[ubuntu-uk] LUGs

[Robin Menneer]

On 4/1/07, TheVeech <theveech at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> On Sun, 2007-04-01 at 10:05 +0100, Robin Menneer wrote:
> >
> >         I personally am happy, for the moment, to stand on the side
> >         lines of the exotic discussions that go on because they are
> >         sampling what may happen to me in the future (providing my
> >         thickie problems are solved for me when I ask for help).
>
> This is a great way of increasing your knowledge and for getting an idea
> for how to contribute to the collective wisdom.
>
>
> >         But to someone coming fresh to the computer world, who are
> >         potentially the vast majority, the exotic discussions could be
> >         very discouraging.  Possibly the dedicated telephone support
> >         would be taken up more enthusiastically by the average poor
> >         communicator.  After all we all have to start by asking if the
> >         power is switched on at the wall.
>
> Online, the support's nearly always out there, but it's getting all
> sorts of new people knowing it's there, how to find it, and make the
> most of it, that might need looking in to.


The first problem is identifying the Senior's wishes and requirements (they
are not necessarily the same) and the process of their change with their
progress.  As I've said before, there are at least 2 different groups.
Those who aren't afraid of computers, having played games or helped
grandchildren to play games, are an easier group who will be happy with the
free advice and updates (I still get a  thrill from my automatic updates,
there's someone out there looking after me without my asking).  An improved
access to free programs is needed.  Probably this group would have to  be
weaned off Windows.
The other group, with far more potential, are those who have never touched a
keyboard and who have a hidden fear of all the things that the media reports
as going wrong.  To them, Ubuntu must be welcomed as a friend with
benevolent backup as part of the initial  installation.  To them, the only
thing that goes wrong is Windows (they will have heard about that). Ubuntu
must be presented to the world and being different, warm and friendly.
cuddly and secure.  There must be an address that comes up with the first
and deffault desktop which provides avuncular support for very nervoous
thickies.  Perhaps 50 volunteers accessed via a common address so that at
any one time someone is on call.  Little is worse than a hungup machine that
one just looks at with helpless horror.  Even when it is hung up, the
thickie must have a nice message giving the phone number.  They will need a
version of OOo that is as simple to OOo  as iphoto is to photoshop.  Dia is
a good example except that some of the help manual needs to be put in to
plain english (much of it is very good), Inkscape is too complex for the new
thickie.    We should aspire to getting them on to OOo including the
spreadsheet which those with money to look after will love.  Many Seniors
are volunteers in some form of worthy (& unworthy)  organisations who are
usually looking for someone to do the paperwork.   Some seniors will never
tackled paperwork and others will have have typists to do the keyboard
stuff.  Both will, in view of their age, have difficulties with typing and
will need helping hands, and not just a typing tutor.   Ubuntu should be
presented firstly much simpler than at present.  Any senior wanting to take
up options will probably find them by lists like this.  It's the initial
plunge which is the problem  Yes, there are many options, most of which
still escape me, but I want to get to grips with OOo and a few other
programs meeting specific needs.

Complexity can be relative.  Ubuntu itself can be as complicated as you
> want it to be - I've had people telling me that they prefer Windows
> because Linux is too simple!  Likewise with support areas - there's so
> many options to choose from that you can find an area that's more at
> your current level.  But I appreciate that part of the problem is
> getting there in the first place.
>
> There's also the issue of people who don't have online access at all.
> You've got experience with documentation, so you might have something
> important to say about this.


You need something on  paper to get  Ubuntu launched on the machine, after
that the phone  and the machine should cope  with things.  Except that helps
must be designed to be printed out.  Some of Dia are good examples of plain
english suitable for someone who knows no computer jargon (others are
dreadful).  OOo help is generally not good, arguments are sometimes
circular.

The beauty of having a Linux for Seniors initiative is that it would
> almost certainly include many people at different levels of competence,
> but with a better overall appreciation of the specific issues that its
> members can face (I've found, for example, that TuxPaint is THE killer


Wots TuxPaint and why haven't I heard of it?

   app for grandparents!).  It's also another option for tapping into the

> knowledge and skills set that this group has, but which may be felt to
> have little value in IT (e.g. I'd be surprised if there wasn't a place
> for the skills and experience you're putting into your methodology
> paper).
>
> Getting to such an initiative is another matter - which is why I
> answered Caroline Ford's post.  Those experienced in how other groups
> work would probably have something constructive to say about how people
> could go about this.  When I've got some more spare time, I'll put out
> some feelers.


As regards the internal politics of Ubuntu &c, it wouldn't matter if there
are several thickie introductions providing they are all good and don't
denigrate each other.  At the moment I think the need to have something
better once you have the contacts rather than to go out to get them, only to
lose them later.  I am certain there are many out there who are anxious to
use that computer which their son wants to give them. and we (thickies) need
much better treatment than I have had (apart from this list).
That's enough ranting for now.         Robin

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