Encouragingthe use of Computersby Older People

Andrew Beaumont

21 May 2012

A. Introduction to the PresentationB. Brief History of ITC. Existing Computers and Software

A. The InternetB. EmailC. Microsoft OfficeD. Long Eaton Library - Online Resources

D. Further IdeasE. The FutureF. Windows 7G. Areas not Covered H. Using Computers Cheaply I. Issues with the Storm WormJ. Further Notes for the Presentation K. References L. Internet IndiansM. Discussion PointsN. Sus-IT

Today’s Talk

Introduction to the Presentation – 1

• To encourage the use of computers by:– older people– and by younger ones who have not embraced

computers fully.

• PREVIOUS computer design (1980s-90s):– Aimed mostly at use by young graduates

(i.e. users with no health or communication issues)– Computers were:

• Hard to use• Had slow, awkward text-based screens/interfaces

(such as ‘cd’, to change folder/directory)… rather than current friendly, graphical screens with images.

• Today, the aim, if not the reality, is for everyone on the planet to become IT-literate, and enthusiastic about it.

• Major software systems such as Windows 7, Linux or Word are available in most international languages (English, French, Russian, and Arabic); although there are exceptions such as those used by Native Americans, like the Apache.

• NOTE:Although the majority of single user computers are Microsoft compatible PCs, the ideas expressed in this presentation are equally applicable to Apple Mac (and UNIX) users, who quite rightly continue to support these excellent technologies.

Introduction to the Presentation – 2

Brief History of IT

• My first IT experience:– A Burroughs’s main-frame in 1977 at Warwick University– Developing an industrial simulation software system– Using the Programming language: ALGOL 60.– The computer was as big as a detached house, only had

the power of a single modern PC(and was used by everyone there)

• Often, programs were:– submitted overnight in batch mode– on a set of punched cards bound by a rubber band

(as students were not initially given a monitor)

• Only a few universities/large major employers (mostly Finance/Defence) owned a main-frame computer

• Things change quickly:

‘In 1980 there were 720,000 personal computers in the world;by 1990 there were 50 million, and their average power had increased a hundredfold’[pg 280, Kieran & Lewis]

Progress

• The four PC facilities I will discuss today are:– The Internet– Email– Microsoft Office and– The Long Eaton Library Online Resources

Existing Computers and Software

• The Internet is:– Worldwide– Multimedia

(text, sound, pictures, video)– A computer-based library– Hosted on many server computers– Available on any internet-enabled device.

• The examples that follow give a brief insight into things that are possible…

The Internet

• Art lovers see the pictures at:– the Louvre (www.louvre.fr), Paris; or – the National Gallery, London (www.nationalgallery.org.uk)

Although nothing can replace the experience of an actual visit (but it does save on sore feet…)

• Information – quickly search for (and sometimes find) information via

search engines, such as:www.google.com , www.yahoo.com, www.lycos.com, www.altavista.com, www.ask.com (where ask.com accepts English-like questions).

– For example, you can investigate company details, or find which courses a college provides, next term.

Often a more accurate, up-to-date and faster means of research than the traditional one of using libraries. But not always.

Internet Examples – 1

• Online free encyclopaedia – www.wikipedia.org– Aims to be the largest ever (for our species)– Can be edited by ‘registered users’.

• Order your weekly shop– Delivered to your front door– Just choose a supermarket…

(www.asda.co.uk have annual internet only-discount schemes, currently only £5 for online shopping & delivery)www.tesco.co.uk – and others…

– But too little, and too much?Too little - with the currently small customer base, it may not be economic for the retailer;Too much - many people may not pay for something, that historically they have done themselves, for free?Is it really quicker – especially for your first on-line shop effort, when a lot of information must be entered?Is it less socially rewarding – low on exercise, and more likely to meet friends in the super-market?But - buying online may be 10% cheaper (e.g. insurance?)

Internet Examples – 2

• Buy aircraft tickets:(www.cheapflights.co.uk and many others…)

• View train timetables/service details:www.nationalrail.co.ukwww.thetrainline.com

• Plan routes for car journeys:www.theaa.com www.rac.co.uk(and renew memberships, view traffic, etc)

Internet Examples – 3

• You can read newspapers online (or some of the content):– www.guardian.co.uk– www.thetimes.co.uk

• Or see the TV news:– www.bbc.co.uk– www.itv.co.uk– www.channel4.co.uk

• Or view a TV program that you missed last week:– http://www.sidereel.com - which then runs on your PC

• Or read current Derbyshire planning regulations:– http://www.communities.gov.uk

Internet Examples – 4

• Exploit FaceBook (www.facebook.com):– Find long lost friends from your school days– share holiday pictures with your family and close friends

(only shown to your private groups).– Be an activist: FaceBook has recently been used for serious

political reasons in Libya and Tunisia, during the ‘Arab Spring’.

