[Sugar-devel] Sugar for the elderly

[Mohan Raj R]

I found this discussion (more than 2 years old) interesting
http://www.olpcnews.com/use_cases/community/one_xo_laptop_grandmother.html

Does anyone know of any progress along these lines ?
(Is this the right list to ask this question? or IAEP?)

You may be interested to know, your idea is already under experimentation in
> an adult retirement complex in the Niagara Peninsula,* Ontario, Canada*. I
> just saw your blog to day, but back in November, I had the same idea, and
> joined the G1G1 donors in order to get an XO laptop for trials. I moved
> recently into an adult community (Heritage Village, Vineland, ON). I'm still
> working and have computed via PCs for 25 years, but many folks here are in
> their 80s without computers or Internet access.


> I have set up a Meraki wifi mesh to share my DSL feed with a disabled
> Senior (stroke victim, age 85) in a wheelchair. My XO Laptop arrived in
> mid-January and we have been conducting trials to see if it could assist him
> in his home. Wifi connectivity works great.


> The small-size keyboard and screen is not really an issue. Perhaps the
> contrast of symbols against backgrounds could be improved. He finds that his
> poor motion control makes it difficult to get the cursor arrow in the right
> spot. Too many drop-down mini-menus and disappearing black frame. I'm
> working on some solutions found on XO forums for eliminating the frame
> appearance/disappearance and using the key control instead. A USB mouse is
> essential.


> So far he has figured out the Internet browsing, photos via Record and
> Googling for information. We're working on the Gmail module.

Even though it is designed for easy learning, the XO Laptop software is not
> intuitive and needs to be taught. The OpenSource community will have to
> improve the software and fix the bugs and missing features. But at least one
> Senior is delighted with his new toy.


> Yesterday he claimed that the mental exercise of learning the XO laptop has
> improved his damaged mind. He can now walk more steps under better balance
> than before. He is struggling to get out of his wheel chair and the XO
> laptop has given him hope and connectivity.


"I would suggest something like the OLPC as an everything. Yes, it's geared
> for children but I guess you're kind of dealing with ... well, in some cases
> degenerated minds.
>
>  I don't say that to be mean but ironically my four year old cousin and my
> 80 year old grandfather have some of the same needs when it comes to high
> tech gadgets."
>

Kids and elderly do have the same needs, though maybe in a different form
> factor. The OLPC XO would need to be SuperSized - made with enlarged screens
> and keyboards for those with failing eyesight and poor hand-eye
> coordination. But would much else need to be altered?


 I'm supporting quite a few elderly users whose only needs are Internet
> browsing and word processing and an inexpensive, simple and easy to use
> computer like XO would be ideal for them. Come to think of it, that's what
> many/most people use their computers for anyway. Add to it a 'super' eBook
> functionality and you have a winner - surely, even an OLPC critic like
> yourself should be able to see this...



Mohan
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