk
November 12th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
I actually think that the years of “younger automatically means better” in IT have passed by. Younger IT users these days are if anything, regressed and infantilised – they are *operators*, not *constructors*. It’s all txt spk and OMG LOL and this book that book, twit-to-who? and so on. Not one of the youth oriented services offers a growth path to more skills or behind-the-scenes content creation: they are mental chewing gum. Distractions of an unproductive nature, and the young in general are far too easily seduced by them (because that is what those services are built to do).
I’d welcome more grey hair on the net, personally, and I don’t care how they get there. I think a lot of the barriers to older people going online are actually the classic “oh, I’ll just fix that” bodged-up presentation endemic to the more evangelical (and therefore cringemaking) type of nerd: any properly engineered and well presented platform is usable. What Liam has done here is make the right kind of assessment of a pre-existing platform, and turned it into something new, at least for the UK. And yes, disclaimers apply – he’s been around at PC Pro for a good few years, on and off!
November 12th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
I have just looked up ‘Windows 7′ on Amazon (.co.uk) and among the titles were:
Laptops for Seniors in Easy Steps:
Windows 7 Edition – For the Over 50s
Windows 7 for the Over 50s in Simple Steps
Windows 7 for Seniors for Dummies
Windows 7 for Seniors (Computer Books for Seniors)
Brilliant Internet for the Over 50s Windows 7 Edition
Computing with Windows 7 for the Older and Wiser:
Brilliant Laptops for the Over 50s Windows 7 Edition
(At least the last four don’t assume that if you are over 50 you are automatically a dummy!)
But why is it that young authors/publishers (and I am assuming that the authors/publishers are younger that 40 here) think that if you are over 50 you are bamboozelled by new technology (like mains electricity)
I am 53 and have been playing and working with computers since I built my own heathkit 101 in 1978 and, if truth be known, understand more about technology than most of the authors!
November 15th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
It would be interesting if we presumed all doctors over 50 weren’t up to date with medicine. However I recently had a fairly high-tech operation on a broken leg and the consultant, who was probably in his early 60’s had to call in an assistant to get my Xray up on his PC screen! I have every confidence in his medical skill -as long as he dosn’t have to use a PC as part of an operation!
November 17th, 2009 at 11:52 am
I am 57, have added memory , grphics cards, wifi cards and only last week added a new hard drive to my computer made one primary and the old drive the slave , this new hard drive I formatted and added the new windows 7, I now have a dual booting computer I.E windows seven and XP. I know many younger people who would not do what I do to computers. AND JUST TO ADD I AM SILVER HAIRED AND A WOMAN.