• Exploit Twitter (www.twitter.com):– Take part in a discussion on existing traffic conditions, or

on current government pension cutsNOTE:– Although Twitter may appear successful (being used by

many millions), it may not currently have a realistic ‘business model’ - having no advertising revenue, or charge method for its customers.

– The price of the recent share release by FaceBook, assumes a total company valuation of one hundred times, the current annual advertising revenue.

Internet Examples – 5

• There are a variety of other social network sites:– www.bebo.com, www.myspace.com and www.ebuddy.com– www.LinkedIn.com (for professional office staff)– www.meebo.com … etc

• Also forums (an area to post messages) and Newsgroups (similar to forums):– www.bbc.co.uk/gardening– https://groups.google.com

• Also Wikis (user-alterable web sites, such as wikipedia – but are there other examples?)

• Blogs: these are online journals, like a diary, e.g.– www.blogsearch.com– www.blogger.com

Internet Examples – 6

• Dating agencies – www.match.com(but care may be needed on first dates!)

• Find lost relatives – www.ancestry.co.uk (and other sites – some may charge)

• Find a video - www.youtube.com– to help you wire a household three-pin plug,– or put someone into the ‘recovery position’, after

they have suffered an epileptic fit.

Internet Examples – 7

• Download music for free (if legal), or for a small fee (http://www.music-oasis.com)

• Buy books online – www.amazon.co.ukwhich can be cheaper than going to a book shop

• Use online auctions - www.ebay.co.ukfor example, to buy or sell an antique Russian Balalaika – although traditional ways of selling may work out better… (buyer beware!)

Internet Examples – 8

• Look at a map of Tenby in Wales using Google maps (www.maps.google.co.uk)

• View booksThe Gutenberg project (www.gutenberg.org) holds several million out of print books (usually old ones, where the author is dead), which can be downloaded free, in a variety of computer formats.

Internet Examples – 9

• Bank online (e.g. www.halifax.co.uk)Most banks provide online banking, enabling you to:– check your accounts– transfer money between accounts– automate overdraft warnings– setup direct debits (all from the comfort of your own home…)

• Video conferencing (e.g. www.skype.co.uk) – but Image size and

the refresh rate may vary).Useful for:– Contacting family members abroad (even New Zealand).– Medical exchange; used by doctors in India and Australia, for

remote diagnosis.– Cheap phone calls by combining technologies: use skype on a

mobile phone, via free library Wi-Fi - to phone your mum in China! Or, you can just use skype for free phone calls.

• Participate in virtual discussion forums - the IT equivalent of sitting round a forest camp fire, discussing current events (again, via FaceBook).

Internet Examples – 10

• Specialised over 50’s sites:www.ageconcern.co.ukwww.saga.co.ukwww.fiftyon.co.uk ? (employment issues)www.life4living.co.uk ?www.seniorconsessions.co.uk ?www.overfiftiesfriends.co.ukwww.u3a.co.uk

• Learning online is possible:www.open.ac.ukwww.learndirect.co.uk

• Voluntary work:www.volunteeringengland.org.ukwww.do-it.org.ukwww.vso.org.uk

Internet Examples – 11

• Email:– www.hotmail.co.uk– www.yahoo.co.uk– www.gmail.com and others– Provides a free way, for anyone who can write

(in English, French, Arabic, Russian…) and with an internet enabled device, to communicate with anyone else, worldwide.

Email - 1

• … is similar to letter writing, but has the following advantages:– Speed:

most (but not all) emails arrive within a few minutes.

– Cost:As a stamp and envelope are not required, email is cheaper* (and you don’t get wet going to the post-box in January).

* Is free, unless you count the cost of being on-line (internet subscription, equipment costs, electricity…)

Email - 2

• … enables ‘threaded communication’So you can easily see what was written to you, while composing your reply, for example: – ‘a’ wrote 5.36PM Sat – ‘b’ replied 6.39PM Sat– ‘a’ responded 11.57PM Sat, etc...

• … enables attachments that hold further information; For example:– a book could be sent to a prospective publisher, or – a daughter (living in Rome) could send a picture (of her new

boy-friend!) to her father (living in Derby).

• … can provide grammar and spelling checkers, to check what you send - usually quicker (if less comprehensive) than the traditional verbose dictionary.

