Newcastle Library – Adult and Culture Services
Libraries, Information and Lifelong Learning

In addition to 1-2-1 taster sessions and classes on basic Internet Skills and e-mail we also offer sessions on music downloading, online shopping, social networking and will be doing a session on online dating at the end of July and we are planning sessions on eBay, digital photography and file management. We plan new sessions based on public demand and feedback from taster classes – for example we found that by doing the music download sessions that the area that most customers had issues with was basic file management, which is something that most of us take for granted but is essential to both downloading music and moving images from a camera to a pc.

The 1-2-1 sessions are done using handouts that the customer can keep. The taster classes follow the same format using the handout as the basis of a Power Point presentation. We take a show and try approach but this sometimes depends on the skill level of the group.

Taster sessions are aimed at all ages. Although we do not currently gather information on the ages of those taking part a very high proportion are aged over 50. Library customers like the tasters because often they have a specific issue that they want help with and don’t always want to sit through a number of classes on a prescribed course. Our staff are flexible enough to be able to tailor sessions to individual needs and often a taster is a springboard to finding an appropriate course.

From the taster classes we recruited a group of Silver Surfers who meet in the City Library on the first Thursday of the month. After consulting with the group we are working on a monthly programme where we look at a different topic each month. The group wanted to start with basic keyboard skills and we looked at this using My Guides and in the next few months we will be looking at e-mail and file management. So far the Silver Surfers seem to enjoying being in a group setting and are supporting each other and forming friendships as well as engaging with the digital world.

I’ve found the Digital Unite website useful to refer to and really appreciated the link to the ILC-UK report by Simon Roberts on The Fictions, Facts of Older People and Technology as it was thought provoking.

If you would like to share you example of how you or your organisation is helping older people get to grips with digital music get in touch by emailing kate.norman@digitalunite.net

To register for this year’s event, go to http://silversurfers.digitalunite.com/how-to-register

To contact Kate (Media Officer)
email kate.norman@digitalunite.net or phone 0798 2063062
twitter @sarahkatenorman

To contact Rick (Event Manager)
email rick.crust@digitalunite.net or phone 0800 077 6144

Follow us on Twitter

Sign up to the Event on Facebook

Last year, we clocked up 1055 events on and around Silver Surfers Day, and we estimate we reached more than 8 million people. With your help, we can reach and surpass these numbers in 2010.

Read about SSD09 [pdf]

View the video Silver Surfer Day 2009 [YouTube, 2:40 mins]

“There’s lots of pleasure, work and friendship transmitted through this machine. Who would hesitate?” Joan Bakewell

I loved the video to promote last year’s that included endorsements from Angela Rippon OBE, Martyn Lewis, Patricia Routledge CBE and Joan Bakewell. I found it inspiring and lovely to hear about how those individuals use technology in their everyday lives – and how they feel it has helped them and how they would like to encourage others.

But many of you will know the reality of the barriers that lie between an older person who has never used a computer and the satisfaction that they can enjoy. It is a journey – and the journey has to start somewhere. Silver Surfers Day is a call to action for older people, their families, friends and supporters.

It shows them:

• what they can do;
• where they can go; and
• that there are great people, groups and companies – like you – to support them as they reap the benefits.

You are already doing this work, and we know of some wonderful places for older people and some heartwarming success stories. We also know how hard it is for these places to be sustainable, and we want to help you make the job of running a Silver Surfers Day this year as easy and as fun as possible.

Rick Crust, our Event Manager,  has the perfect experience to help community centres, UK Online centres, libraries, schools and individuals in business and community venues around the country to open your doors and welcome potential Silver Surfers to peer in.

Will you be there with a smile on you face to help them make a start with a mouse and keyboard? We have some themes for this year to entice newbies and banish their fear of new technology. We believe they will be astonished by just what they can do if they take up a course or class to continue their learning – and use the libraries and facilities close to them to keep going.

I will take you through these themes and how you will access them via the On the Day Portal (which you’ll soon be able to start having a play with). So get registered and ask as many questions you would like about this year. Rick and I will be on hand to answer your questions so if you want to call, email, tweet or comment then take your pick and ask away.

