Microsoft Comes Up With a PC for "Senior Citizens"

[engine]

Microsoft UK is developing a "senior PC", which will have a simple interface and be aimed at older users.

The machine will come software that allows users to manage prescriptions as well as simplified tools for everyday use, such as managing photos.

The machine, which it is developing in partnership with charities Age Concern and Help the Aged, is one of several projects the firm is working on.

Microsoft Comes Up With a PC for "Senior Citizens" [news.bbc.co.uk]

[Staffa]

"We have to get away form the idea that everyone is going to get a PC. It is simply not easy enough to use or cheap enough for everyone."

He seems to forget that part of the population that simply doesn't want one.

An what does he consider "older users", people of 80+ or 90+ (no offence meant if anyone here is of that age ;0) )
I was a computer geek when everything still ran on DOS and well before there was even talk of Win. Now that I'm retired does he consider me "suitable" for a Senior PC ?

[weeks]

There is a real market for this kind of thing. Still, I worry about putting computers in some of these people's hands...

If you're like me and sometimes involved in the "real world" where people do not depend on computers, but do use them, you know that the "digital divide" is no joke.

I belong to a small church which, typically, skews to an older crowd. But, younger and old alike at this church have trouble with the basics of email.

Of course, there are also those people who send out "important, helpful warnings" about things like getting cancer from your cellphone.

One common myth is that you have to worry over upper and lower case in an email address. People who have no idea how to attach a document are annoying, but not as annoying as those who attach 27 MB files of their cats in the snow.

[thecoalman]

I'd think there's be bigger market for such a machine other than senior citizens. They could make them dirt cheap too, other than video and image there really isn't alot of things many people need that require any power.

Browser, email and a word processor...I have old p233 up int the attic and it would be perfect for someone like that. It's not going to play video very good nor will it fly through large images but if it had a little more ram the images wouldn't be a problem.