Email - 3

• Microsoft OfficeProvides the following widely used tools: – Word – to create documents in a variety of

languages, with a spelling/grammar checker. – Excel - a spreadsheet (financial/maths use); can

even be used for household accounts.– PowerPoint - used to create electronic slide

shows (like this one!)– Publisher – a simple, automated way to create

small personalised web sites.– Access – a simple to use database; could be used

to maintain an address book.– Adobe – enables creation of pretty (professional-

standard) documents containing both text and complex graphics. Although Adobe is not always part of Office.

Microsoft Office

LEL contains a wide variety of information some of which are:

• Ancestry – Full history website.• Britannica – A general purpose encyclopaedia.• COBRA – A business-related encyclopaedia.• Grove Art – An encyclopaedia of visual art.• Oxford Language Dictionaries – these include

approximate translation facilities (not accurate enough for important legal documents, or international trade deals), should you wish to order a coffee at an Italian café.

• Theory Test Pro – for those striving to pass their Car Driving Theory Test.

Long Eaton Library - Online Resources

It is possible to:1. plug a microphone into your computer2. then speak to it…… and get it to respond to your voice commands.

One example would be the Voice Recognition Software, ‘Dragon Naturally Speaking’ (www.shop.nuance.co.uk ? Although Colds can alter your voice).

For instance, to quit Microsoft Word:1) instead of clicking File->Exit, 2) you could just say: “File Exit”.

(Alas, it can’t make the tea or coffee, yet…).

Further Ideas - 1

• Could computers be used for online voting for Local, National, or even European elections?

Thus, hopefully improving turnout?

Then perhaps, referenda would be held more frequently - hence creating a democracy more like the ideals of Plato, in Ancient Greece?

Further Ideas - 2

• Real-time online messages

Computers enable online messaging (such as www.ebuddy.com or www.paltalk.com), as built into FaceBook and Windows 7. So, a screen-based real-time text conversation, like: – A: ‘How are you?’ – B: ‘I am Fine – How are you?’ – A: ‘Life is good – would you like to meet soon?’

… can be done in real time (‘live’), just by typing.

I have heard of online messaging being used between partners, where one is fighting in a remote area of Afghanistan, with the other living in England.

Further Ideas - 3

• TV to PC:Convert your TV into a simple computer, by adding an extra card to the TV: – www.raspberrypi.org/– http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16316439– http://www.technologytell.com/gadgets/90585/non-

developer-raspberry-pi-computers-may-be-available-in-q3-2012/

… and this is not expensive to do!

This conversion could save money for someone wishing to do simple home computing, where they currently own a TV, but don’t have a PC.

Further Ideas - 4

• Mobility/dexterity issuesThere are many features in Windows 7 to make using computers easier: – Using a PC/other device by touching a screen:

Use Multi-touch, or a touch-sensitive screen/tablet(such as the HP Touch Smart TX2Z, which recognises natural gestures).

– Windows Mobility Centre:Context menus, glow-key feedback (immediately showing the change when a feature is used).

– Ease of Access Center:Magnifier, Narrator, On-Screen Keyboard & High Contrast.

Further Ideas - 5

• (Hard to predict!)– Will computer displays be truly 3-D and

holographic?(like those ‘Star Trek’)

– Will robots be built that you can fall in love with?(like those of the Isaac Asimov novel, ‘I Robot’)

– Will Turing’s challenge for a truly meaningful human-computer conversation (which the human cannot distinguish from a real human-human conversation) - ever happen?

The Future - 1

• Will computer hardware performance continue to double every 18 months(Moore’s Law - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moore's_law), which has been the case in recent history?

Although IT is arguably an industry, where truly worthwhile software innovation, seems to lag considerably behind hardware improvements…

The Future - 2

• Although staggering improvements have been made in:– computer performance, – data storage capacity and – communication speeds;

• … in other areas (such as common sense, human emotion and artificial intelligence), arguably much less progress has been made in the past fifty years?

The Future - 3

• Microsoft Windows 7– Is an operating system

(used to control a PC and run software)– released in 2009– now regarded as stable– replaced Windows Vista (perhaps less stable…)

• Windows 7 is available in six versions.In order of complexity and price, these are:[LOW] 1) Starter, 2) Home Basic, 3) Home Premium, 4) Professional, 5) Enterprise and 6) Ultimate [HIGH].The current undiscounted price of Ultimate is $320.

NOTE: The latest Microsoft operating system - Windows 10 - is just being released.

‘Windows 7’ - 1

• Windows 7 – some improved features are:

– Location Aware Printing– File Encryption– Premium Games– Pin to Start or Task Bar

(so regularly used options are instantly available after boot up).

– Really Simple Syndication feeds(providing frequently updated content from a news or Blog website).

