Forum Topic

Rory Cellan-Jones talks on Technology for All

AgeUK Brentford 10.30-11.30 Tue 3 December (see front page)

Philippa Bond ● 4266d12 Comments

http://www.brentfordtw8.com/default.asp?section=info&page=girlschool008.htmfrom the front page - working with Age UK

Philippa Bond ● 4208d

This is the time of year when you can find out whether any new technology would help someone to keep in touch with you and you with them.Would a big button phone help? Or a big button zapper for the TV?  There is one so big that you can feel your finger dropping off one button and moving on to the next. Would creating a list of names and telephone numbers of people most often phoned on a computer where you can increase the size of type so easily help? The names and numbers list above works well when laminated and left by each phone. An amplifier for the phone?Being taught to text?Have you noticed that the No 5 on a telephone usually has a bump on it so that you can find your way around the numbers with your eyes closed?Have you noticed that the numbers on the TV zapper tend to be in the same place as those on a landline telephone or a mobile? How would you cope if you suddenly couldn't see or hear?  It is better to think a bit about it and be prepared.It needs an amount of discussion and observation of needs to choose the right gadget.

Philippa Bond ● 4245d

www.abilitynet.org.uk/‎A UK based charity helping disabled adults and children use computers and the internet by adapting and adjusting their technology...

Philippa Bond ● 4249d

It was Viv Griffiths and why didn't I put Parkinson's in the search - durr?!

Philippa Bond ● 4255d

Thanks Guy and Sarah.  I'm investigating different stuff.  Sarah I think someone on CW4 was asking for recommendations on something like that - perhaps Joy Griffiths.  I wish the forums were easier to search.

Philippa Bond ● 4255d

My niece I believe was using this to talk to her boyfriend in another part of the country while she was living with us. It has been mentioned to me that it would be a good way of keeping in touch with an elderly relative who should be able to put something in front of the camera and say "What is this"?

Philippa Bond ● 4255d

This worked very well for a friend with parkinsonshttp://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B007AD04BU/ref=oh_details_o07_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1HCL 591-5240 Visually Impaired Person Keyboard - also good for shakey fingers.

Sarah Felstead ● 4262d

There is a lot of work on making technology accessible to people with disabilities.Some ideas here http://www.jisctechdis.ac.uk/tbx/techdis-voices

Guy Lambert ● 4262d

It's easy to set up,just follow the on screen prompts,its really clever software which is hard to confuse.   You may have to set your soundcard mixer up which is straight forward enough.   If you want to have a video conference you have to pay a small(ish) fee,it's free if just one end is sending video.http://www.skype.com/en/        Will help you.

Tony Wood ● 4262d

There were several people at the meeting who admitted to using Skype to keep in touch with their families across the world and RCJ actually said that he and his wife were using it to talk to their son in another part of London.This seems to be technology that is very useful for the less mobile and the busy to keep in touch.  Is it difficult to use/set up?

Philippa Bond ● 4263d

Yes, technology has changed radically.  There were people at this talk who had worked on huge computers - the ones you have to walk around.  We were taken on a tour through all the major changes that have taken place.Well done Wendy Garrison for getting Rory Cellan-Jones to come and show us that it is no good just closing our eyes to it - we can't escape it - we do just have to bite the bullet and try to stay aware of what is going on. We will need to embrace some of it to stay in touch with family and friends as well as to access important information including Council and Government services.  It takes a lot of time to phone around a group of people and much less time to put info up on a website for those individuals to access for themselves (and it is cheaper). Age UK have lots of new activities on offer including IT skills help - both as a group and 1:1.Do you know someone who would benefit from this?Or any of their other activities?http://www.ageuk.org.uk/hounslow/contact-us/

Philippa Bond ● 4265d

Technology has moved and is moving fast into a world of touch screens.What if you can't see?

Philippa Bond ● 4266d