We’re a friendly bunch, and between Rick  and me and the rest of the Digital Unite team we have a wealth of experience. If you would like to take part this year, but don’t know how – just call us and we will try to help you break down any barriers.

This year we have the BBC on board this year as a media partner. So don’t worry about putting on an event and having no-one turn up! We will do all we can to help you promote your local event and cover all regions of the UK to make this year bigger and better than ever!

Would you like to help us to develop a new website specially for Silver Surfers’ Day?  The site developers would like to recruit a group of older people who are already online but who are NOT particularly experienced or knowledgable.  You will test the website as it is built, and give the developers your opinions, comments, suggestions, complaints, etc.

The website will be all about social networking, security and privacy issues etc so you you should learn quite a lot about online security while you’re doing it.

If you think you might like to join this group, please send an email to me at rc@seniors.org.uk

alex

As the Digital Unite tutor in the region Anne Donnelly was invited along to see a demo of the system and borrow a copy to trial for a week or so.

Setting up alex

When you buy any new toy – computer, phone, breadmaker, etc. – you’re naturally excited and keen to get started. How may times have you been disappointed when you find you need to buy extra batteries, don’t know how to fit the pieces together or can’t find the on switch?

The team at Broadband Computer Co (BCC) have clearly put a lot of thought into your first experience with alex. Each system comes with a slim instruction manual which includes clear instructions explaining how to plug in the power and mouse, how to plug in the router and how to switch on the laptop. All of the instructions are illustrated with photographs of actual equipment.

Once the system has booted up you’re instructed to “follow the on-screen instructions”. However, these are minimal – none of the choosing time zones and locations that Microsoft asks you to do. Finally you’re asked to plug in your “latchkey” – again a photograph shows you how – and type in a four-digit activation number and choose a password. And that’s it – you’re done!

There are bound to be a few people who are too cautious or ham-fisted to set-up alex but with care to follow the instructions even the most novice computer user should be able to manage.

What’s the latchkey about?

The latchkey is a USB memory stick which contains the user’s credentials for alex. The system won’t work unless the latchkey is plugged in and the correct password entered.

The latchkey holds the user’s personal configuration for alex and means that the same laptop can be shared by a number of people all with their own individual latchkey. The latchkey can also be used with another alex laptop meaning that you can use a computer when away from home.

Finally, the latchkey can also be used as a simple memory stick to transfer files between computers.

First impressions

BCC have completely redesigned the user interface. You still need to use a keyboard and mouse, of course, but there’s no double-clicking on icons or navigating a “start” menu. Buttons providing access to the main functions of alex remain on the screen at all times so it’s always obvious how to access the web or check your e-mails.

They’ve also tried hard to replace jargon and cryptic icons with plain English text. So the button to open the web browser is simply labelled “web”. Many buttons also have “tool tips” explaining their function in proper sentences.

Using alex

On signing in to alex you’re presented with your “home” screen – much like Windows this allows you to choose a background picture. “Home” has three small applications available in tabs at the bottom of the screen – “My news”, “My calendar”, “Add a note”. “My news is probably the most useful of these. It allows access to a number of pre-configured news feeds or lets you add your own as you discover them when surfing the web.

“Home” is not terribly exciting and it’s likely that users will quickly head for the buttons on the right hand side of the screen. Here you can access the following functions:
Web

• E-mail
• Office – include word processing and a basic spreadsheet
• Photo – organising and editing photos
• People – managing contacts
• Play – playing music and movies

Whichever you choose will open up over most of the screen – leaving only the buttons to access the other functions visible. There are no floating windows to drag around here and no notion of minimising and maximising.
’ve been using alex for a few days and it certainly seems to have the functionality needed by most novice users. I’ve browsed many of the most popular websites including YouTube, the BBC iPlayer and eBay with no problems. The e-mail application has all the features you’d expect while hiding the more confusing options such as cc unless you ask to see them.

Within the Office area is a word-processing tool compatible with Microsoft Office and an Excel-like spreadsheet. Again the more complicated options are hidden unless you ask to see them. There are a number of templates available to help you quickly create a document.
BCC have adopted a novel approach to saving files. When you create a new document you’re asked to name it. After that everything is stored automatically – you never need to remember to save anything – probably a much more intuitive method for novice users.

