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Teaching My Grandad to use an iPad! advice!
Missjef
05-10-2011
I'm incredibly jealous as i've just learnt that my Grandad has been given an iPad by my uncle...
And i seem to have been given the task of teaching him how to use it! Bear in mind this is a man who can't even use a mobile phone properly & has never been on a computer in his life!!

I'm not sure what kind of things to set up on it, i know for definite Email will probably be the biggest thing so then he can email relatives...
But what kind of Apps will an 80 year old man use?!
Plus they'll have to be free ones as he won't pay for anything like that.

I have an iPhone & Mac so i'm confident on how to use the Apple system.. So shouldn't be a problem trying to set it up for him.
But just a few questions about the iPad - Can you skype on it? As that might be useful for him to contact relatives in the states.
I know theres a thing called Face time - but the relatives over there don't have Apple computers..

Also i have a Mac book thats nearly 2 years old so can i Facetime from that with his ipad?
And i've seen a thing about iMessage? Is this a new thing, will i be able to send free messages from my iPhone 3g to his iPad?

Many thanks in advance!!
I'm so jealous, i'd love an iPad lol
heskethbang
05-10-2011
iPads are great for old folk! My mum is a total technophobe (she can barely use a mouse properly!) and she found the iPad intuitive and easy to use. The only I had to show her was the pinch move to zoom things in and out, and once she got that she was fine.
Missjef
05-10-2011
Originally Posted by heskethbang:
“iPads are great for old folk! My mum is a total technophobe (she can barely use a mouse properly!) and she found the iPad intuitive and easy to use. The only I had to show her was the pinch move to zoom things in and out, and once she got that she was fine.”

I think once he gets the hang of it , he'll enjoy it!
treefr0g
05-10-2011
iMessage is part of iOS5 which is coming soon. I think it's only compatible with iPhone 3GS onwards.

http://www.apple.com/uk/ios/features.html#imessage
Missjef
05-10-2011
Originally Posted by treefr0g:
“iMessage is part of iOS5 which is coming soon. I think it's only compatible with iPhone 3GS onwards.

http://www.apple.com/uk/ios/features.html#imessage”

I'm so annoyed about this.
I can't afford a newer iPhone. Yet it seems because it's a year & a half old they won't be making compatible updates for it anymore.
Gormond
05-10-2011
Originally Posted by Missjef:
“I'm so annoyed about this.
I can't afford a newer iPhone. Yet it seems because it's a year & a half old they won't be making compatible updates for it anymore.”

If that's the case you must have bought the 3G at the very end of it's lifeline.

You have to remember the 3G is over 3 years old, you can't expect Apple or any company to support a device over 3 years after release.
John259
05-10-2011
It might be good to latch on to an interest that he has and see which way that takes you. For example, would he want to see the latest football scores, perhaps via a Twitter feed from a suitable media organisation? Or look at places he has previously lived, worked or visited, in Google Streetview? Or solving puzzles such as crosswords or Sudoko, or more modern abstract puzzle games such as Trainyard? Or accessing bank accounts? Or using a supermarket online delivery service? Just a few ideas there, but try to get him to suggest something if possible.
Missjef
05-10-2011
Originally Posted by Gormond:
“If that's the case you must have bought the 3G at the very end of it's lifeline.

You have to remember the 3G is over 3 years old, you can't expect Apple or any company to support a device over 3 years after release.”


I just think they should support their devices, i paid over £300 for it, maybe that was foolish of me, but still i didn't expect it to only have a shelf life of a year & a half.
Adam D
05-10-2011
It doesn't have a shelf life of a year and a half though, it still works in the way that you bought it for and maybe with newer features too due to past updates.

If you think that they should support all their devices do you think they should support this?
Missjef
05-10-2011
Originally Posted by Adam D:
“It doesn't have a shelf life of a year and a half though, it still works in the way that you bought it for and maybe with newer features too due to past updates.

If you think that they should support all their devices do you think they should support this? ”

oh i know , it's just me being silly. i was just hoping to get some of the new iOS 5 features..

And yes of course they should still support that above picture
Gormond
05-10-2011
Originally Posted by Missjef:
“oh i know , it's just me being silly. i was just hoping to get some of the new iOS 5 features..

And yes of course they should still support that above picture ”

Look at many Android devices on the Market, support is dropped far sooner than 3 years.
JaCkT794
05-10-2011
to do FaceTime you'd need to have a camera in your mac and you would need to be running the latest operating system that is Lion.
grumpyoldbat
05-10-2011
Originally Posted by JaCkT794:
“to do FaceTime you'd need to have a camera in your mac and you would need to be running the latest operating system that is Lion.”

Face Time for Mac worked on Snow Leopard too. I got it a few months back, before Lion was released.
pumazooma
05-10-2011
Yep I have the facetime app on snow leopard too (10.6.8). Works fine.
Missjef
05-10-2011
Originally Posted by pumazooma:
“Yep I have the facetime app on snow leopard too (10.6.8). Works fine.”

Hopefully it should work then. i have downloaded the App from the app store & i have snow leopard like you.. fingers crossed.

Another techy question about the iPad... the only thing i can think that my grandad would actually maybe enjoy using would be Skype to video call relatives abroad... who don't have Apple computers so therefore wouldn't be able to use Facetime..
However after talking to my mum it would appear that my uncle who is setting up the internet really hates it & refuses to use it all on any of his computers etc... So i don't think he would want my grandad using it on the iPad.. is it really that bad?? Apparently it's really unsafe etc..
I just think it would be easier for him to use the video call function than try typing up emails.
cnbcwatcher
07-10-2011
Originally Posted by Adam D:
“It doesn't have a shelf life of a year and a half though, it still works in the way that you bought it for and maybe with newer features too due to past updates.

If you think that they should support all their devices do you think they should support this? ”

Wow that's an old Mac! There's a video on Youtube of someone taking a 1987 Mac Plus to the Genius Bar: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-tqKj7aNtc
alanwarwic
08-10-2011
A web browser is far easier to find something than using the Yellow Pages.

GF just needs to learn a few screen buttons.
Mike_1101
08-10-2011
Originally Posted by John259:
“It might be good to latch on to an interest that he has and see which way that takes you. For example, would he want to see the latest football scores, perhaps via a Twitter feed from a suitable media organisation? Or look at places he has previously lived, worked or visited, in Google Streetview? Or solving puzzles such as crosswords or Sudoko, or more modern abstract puzzle games such as Trainyard? Or accessing bank accounts? Or using a supermarket online delivery service? Just a few ideas there, but try to get him to suggest something if possible.”

Good advice, I remember trying to teach elderly relatives to use a PC and getting absolutely nowhere. They couldn't see the point. I then changed tack and started showing them uses for PCs based on their interests, that was the breakthrough. They never became geeks but managed to find information on the internet and use email.

Unfortunately it has now come full circle with me and advanced mobile devices such as I-Pads. I can do all I need on a PC and can't justify the expense.
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