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Typical issues include:


e-Citizen for the elderly


Computer training for older people




Ten Tips for the Awkward Age of Computing


Here are ten tips on how you can use Windows XP to counter the effects of the awkward age. We encourage you to copy, print, or post these cartoons, reproduce them in company publications, or forward them to friends and colleagues. (Images and Text: Courtesy of Brian Basset and Microsoft Corporation)

A Screen Too Far

Squinting to see his laptop screen, Adam gets so close that his nose creates a bulge in the back of the screen.Enlarge
 Do you find yourself fighting the urge to press your nose against the screen because you can't see text and objects clearly? Windows XP and Microsoft applications offer several options that can help, from changing your monitor display settings to increasing the icons or text size of individual documents and Web pages. Review the tutorials:

Built-in Bifocals

Adam types at a regular keyboard while viewing a tiny computer through two giant lenses suspended in front of his monitor.Enlarge
 Having trouble seeing things that are close up? Around age 45 for most people, eyes start to lose the ability to adjust their focus to see objects that are near. Microsoft Magnifier, one of the accessibility features in Windows XP, opens a floating window that enlarges different parts of the screen—just like a magnifying glass. Review the tutorial:

Lights, Camera, Action

Adam sits in a film director's chair wearing sunglasses and shouting instructions to his computer through a megaphone.Enlarge
 If stiff joints or other dexterity issues are slowing you down, try using the speech recognition features in Office XP and Office 2003 to combine voice commands and dictation with mouse and keyboard commands for a more flexible work environment. Review the tutorial:

Tune Out, Tune In

Adam sits at his computer smiling, a cork in each ear as his children argue in the background.Enlarge
 Are you having trouble hearing email alerts and other audible notifications of system events? With SoundSentry, you can make parts of your screen flash whenever a system sound occurs. To "see" speech and other sounds, use Windows XP to display closed captions. Review the tutorial:

Talk to Me

Adam's computer shouts, "Meeting at Noon," the sound blows back his hair and scatters his papers.Enlarge
 If your vision is beyond the point where magnification is enough, Narrator in Windows XP can help by converting text and captions to speech. If this problem is persistent, you may need a device called a screen reader. Review the tutorial:

Cursor in a Haystack

Adam is searching through hay on top of a haystack; a mouse pointer is stuck in his backside.Enlarge
 If you find yourself searching for your cursor or mouse pointer more often than you search the Web, use Cursor Options to change the size, appearance, width, speed, color and blink rate of your cursor, or the mouse setting in the Control Panel to modify your pointer, to make them easier to see. Review the tutorial:

Losing Your Grip?

Adam's computer mouse squirts from his right hand, arcs through the air, and lands in his coffee cup.Enlarge
 Use MouseKeys to transfer mouse functions to your numeric keypad, or try a Microsoft mouse that is designed for maximum comfort. Review the tutorial:

All Together Now

Adam twists himself into knots using both hands and feet to press different keys at once. His wife calmly pushes one key for the same result.Enlarge
 StickyKeys allows you to hit one key at a time to execute commands that usually require simultaneous key combinations, such as using SHIFT to type a capital letter, or CTRL+ALT+DEL to display the task manager. Review the tutorial:

All Shook Up

Adam shakes so badly his coffee spills everywhere. His computer says, "Maybe you should try decaffeinated first."Enlarge
 If you have a mild tremor or your stiff fingers are creating typos and other keyboard errors, FilterKeys can give you the equivalent of a steady hand by enabling your computer to ignore brief or repeated keystrokes that you make accidentally. Review the tutorial:

Easy on the Eyes

One panel, black on white, shows Adam with tired eyes; second panel, white on black, shows Adam happy and rested using high contrast.Enlarge
 If the images on your computer screen appear indistinct or don't seem quite as sharp as they once did, choose one of several high-contrast displays to make text easier to read. This is also a great feature if you find that using your portable computer in certain types of light makes text on the screen all but disappear. Review the tutorials: