Elderly + Digital Television=Mental Breakdown

[Fairlane]

Well today i just had the joy of setting up a digital HDD set-top box for my 80 year old grandfather.

Being the only person in our immediate family under 32 years of age, when it comes to technology, im the one and only stop unfortunately. So when my grandfather VCR bit the big one. I dreaded the day i might have to replace it and with VCR's being old hat i told him not to replace it with another one, instead I spent 3 months explaining why a set top box was a good idea (well it was a bad idea). As I found out today when i bought a new topfield box.

Anyone out there spent 5 hours like me explaining how digital TV works to an elderly relative?

Because i feel like implaing myself on a rusty stake after todays ordeal. When the Microwave or Airconditioner comes up for replacement im just going to run and hide.

* Anyhow enougth of my ranting im off for a beer.

LOL Imagine doing that, but for the same 20 people. Everyday.

Enter: My job!

Todays example: How do I save a document on this thingamajiggy (USB flash disk)?
Me: Didn't I show you this yesterday?

[Olympus]

Don't explain it, just say "Shut up old man and take my word for gospel"

[T_Terror]

Try doing it for a living!

Its unbelievable the amount of people that find "change" so difficult. My biggest problem is explaining to people what the AV button does.

"Its like changing channels Mr.Johnson".

"But why cant i press the normal button to change channels"?

"AARGH! DIE OLD MAN DIE!"

[MO]

Don't forget ppl ....one day that will be YOU.

[Matty4]

He's 80!!!!.....what did you expect!!??
He didn't even know what TV was until he was probably 30!!
Cut him a bit of slack...jeez.

My parents are in there 60's and I get called at least once a week to fix the time on their VCR :

Matty

[LUXO_8]

my 80 year old grandfather had no issues working his foxtel! god he loved it....

he even showed me how to use it LOL

he's passed on now though

[oneredED]

Try doing it for a living!

Its unbelievable the amount of people that find "change" so difficult. My biggest problem is explaining to people what the AV button does.

"Its like changing channels Mr.Johnson".

"But why cant i press the normal button to change channels"?

"AARGH! DIE OLD MAN DIE!"

Haha, what are you talking about, you usually leave the room when it comes time to explain it if it's an old person and make me do it ya p00f!

How about the one yesterday, where the guy ran outside as we were leaving and said "I hit a button and everything just died, come back!!!"
I walked inside, and he had simply turned off the TV with the remote and didnt know why there was no picture...

[Fairlane]

Oh well ive recovered slightly now from my ordeal, but oh well. But geez its a traumatising experience for both people.

But its a real downer being a generation Y male, everyone over the age of 50 thinks you or some kind of geeky tech wizz with an IT degree (which i certainly am not)


T_Terror's quote

My biggest problem is explaining to people what the AV button does

I reckon that is the most valid point ever, i spend 80% of my time explaining to relatives that you have to press AV to use you dvd/vcr or whatever, which is quite funny when they press the button once to many and end up with a blank AV channel

[pauljh74]

Originally Posted by Matty4

He's 80!!!!.....what did you expect!!??
He didn't even know what TV was until he was probably 30!!
Cut him a bit of slack...jeez.

My parents are in there 60's and I get called at least once a week to fix the time on their VCR :

Matty

Some people say with age comes wisdom - well not in this case
If we can learn it in 5 mins, they can learn how to use these things within 10 years. If not, they're a lost cause. Maybe just set it up for them and if they have any problems, refer them to the acronym RTFM (Read The F****** Manual)

I doubt we'll be struggling to use a 20+ year old technology we've had in our home for 20 years when we're their age.

[max]

Originally Posted by John McMaster

Don't forget ppl ....one day that will be YOU.

Yes I agree. These young'uns will soon find out how short life really is!!!!
While I'm at it how often do you have to fill the set-top box with digits, and can you buy them in bulk?

[Mack 6]

Will Swap you. I have a VHS player that is sitting round doing nothing. Straight swap as I'd like a set top box......although you might have to show me how to use it.

Seriously, get a kid from the neightbourhood to go round there every day for a dollar and he can do all the hard work for your grandfather.

[Keepleft]

Originally Posted by MADNC_8

my 80 year old grandfather had no issues working his foxtel! god he loved it....

he even showed me how to use it LOL

he's passed on now though

Foxtel does that to you:-)

Fairlane wrote: "As I found out today when i bought a new topfield box".

GOOD PVR's these Topfield boxes, I use the Sat versions myself.

[XR Martin]

The pilot light went out on my mother's gas heater, I tried telling her how to relight it over the phone but she wouldnt listen and wanted me to come over and do it. She's only 55 btw. She has trouble working the VCR and TV sometimes too, and is why getting her a STB is out of the question.
I cant figure it out though, she's knows the piano up to a Grade 7 level (which is quite high) but cant figure out a gas heater? The piano is a totally different language, but the heater requires just a button and a knob pressed?

[donno]

My mother is shocking when it comes to explaining how to do anything technical. I was trying to explain to her and my aunt how to plug a sterio audio cable into the back of their computer.

Me: "Plug the blue plug comming from the monitor into the blue labled socket at the back of the tower",
Mum: "what about this red one".
Me: "The red one doesn't matter, don't worry about it".
Mum: "So what do I do with it?"
Me: "Nothing, i said don't worry about it."
Mum: "Okay I've got the blue cable, what do I do with it"
Me: "Plug it into the blue socket"
Mum: "I can't see a blue socket."
Me: "Are you looking at the back of the tower?"
Mum: "no"
Me: BANG head on table, "Put your head around the back of the table so you can see the blue socket at the back of the computer"
Mum:"I can't fit, what do I do"
Brief silence...
Me: "Put uncle Andrew on the phone "
Uncle: "Blue cable in blue socket?"
Me: "Yep"
Sounds of table moving, mum and aunt enquiring to what he's doing
Uncle: "Done, sounds working"
Puts mum back on
Mum: "Now what do I do with this red cable?"
Me: "Here's Dad, night"

I think I'd seriously kill someone if I had to work on an IT help desk.

[pauljh74]

Originally Posted by donno

I think I'd seriously kill someone if I had to work on an IT help desk.

People tell me I should get into IT as I can do this sort of stuff as well. I'd probably only make it to helpdesk, but your reason above sums up exactly why I don't want to make that switch.

[snapnscooter]

Yeah. My mother in law is always on the phone asking for help saying her computer is always "playing up".
I never bother just telling her how to fix it. I have to do screenshot after screenshot after bloody screenshot with instruction after bloody instruction. The kid who lives next door is too frightened to come out of the house...
"I clicked OK and the little box went away" Arrrggghhhh :
My dad bought me a cassette player for xmas many years ago. It came with a few blank tapes. One of the tapes had a complete side A, with my dad arguing with mum about why the thing wasn't working :