Most senior residences (assisted living e.g.)offer typical approach to internet access, which involves seniors learning the computer..often resisted...via a trainer who visits once or twice a week. I'd like to replace that scenario with an approach that makes the hardware "transparent" as a computer(using off-the-shelf components: touch screen, no mouse, etc.), scale a browser to bare minimum and have a very friendly gui.Once the often techno-phobic senior gets past the "techie" aspect of access, I think they'll find the great "equalizer" that is the Internet: shopping and email at first, but gaming and information later as they demand it. Can also make money for the residence/facility through card operated access (like Kinko's or many laundry facilities that operate through car access).
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My thought has been to "upgrade" the phone, specifically the phone that sits on the counter-top (not a cell phone because of ergonomics).
The idea is to have a secure, stable, simple-to-use device that handles all personal communications, i.e. voice telephony, email, instant messaging, web browsing and even faxing. Everyone is comfortable with communicating by phone. So the idea is to build on this comfort zone.
This builds on an idea to embed the Yellow Pages into a phone - the phone would need a "lite" PC embedded into it as well, similar to "roserush"'s hardware.
I read an article a while back in The New York Times titled "Microsoft Is Ready to Supply A Phone in Every Computer". I believe that this approach is the wrong way around. Which consumer electronics device is present in nearly every US home and business, and in more than one room? It's the phone. Not a PC.
Using a phone for access and delivery is interesting. It's certainly ubiquitous and would feel, even with the changes you'd have to make to use see web pages, a lot friendlier than the pc is to folks not used to a computer. To that extent, the tv cable box is another alternative and may need less work than a phone. A larger issue is whether this access to the internet should be in the person's own residence or whether it belongs in a "community" setting of a residence's community center, where it can also be a more pay-as-you-go (vs subscription) service.roserush@verizon.net
I just say your comments today and wanted to let you know that there are solutions being developed. Check out our web site at www.liteappliances.com We have developed a LiteComputer and we're currently building applications and niche solutions for seniors, military and hospitality customers. Your comments are right in line with our product that has an Internet Browser, VoIP Phone, and a media player.