(Disclaimer: I wrote the article Creating Online Environments That Work Well For Older Users but suspect that many Soylentils will find it useful.)
A significant part of the Internet-using population is aged 50 or older — including the people who invented it. Web designers need to understand what older users need and why it's not enough to just say, "I can read it, so what's the problem?"
If you're my age you have no doubt run into more than a few web sites that are just plain useless, either because you can't read the text, or because they were designed using assumptions that those of us over forty years of age don't find useful. Whether it's our need for high contrast text, or our preference for actual words and paragraphs over video, the needs of older users often get ignored.
We are the generation that invented and grew up with personal computers. It's absurd to suggest that we are less capable of using technology. In other words, you can't complain about old people not understanding tech, and then also complain that they've taken over Facebook and Twitter. Besides, we also usually have lots more disposable income, so catering to our needs is good for business.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by krishnoid on Saturday November 23 2019, @07:17AM (6 children)
Speaking of Youtube, this video [youtube.com] and others [youtube.com] describe how VR can be helpful for older olds.
For you younger olds, the American Association of Retired Persons is doing a Black Friday [aarp.org] special, 5 year membership for $50 instead of $60. If nothing else, I bet people who read the forums -- or maybe even articles -- could benefit from our, er, charitable and nuanced perspectives.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Saturday November 23 2019, @07:50AM (2 children)
Interesting. For multiple reasons, it's interesting. To quote the chef, near the end of the video, "I can go wherever I want". That's cool, but, just before that, the neurologist (Indian name? No, I won't even attempt to spell her name) explained that people need to interact with those places. Need to smell, need to feel . . .
In the side bar, Youtube is suggesting I see the video "Visiting the coldest town in the world". If you've never experienced temperatures of fifty degrees below zero, how do you relate to a video? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1noUh2NrLI [youtube.com] I could list dozens of examples, including blistering heat, but there is no evidence of sweat on your body because it evaporates so quickly. The smell or the sound of the coast, in various weather conditions. The best that a video can offer is purely visual, and academic, IMO.
I guess that gets added to the list of "things worth thinking about".
(Score: 2) by krishnoid on Sunday November 24 2019, @04:32AM (1 child)
I think it was one of Stanislaw Lem's stories where he made the point, "A robot can tell you the temperature to any number of decimal places. But only a human can tell you that it's cold."
(Score: 1) by Samantha Wright on Sunday November 24 2019, @10:02PM
I think you'll find that robots have found an immense amount of success by aggregating humans' opinions of whether or not it's cold, and using that data to report a comparable judgement. You may want to let go of that particular chestnut.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 23 2019, @03:00PM (2 children)
AARP? No thanks. I'd rather have my tonsils extracted through my ears than give those insurance company shills a nickel.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 23 2019, @03:41PM (1 child)
How fortunate! I am a part time surgeon, and this week, I am running a special on customized tonsil extractions! For the low-low price of $99.95, you can have your tonsils extracted through your ear canal! And, for only $89.99 more, we can capture the procedure on video, for you to share with friends and family! Act now, call me at 1-800-sucker for this special deal!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 23 2019, @06:05PM
I already have a video of my latest colonoscopy to give as gifts to friends and family.
Thanks muchly for the offer. Maybe next year.