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 Post subject: Touch tablets
 Post Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2013 10:00 pm 
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Does anyone have experience with touch tablet devices and a first time computer user who is over 80? Would a tablet BE a good 'first computer' for an older generation person who never used a computer before, doesn't type well, doesn't see all that well, has larger finger tips and has a shaky handwriting.... and would be using a tablet like Surface that appears to be quite touch sensitive? I own an IPad but it doesn't seem to be 'as' touch sensitive but I could be wrong.

Any thoughts are welcome; I'd love to get your opinion!!! Thanks much...katy

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 Post subject: Re: Touch tablets
 Post Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2013 11:24 pm 
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I think that it all depends on what that person intends to use the tablet for. The Surface is a good device, but so are many other tablets.

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 Post subject: Re: Touch tablets
 Post Posted: Sun Dec 15, 2013 1:41 am 
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I'm not sure I'd spend that kind of money on a first computer for someone over 80. You don't know how they would take to it. I'd be tempted to try a
low-cost Android first, to see how they do with it. I do think a tablet is a good place to start though.

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 Post subject: Re: Touch tablets
 Post Posted: Sun Dec 15, 2013 4:08 pm 
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I agree on the low cost Android device. There are plenty in the $200 to 300 range that may fit the bill.

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 Post subject: Re: Touch tablets
 Post Posted: Sun Dec 15, 2013 5:18 pm 
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Good points everyone and so true! What about a tablet's sensitivity? with his shaky hands, he might not be able to type in a login without having to erase and keep starting over. Is there a way to reduce a tablet's sensitivity, like in settings?

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 Post subject: Re: Touch tablets
 Post Posted: Sun Dec 15, 2013 8:07 pm 
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If he will be doing lots of typing, then I don't know that a tablet with no keyboard is the best solution. I haven't ever considered the sensitivity of a touch device as something I needed to adjust, but you make a good point. I'd say you will want to try different models in the store, of possible, to see how they respond and how they feel.

-steve

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 Post subject: Re: Touch tablets
 Post Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2013 11:17 am 
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From my experience a touch device with shaky hands is a recipe for frustration. While my hands don't shake my fat thumbs make lots of mistakes so that I use a stylus. Young folks have no problem using touch devices. They seem to intuitively understand it but the mouse and keyboard while easier to use will still a better interface even though that can also be daunting to a person that has never used it. Just not knowing the keyboard layout or getting to learn how to use a mouse can be daunting for an elderly person.

I'm not saying don't try but at this stage be ready for difficulties with anything you decide. If the person is interested this can really open up a way of being in contact with people and keeping up with what's is going on if the person shows an interest. The potential payoff is terrific but at 80 just be ready to be very understanding and patient. I've done some of this and know that once you start you need to keep involved because stuff will go wrong and frankly remote assistance is going to be needed unless you live across the street.

I agree with Steve that trying the various options at a store like Best Buy or Frys is a good approach if possible. Keep the receipt and make sure you can return anything you buy within a reasonable time period. Be guided by how the person interacts with the hardware.

Good luck.

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 Post subject: Re: Touch tablets
 Post Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2013 1:15 pm 
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Manny is right. I've seen this situation before myself, where a person of that age simply cannot learn something as new as a computer. I'm not certain
that mouse and keyboard is better than touch though. I guess it depends on how shaky the person is, but also depends on the size of the onscreen
keyboard. If the "keys" are large enough, one would simply have to give them a good stab. Voice entry may be best of all. You might want to look for a
tablet or computer that is specifically geared towards accessibility. Windows has decent accessibility options - I'm not sure that Androids do.

Check a senior computer website, or search for computers for seniors. You may find all sorts of devices for just this situation.

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 Post subject: Re: Touch tablets
 Post Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2013 3:21 pm 
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I suppose each older person is different depending on their hands. I remember from trying to show my uncle a tablet, he would touch
a key and hit 2 keys, then have to erase and try again. also, the numeric and alpha screens going back and forth between the 2. I had
hoped W8 might be more customizable but I'll do some research on the internet. Perhaps there IS something just right for email and
internet (like maybe a netbook).

Thanks everyone for your help always!!! katy

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 Post subject: Re: Touch tablets
 Post Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2013 3:41 pm 
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The Polaroid Android tablet I got allows for voice entry of the password.

Actually it has a pretty decent accessibility set.
Magnification gestures
Large text
Auto-rotate screen
Speak passwords
Text to speech output
Touch and hold delay

If any typing is still an issue with the on-screen there is always the option of including a small blue tooth keyboard.

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 Post subject: Re: Touch tablets
 Post Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2013 4:21 pm 
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Another thing on mouse - they are hard for arthritic hands to hold.

I did a Bing search on tablets for seniors and came up with a few sites:
http://www.telikin.com/?utm_source=SEM&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=NOTERM&utm_campaign=SEMSenior
http://www.seniortouchpad.com/
http://www.buyatabletpc.net/ratings-reviews/best-tablet-apps-for-senior-citizens.html

It may be that the appropriate app will make the difference as far as text input. In which case either Apple iPad or Android would have the greatest
variety of apps. You can check googleplay.com for keyboard apps.