– Instant Messenging (page 160, ‘Windows 7 without the waffle’)

– Desktop gadgets(Calendar, Clock, CPU Meter, Currency, Feed Headlines, Media Center, Picture Puzzle, Slide Show, Stocks and Weather, etc)

‘Windows 7’ - 2

For those who like their fun to be more physical than with traditional computer games:– Wii technology provides Skiing without the unpleasantness of

falling into snow, or boxing with no need to visit A&E afterwards (http://www.nintendo.co.uk/NOE/en_GB/games/wii_games_1959.html).

Hundreds of games are available, but the experience remains virtual – so arguably, never as good as the real thing.

– I-phones: costing about £500 (http://www.vodafone.co.uk/brands/iphone/?WT.srch=1&cid=ppc-goo-cbu-c89-22784-br) – enables email, internet access, phone calls, text writing, with built-in camera.

• A variety of computer-based games are available, to allow you to unwind after a stressful day.– Some are free and come pre-installed with the operating system

(such as Solitaire); – while others must be bought separately, such as Chess or

Bridge (which can be played online – www.ebu.co.uk).

Areas Not Covered - 1

• Hand-held book readers such as Kindle (a trade name) and various others (from £89) http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0051QVF7A/?tag=googhydr-21&hvadid=14098327796&ref=pd_sl_6mxs193w5_e

Alas (or a coincidence?) - each competing manufacturer has access to only a small part of the book market, with their data held in differing and incompatible formats (like past word processors, video recorders, etc).

• Educational software can be bought for your PC.– Various packages enable learning a foreign language

(no substitute for working abroad for six months).E.g. ‘LinguaTeach for Windows’ (by Akore).

– Improve your typing skills; try ‘Mavis Beacon Typing Aid’.– Many others exist, such as (Boots’) Store Design software,

or CAD (Computer Aided Design) software, widely used in Engineering.

• Tom-Tom Satellite technologies - navigate from A->B on car journeys with a fair degree of accuracy.

Areas Not Covered - 2

• The view given here on the history of computing is my personal perspective.

For early detail, visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ENIACSoon afterwards, Lyons and Co used computers extensively: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Lyons_and_Co

• Impact on Film/Media: digital cameras now widely replace the need for traditional film, greatly reducing the cost of producing images (which can quickly be sent across the globe)

• Narration – you can now highlight some text in Microsoft Word, and then hear it read out (played through speakers attached to your computer).

• Server farms - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Server_farm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myrinet - these can have over 100,000 servers, are well guarded, with their own power supplies, and are in isolated areas.

Areas Not Covered - 3

• Use someone else’s computer– a friend, relative, neighbour perhaps?

UK libraries allow 1-2 hours free PC usage per day.Long Eaton: Connexions have PCs for job search.Community House has one PC for coursework and job searching (provision across the UK varies).

• Poor people, living alone on basic state pensions:

Should broadband access be free for those aged over 75, as for TV licenses? Could this group be helped with phone rental cost? (Special low-usage deals, or re-introduce party [shared] lines?)

• Use printers sparingly! Printers wear out quickly, and paper and ink can become expensive.

Using Computers Cheaply - 1

• Provide free high quality training– as trained people are more productive

• Provide free high quality computer support, by phone, email or at a local drop-in centre

– as new users of computers can rapidly become disillusioned, after just a few minor set-backs

Using Computers Cheaply - 2

• This worm (it is just one example of many worms, in recent years) shows:

– the vulnerability of IT– the later associated repair costs; and– the lack of sincere/meaningful concern about the actions of IT

criminals and their consequences.(See p256-259 ‘Schneier on Security’ by Bruce Schneier)

Issues with the Storm Worm

Wired

• According to Wired, 27/9/2007 Storm Worm has the following features:

- 1-50 million infections– Mutates, patient – slow infection– Split functionality: 1) spreader cells, 2) command and

control cells & 3) receive order cells– Small level of damage initially. What happens later?– It was written by the Russians – who else?– It is a Worm, Trojan horse and bot - all rolled into one– It has multiple command centres– The payload alters every 30 minutes– The delivery mechanism alters frequently– Email display line changes frequently

• Premium dialler Software that illegally redirects your internet connection to a premium rate phone line and charges you lots!

• VirusDownloaded from the internet (or email attachments) Varied effects: can wipe your entire hard disk clean!‘Trojans’ - viruses hidden in a file.‘Worms’ - viruses designed to infect lots of files.

• Spyware/adware Installed on your computer, without your knowledge. (can download free software to remove adware?) Alternatives to eBay? What are bots (web site search crawlers)?