The photo-editing, contact management and play applications provide all the basic functions that you’d expect.

A rather neat feature is that whatever you’re doing – browsing a website, writing a document, viewing a photo – you can click on the “Send” button which is always on the screen. This will add the site URL, document or image to a new e-mail message ready to send to a friend or colleague.

The human touch

As well as aiming for a friendly, intuitive user interface BCC have provided some information for beginners in the instruction manual supplied. As well as details of the alex functions there are guides to using the mouse and keyboard – both hurdles to novice users.

They also hope to set-up a community of alex users who can support and encourage each other. And rather than the anonymous “welcome to e-mail” message you receive when you sign up to most e-mail accounts they plan to ask a friend or family member to send a new user a message to give them a friendly welcome.

What do you get?

The alex package consists of a laptop and the alex software. alex is a subscription-based service. The monthly fee of approximately £10 pays for support from a dedicated team and regular updates to the software. New features will be added automatically when they are available.

If you don’t already have a broadband connection you can purchase this as part of the package.

It’s not for you, if…

alex provides a limited set of functions – functions selected through substantial research and testing. If you’re likely to want more functions than that then you’ll be frustrated by alex as you can’t install additional software.

So if you’re a keen photographer moving to digital images and wanting to use a package such as Photoshop, alex isn’t for you. And if you want to use specialist software for card-making or scrap-booking, alex won’t be good enough.

alex may not be for you if you’ve poor vision. The web browser application does provide a simple way to zoom the page in and out, but there’s no mechanism to change the screen resolution in general.

alex is not for you if you want to share a computer with a non-alex user. At present alex must run on a dedicated laptop. However, there are plans for a version that will run from a CD or can be set-up on a dual boot machine.

And my personal preference would be for a system that allowed more keyboard use rather than relying so much on the mouse.

Would I recommend it?

I didn’t expect to like alex. I was expecting a “noddy” system with very limited functionality. I was pleasantly surprised.

I liked how easy it was to set-up and I liked the user interface. I like the fact that BCC seem to have done substantial user testing of the product and listened to those users. I like the attempts to use simple, jargon-free language.

alex does have limited functionality. That’s because it’s intended for users who require only that functionality. And I think the functions will be sufficient for most home users – not just beginners.

If I were asked about a computer for a beginner who wanted to surf the Net, send and receive e-mails and look at their digital holiday snaps I’d certainly suggest they consider alex as one of the options. Although I’m not convinced of the benefits of the ongoing monthly subscription.

You can find out more about alex here

I just wonder if you are making any further use of them, in your teaching materials and programmes.  (Forgive me for not reading through all the stuff on the website to find out.)

I also think they should be used in schools,  in lessons about living in the real world after school.  But that’s not your concern – except perhaps where schools are helping to teach the senior generation.

Their only drawback, perhaps, for the older person who is hard of hearing, is the rather fast delivery in an American Accent!  But I’m coping so far.

Judith Taylor

‘Nobody realised what  had been started when Surrey Lifelong Learning Partnership (SLLP) and the Workers’ Education Authority (WEA) heard about the opportunity afforded by Silver Surfers’ Day, 2009 (SSD09).  We learned that the ‘Day’ is organised annually by Digital Unite (DU) and resourced online with some neat and helpful resources that support both professional tutors and volunteers in organising, engaging and guiding older people on to the Internet. For most of these older people the Internet is a place they’ve never visited before.

‘DU offered phone support and some on-the-ground support from head office in the form of a talk. The first result was that the SLLP and the WEA organised a Silver Surfer event at the Longmead centre, Epsom on May 15^th 2009.

‘The turn-out and enthusiasm of the Longmead invitees led to a 5 week course. To cater for increasing numbers, it was decided to have a morning and afternoon session and even these had 13 learners in each one, which proved quite a challenge to the tutor and volunteer.

‘Both courses were successful and Jerry Lewis, the centre manager, decided to advertise further. The result is that the WEA are now running three courses and Nescot have taken on one more. Forty or more learners go through the “computer room” on a Thursday and Friday,  with more learners on the waiting list.

