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Why we need silver surfers

Why we need silver surfers. Bill Thompson www.andfinally.com. Why me?. Technology critic Writer, pundit, journalist Tame geek Professional programmer Sysadmin, web developer Policy wonk ippr, Demos, Work Foundation. Silver Surfers. Award winners deserve praise Shown what is possible

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Why we need silver surfers

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  1. Why we need silver surfers Bill Thompson www.andfinally.com

  2. Why me? • Technology critic • Writer, pundit, journalist • Tame geek • Professional programmer • Sysadmin, web developer • Policy wonk • ippr, Demos, Work Foundation

  3. Silver Surfers • Award winners deserve praise • Shown what is possible • Inspired others • Made the world a better place • All who wrestle with technology deserve praise too! • Good tools hide complexity • Good tools make learning possible • We do not have good tools

  4. How many silver surfers? • How many would you like? • Twenty million over 50s in UK • An aging population • Net use growing in UK and elsewhere • From 2001/2 to 2003/4 • Use by adults 45-54 up 13 points to 63% • Use by adults 65+ up by 6 points to 15% • A constant supply of novices

  5. UK Net Use

  6. More to come • A billion net users around the world • Global network society • The next 5 billion • Not yet time to give up helping the silver surfers

  7. Making it work • Today’s key technologies are unusable • We manage to extract some value from them • They get in the way of users • The learning curve is a vertical slope • Older users complain • Too many of us simply suffer silently • Perhaps they have the right idea • We cannot put up with this any more

  8. BSOD

  9. We need accessible ICT • There are too few young people • “Potential Support Ratio” for over 65s • 1950 it was 12:1 • 2000 it was 9:1 • 2050 it will be 4:1 • Too few to go around • Even if they all wanted to help! • We will have to do it for ourselves • Technology can support us

  10. Assistive technologies • Tools can make life easier • Practical tasks • Communication and social networks • Memory and forgetting • Tools can make independence possible • Reminders and monitors • Contact and organisation • Mobility and motor skills

  11. Some examples • Microsoft Research’s Sensecam • Photos of your day • Used in rehabilitation after brain trauma • Tagged pill boxes • Remind us when to take them • Blogs and photo sharing • Keeping people in touch • Family photos • Sharing your world

  12. Flickr

  13. Time for change • We must demand more • Ease of use • Reliability • Simple interfaces for simple tasks • Security • We must allow for learning • More complex modes for advanced users

  14. Not just software • Assistive interfaces • Alternatives to the keyboard • Tremor-cancelling trackballs • Voice command • Turn technology to serve our real needs

  15. From silver to gold • Today’s winners have made a difference • Show that ICT is for everyone • Helped others • Their experiences can inspire change • We need tools that are easier to use • We must not let technology be a barrier • Time for tools that support our aspirations • Not ones that get in the way

  16. Thank you

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