• Spam/junk email & popupsFor advertising (you can buy software to stop them appearing). Phishing, Pharming, firewalls, filtering and blocking software.

Further Notes

• ‘The problems of the IT industry’Andrew Beaumont & Andrew Wallace (unpublished).

• ‘Windows 7 without the waffle’Harshad Kotecha, Easy Steps Ltd.

• ‘Schneier on Security’ Bruce Schneier.

• Wired, 27/9/2007.

• ‘The Internet and Email for the over 50’s’Bob Reeves, Teach Yourself (Long Eaton Library), Hudder Headline

• ‘Winners & Losers – Creators & Casualties – Age of Internet’Kieran Lewis, Atlantic Books (London).

• ‘The Face book Story’Sarah Lacy, Crimson.

References

• Currently, dozens of isolated indigenous Indian Amazonian communities are being connected to the Internet.

Why?– To revive their culture and– Enable them to keep in contact with villages several

days walk away.– Also: so they can notify the authorities of illegal

logging and forest clearance by heavily armed gangs– … when the Government can then send troops to

prevent this continuing.

See: ‘The fight for Amazonia – Internet Indians’Aljazeera, 8pm, Tuesday 14/3/2012.

Internet Indians

• Has Information Technology been in global malaise since 31/12/99 (Y2K)?

• Should the computer industry be a profession like Medicine, Law or Teaching?

– With aspiring graduates becoming IT consultants in their early 30’s?

– And with less aspirant individuals reaching lesser roles (equivalent to Nurses or Teaching Assistants)?

– Should experienced IT staff be present on boards of directors, in larger numbers than at present?

Discussion Points - 1

• Is too little thought/research put into deciding whether a multi-million pound IT project is worth doing?

– With consideration being made to both the profit margins, and the social effects on the environment?

– Should Operational Research style Cost-Benefit Analysis be undertaken? (on both financial and non-financial factors)

Discussion Points - 2

• If most modern software application are:

– web-based (.net, with a hidden database)– So needing programmers fluent in several

programming languages(C#, Java, PHP, SQL and others)

… then won’t the several years that this takes to acquire, lead to a shortage of suitably qualified programmers (unless applications are allowed to become simpler, once more)?

• By contrast, older software applications (1980s) could be developed in a single language (albeit one that changed rapidly with fashion, or the perception of productivity improvement)?

Discussion Points - 3

• Is the IT industry dogged by lack of high quality documentation and training - especially for the more novice user?

• Is the IT industry over-hyped?• Are the endless progression of IT languages (and

software versions) a good use of global resources?– Why not train people to use the tools they already have, but

more productively?– Is C# really more productive than Algol 60 or Pascal, which

were available 25 years ago?– Is it the programmer’s skill, or the tool-set, which is

important?– Why didn’t some perfectly-useable programming languages

(Pascal, Lisp, and Prologue (the last two had a different purpose and philosophy)) never get off the drawing board?

Discussion Points - 4

• Should IT professionals be legally liable for their work (and mistakes), and be able to be insured?

• Should data-base reports (data mining/SQL Server OLAP cubes) be validated and interpreted by qualified Statisticians – prior to public release?

• Is there future mileage in Social Networking - with new products waiting in the wings?For example:

– Pinderest sets itself the objective of being the clipboard for ‘the best bits of the web’, then to be admired by others, while

– Social Discovery allows you to find friends with similar online interests who are currently a few metres from your current physical location (using mobile phone technologies).

Discussion Points - 5

• ‘The Filter Bubble– What the Internet is hiding from you’Eli Pariser (Penguin Books)

• Page 2:

“Most of us assume that when we Google a term, we all see the same results - the ones that the famous Page Rank algorithm suggests are the most authoritative based on the pages’ links.“But since December 2009, this is no longer true. Now you get the result that Google’s algorithm suggests is best for you in particular – and someone else may see something entirely different.

In other words, there is no standard Google anymore.”

The Filter Bubble - 1

• Page 282:

‘202’ Flash Crash, Graham Bowley, “Stock swing still baffles with an ominous tone”, New York Times, Aug 22 2010

• Page 202:

“And as we rely on intelligent systems like Google’s more, their opacity could cause real problems – like the still mysterious machine-driven “flash crash” that caused the Dow to drop 600 points in a few minutes on May 6, 2010.’

The Filter Bubble - 2

Sus-IT

• Sus-IT research project involving seven UK universities and one Canadian one (www.sus-it.lboro.ac.uk).

• Its aims are to promote the use of computers by older people, and those with health issues.

• It has involved: questionnaires, pure research, giving talks and testing new IT devices.

END – thanks for your attention.

My email is:

andrew12342009@live.co.uk