Re: Tech Writing for Seniors

["etymes -at- lts -dot- com" <etymes -at- lts -dot- com>]

Ah, one of my favorite subjects: seniors.  

Timothy and Janet's stories re: seniors and electronic devices are far 
more typical than many of us techies believe. I've been doing research 
and volunteer projects with and for seniors for about a decade, and have 
come to realize that many of those 70 and older are people who grew up 
and went through their adult lives never having to use a computer.  They 
were the generations where secretaries did the typing and men never 
touched a keyboard, and where women frequently didn't work.  At about 
age 60-65 you find lots more people who've learned to use a computer in 
the course of their work, but those who took early retirement may have 
escaped their work years without having to learn about computers.  But 
across the span of those called "seniors," you find a tremendous number 
who have learned about computers from their grandchildren, or who have 
taken advantage of community, senior center, or Elderhostel classes in 
computers. The primary (but not sole) motivation has been exchanging 
email, especially with their grandchildren.  

In the classes I've taught for seniors, I've learned to create examples 
from something other than business life.  Unless you're doing a budget - 
and how many of them need to? - they don't see much use for 
spreadsheets.  Databases? Think Christmas cards.  Word processing they 
can see reasons for right away.  Many of them have never had a cell 
phone and never will - besides, they might not be able to read or 
accurately use those tiny buttons.  And Janet's observation about the 
interface on CD and tape players is right on.  

These are not dumb people - they just don't have the same frame of 
reference that a lot of us have who use computers daily.  They may also 
have sight, hearing, or coordination impairments.  They may no longer be 
allowed to drive, which means they can't pop out and get something from 
the local electronics store.

In general, instructions for devices to be used for seniors should be 
extra clear, simple steps, preferably with lots of labeled illustrations 
and a minimum of jargon.  Color coding helps, but may not be in your 
budget. Until you've done a couple sets of instructions for this 
audience, it will probably help immensely if you run a draft past an 
older relative or friend to help you catch mistaken assumptions and 
other errors.  It won't hurt for instructions for caregivers to be 
written this way too, since a lot of caregivers are older women or 
people for whom English is not their native language.  (I'm not being 
prejudiced here - the pay for caregivers for the elderly is such that it 
doesn't attract those with more job or language skills.)

And remember - these are the folks about whom the legend of the computer 
CD ROM disk drive being called a cup holder was written.

Elna Tymes
Los Trancos Systems