Too often, the image of older people and technology comes with seniors using bowling with the Wii, fumbling with web cams or being ripped off by Facebook scams. A new book about learning the iPad appears to feed into that misconception: use small words and speak very, very slowly.
“While the iPad is easy to use, it’s not always immediately obvious how to operate it, so my book helps readers to learn the gestures and the secrets of the built-in apps, so they can get the best from their device,” says Sean McManus, author of “iPad for the Older and Wiser.”
McManus, who has written “Microsoft Office for the Older and Wiser” and “Social Networking for the Older and Wiser” includes plenty of pictures and what is described as a “Brain Training” quiz in each chapter. Can anyone say “condescending”?
How does this differ from any other ‘For Idiots’ book? Doesn’t every iPad owner want to learn the “secrets” of the iPad? The only difference, younger users might be more quick to turn to the internet to search for answers, while older tablet owners find a book a better reference.
I’m not sure who is buying these tech books aimed at older people, except for the children or grandchildren thinking mom or grandma need a simple guide. I always tell my kids that it was my generation that invented the computer. Now if they’d just come up with a book that explained rap music.
Ed Sutherland is a veteran technology journalist who first heard of Apple when they grew on trees, Yahoo was run out of a Stanford dorm and Google was an unknown upstart. Since then, Sutherland has covered the whole technology landscape, concentrating on tracking the trends and figuring out the finances of large (and small) technology companies.
29 responses to “‘Older and Wiser’ iPad Book Aimed at Seniors — But Why?”
Younger people can use an iPad without any help, because they are accustomed to these devices, and older people are afraid of using it, and doesn’t even imagine most of the gestures or doesn’t recognize soome icons… How can you imagine that the ‘iPod’ icon gives you your music ? Or that you can tap the screen when reading a book to make the toolbar appears ? When younger people aren’t there to help them, book can help older people figure out how to use an iPad :-)
You are so right! Â I’m going to be 60 this year and I learned to use my iPad (and my iPhone and my iMac) ALL BY MYSELF. Â Really. Â Also worked in a computer-heavy field for many years before retirement. Â I was using a mouse when you whippersnappers were in diapers. Â :-)
I think it depends on age (what age is old – my granddad is in his eighties) and also previous exposure to computers (ie: confidence). Â I think the latter is more of an issue rather than age. If you can create a thing, be it a book or other media that helps people get the most out of new technology then fair play to them. What one person finds ‘Condescending’ may be the kind of right help and support for another. Of course, nothing beats just sitting down with a person (young or old) and just showing them and having a bit of fun learning together.
I am 63 and will be 64 in a couple of months. While I tend to be an early adopted and adapter, many of my contemporaries are not. This not due, IMHO, to lack of ability but rather the residual of a rote learning system that was more widely used in the 1950’s, ’60’s. Thus, based on different learning styles, such instructional books may be very valuable to some. Â
For the record Ed, hip-hop has been around about as long as the PC (30 or so years).
I’ve noticed many of the older generations (my 82 year old parents and to some extend my 59 year old brother) never think to use Google to find an answer. They would never consider going to the web to find iPad tutorials (even though Apple has excellent ones just a Google search away).  That generation seems to think the answer is to pick up the phone and call someone (or to find a book).  Even though they use computers their understanding of the desktop/file folder paradigm is very rudimentary: click this then that then this happens. If you move icons around or change the way something looks even the slightest but they can’t deal.
It’s like learning a language, easier to do when you are younger. If you have never used a computer, jargon, acronyms, abbreviations, initialisms and things of that ilk will make the learning curve rather shallow (NOT steep. A steep learning curve is a good thing. Visualize it.).
I’m sixty and bought an iPad the first week it was available. I showed it to my 85 year-old father (at that time) and he like it so much he got one. I’m in the software business, so I might have an advantage, but I know lots of 40 somethings who don’t even bother with an ATM let alone a computer. My father uses it everyday.Â
This post is a well-written, objective and much needed jab at condescending techies who think anyone older than they are is retarded. Too bad you ruined it with an equally condescending rap music slam.
Is it available in iBooks?
I bought an iPad2 for my FIL, who’s 85. He has a great time with it, is pretty competent on it and carries it with him wherever he goes. We went to the class together at the Apple Store. I am his 24/7 “tech support” for whatever issues come up. Â
I’m buying my mom an iPad for Christmas because she wants to be able to email me, read about Brad Pitt online, and play games like Scrabble. She’s 70 years old and doesn’t even understand what my iPod is really capable of, let alone my iMac, so I told her she needs an iPad because it has a big enough screen for her to comfortably use it without her having to learn complicated computer stuff. She looked excited but terrified. When I told her “don’t worry, I’ll get you a book to go with it” that calmed her and now she can’t wait until Christmas so I’m just going to give it to her early as a surprise. I think these books are a good idea for people like my mom (who gets frustrated going in and out of her voicemail), so anything she can add to her arsenal of knowledge is worth it.Â
My mid-70s mother-in-law never touched a computer in her life, except to play solitaire on a cast-off laptop with no internet connection. Six months ago we gave her a hand-me-down iPad 1, and it has been her constant companion since day one.
Hi there. I’m the author of the book. Thanks for writing about it.
I stand by my comment that it isn’t always immediately obvious how to use the iPad. Features like holding down the .com key to get .co.uk or creating folders are things you’re highly unlikely to discover by accident. Commenter Mieke Morr gives another couple of examples of features that are hard to work out. They’re highly memorable once someone’s shown you, but it’s far from obvious how to do things like this. This is one of the ways that having a good book can help people to use their iPad effectively. This, of course, applies to any age group.
As I’m sure you know, the computer book industry has grown to the stage where it’s possible to have niche titles appealing to lots of different audiences. The Older and Wiser series is tailored specifically for the interests of the over 50s and is published in partnership with the University of the Third Age, a self learning organisation for the over 50s with 800 groups across the UK. The book has been reviewed by the U3A and their feedback has been incorporated in it. From the emails I get and my discussions with members of the U3A, I know that the series gets fantastic feedback and support from its target audience.
I mentioned the full colour screenshots and the quiz because they’re indicative of the the book’s high production values and its lighthearted style. The quiz and pictures are not there because I’m writing for the over 50s: they’re there because they can help anyone to learn, and it just happens that this book is for the over 50s. A book I wrote about web design for all age groups is also packed with illustrations, but nobody would call that condescending.
In answer to wayneluke11, yes the book is available on iBooks and Kindle as well as in print.
For those commenters who said they’d find such a book helpful, you can find out more information about this one at my website – http://www.sean.co.uk. If anyone has any questions about the book, I’ll be happy to take them.
No, you’re thinking of a graph of knowledge vs time. When people talk about steep learning curve, they are using a metaphor of a mountain to climb. There is no math, it’s literature. Your brain is crystalized into math thinking, due to all that knowledge that you put into your brain. Now that knowledge owns you.
On a whim I downloaded a sample of the book off iBooks. I have to agree with Ed, this book is insulting.
Better to get the free book from Apple or MacWorld etc than this one.