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 Post subject: Re: Touch tablets
 Post Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2013 5:28 pm 
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MacDuffie wrote:
Another thing on mouse - they are hard for arthritic hands to hold.

I did a Bing search on tablets for seniors and came up with a few sites:
http://www.telikin.com/?utm_source=SEM&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=NOTERM&utm_campaign=SEMSenior
http://www.seniortouchpad.com/
http://www.buyatabletpc.net/ratings-reviews/best-tablet-apps-for-senior-citizens.html

It may be that the appropriate app will make the difference as far as text input. In which case either Apple iPad or Android would have the greatest
variety of apps. You can check googleplay.com for keyboard apps.


Good point on the mouse and so agree! as for apps, does MS Surface have apps for text input, do you
know?
I've checked these sites and they do look great; not sure if he can return his Surface tablet that
his nephew just bought him.

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 Post subject: Re: Touch tablets
 Post Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2013 6:50 pm 
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jaylach wrote:
The Polaroid Android tablet I got allows for voice entry of the password.

Actually it has a pretty decent accessibility set.
Magnification gestures
Large text
Auto-rotate screen
Speak passwords
Text to speech output
Touch and hold delay

If any typing is still an issue with the on-screen there is always the option of including a small blue tooth keyboard.


That voice entry of password sounds awesome!! And the magnification would be really helpful! I wish his nephew didn't just go ahead and order the Surface but I guess he works where they sell those. Maybe there is are apps for Surface.
I just found a website that might be the solution for font size: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_8-desktop/is-there-a-way-to-increase-the-text-size-in/9630bd5b-58ff-47be-8fc6-688de5c921ca.

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 Post subject: Re: Touch tablets
 Post Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2013 11:23 am 
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Well if he's got a Surface, I would certainly look at the built-in accessibility options before sending it back. I find the keyboard "buttons"
to be plenty large. I'll have to play with the Surface later, but I'm sure it has voice input as well. Is his a Surface 2 or Surface Pro?

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 Post subject: Re: Touch tablets
 Post Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2013 3:43 pm 
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While not taking anything away from the challenge this thread addresses, a little humor can go a long way to lighten the load.

http://www.snotr.com/video/8965/

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 Post subject: Re: Touch tablets
 Post Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2013 8:40 pm 
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I love it!!! and this gent seems a lot younger than the guy I know :).

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 Post subject: Re: Touch tablets
 Post Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2013 8:42 pm 
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Patty, I'll check on whether this is a 2 or a Pro and voice would help a lot. Will know more in a day or so. Thanks!

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 Post subject: Re: Touch tablets
 Post Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2013 12:20 am 
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Yes, Katy, voice recognition is available on the Surface, at least the Surface RT. (I rather doubt the nephew bought
him a Surface Pro.) He can use voice for controlling the computer, or for entering text. It's certainly worth a try
before resorting to returning the device. Also, the onscreen keyboard does do predictive text. You can also write with your finger.

I'm not sure how well these work. They are likely slow, but may make using the device possible. Someone
would have to work with him to set it up properly.

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 Post subject: Re: Touch tablets
 Post Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2013 1:08 am 
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I can't say how things would be on a Surface but on my little $75.00 Android the predictive text is quite quick and always allows the option to add a typed word to its dictionary. I would imagine that a Surface would probably match and surpass the function ability. LOL! For the price difference it danged well better surpass. ;)

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 Post subject: Re: Touch tablets
 Post Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2013 6:42 am 
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If the predictive text on a Surface is anything like a Windows phone it will be brilliant.

I love how on my Lumia 520 when typing text as soon as you put a letter in you have a row of words along the top of the keyboard and if the word you want is there you just tap that and as you carry on inputting text the words along the top will show words that suggest a word you would put after the one just written.

I love that on my phone it saves so much time when you can just keep tapping a word to carry on writing your message without having to keep tapping one letter at a time.

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 Post subject: Re: Touch tablets
 Post Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2013 8:20 pm 
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The tablet is actually a Dell Latitude 10 so isn't a Surface. His nephew works at a place where they sell these. So I think this nephew needs to program this at Christmas when he comes. I checked in Ease of Access and under Narrator, it stated this model does
not have this capability. I searched online to find out more about it
http://reviews.cnet.com/tablets/dell-latitude-10-64gb/4505-3126_7-35609231.html
but didn't find much. With the changes that need to be made to make this device less sensitive for this gentleman to use, his
nephew is the one who needs to do it, since he knows what he ordered. There was nothing inside the box listing anything about it,
other than Dell, Latitude 10 and Windows 8. I believe it's the basic version since this gentleman would only use email and web internet.
It does have Predictive text and that is nice.
Thanks all for your help and advice!!!! katy

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 Post subject: Re: Touch tablets
 Post Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2013 8:38 pm 
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You MIGHT find this link handy as to getting some info on the tablet, it is to the manual.
http://www.dell.com/support/Manuals/us/en/19/Product/latitude-10-tablet

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 Post subject: Re: Touch tablets
 Post Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 12:50 am 
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You're welcome, Katy :)

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