‘The interest shown prompted SLLP to help constitute the InterGenEpsom group which bid for Councillors’ Allocation Funding from Cllr Jan Mason and Cllr Colin Taylor. Their £2,000 contribution means that InterGenEpsom can buy lap-tops which will be available to other community groups – hence the name: which indicates all generations of learners in the Court & Ruxley Wards. The lap-tops  will also be available at Cox Lane community centre and The Wells centre.

‘The SLLP  lap-tops in use at Longmead, will be needed in places where the U3A and Age Concern are gently coaxing their members to realise what the computer and internet can offer those who might otherwise feel isolated or be left behind in Digital Britain.

‘The Box Hill Village Hall Project continues to flourish with the WEA coming in one afternoon a week  to provide for those who have been on a waiting list for some time.

‘At Age Concern, Dorking, the Committee have now passed a motion which allows Joyce Riley-Smith to go ahead and realise her dream of Silver Surfer sessions at the Christian centre there.

‘In Bookham, Joan Gillingham and in Fetcham, Dr.Tony Cox,  are hoping to use the lap-tops at the Old Barn Hall, Bookham or to  access the state of the art  IT suites at St. Andrews School, Leatherhead, Leatherhead Trinity School and Children’s centre, Woodville Site and also West Hill Special Needs school.

‘With greater access to the internet via computer courses in community settings, SLLP hopes to tackle the social exclusion that is caused by the Digital Divide.’

]]> http://dnc.digitalunite.com/2009/10/02/silver-surfers-day-09-strikes-gold-in-surrey/feed/ 0 http://dnc.digitalunite.com/2009/09/15/choosing-a-new-school-take-a-visual-tour/ http://dnc.digitalunite.com/2009/09/15/choosing-a-new-school-take-a-visual-tour/#comments Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:06:15 +0000 gilladams http://dnc.digitalunite.com/?p=465 Gill, blog editor here:  We hear so much about what is bad about schools admissions and exams, so it was rather exciting to hear news of a service, being trialled in Bristol and elsewhere, whereby you can go on a video tour of a school and then apply to it online! For parents, this could make selection and application very much easier. (Those who aren’t online once again miss out!)  Here is the pilot video from Brislington, Bristol. It’s all part of a Government desire to make sure parents get online – and we’d like to see the same motivation for grandparents, too!

You may remember that one of our cunning plans during Silver Surfers’ Day was to run a Joke Roll – an opportunity for people to tell jokes online, and then to ask the gentlemen from Silver Comedy  to pick a winner. Well, they picked three winners !

Overall winner, Wendy White’s joke was sweet and simple and about a Grandad. It won her a £25 Amazon voucher. Contributors of the
Computer Joke and the Nelson Joke won £15 and £10 vouchers, respectively. Click here to view all three on YouTube.

Chris and George of Silver Comedy were the judges; thanks to them, and for their superb idea about Comedy Courses for Older People. Here’s a note from them:

‘If you and friends want to have a real laugh, learn stuff about comedy and develop in confidence and creativity contact Silver Comedy and we’ll see what we can offer. Here is our website: http://www.silvercomedy.co.uk/work.html .

‘Silver Comedy creates a variety of opportunities for older people to become actively involved in comedy. We work with groups of people who want to have fun together while developing their skills in comedy. This can include many things such as stand up, comedy writing, clowning and improvisation. As well as having some fun, you can meet other people and be creative. You can be either a complete beginner or you may want to develop or re-awaken your own skills in comedy. We can create a course for you, your friends and other like minded people that suits you.

‘And, if you live in a group setting, for example in supported housing, your organisation may be interested in helping residents to obtain specialist training in comedy performance or writing. You can also ask them to contact us on your behalf. We are more than happy to come to your home and offer training sessions in your own supported housing scheme.

‘You can contact either of us to get more information as follows:
For general details about Silver Comedy and how we can help people living in supported housing contact: George Baddeley georgebaddeley@tiscali.co.uk 07525154616
For details about the type of training and specific courses contact: Chris Head chris.head@yahoo.co.uk 07814 962687.’