Microsoft developing ad-funded, senior PCs in UK

The geriatric set most definitely has plenty of cellphones catered to them, but finding a computer that's equally simple to operate isn't nearly as easy. According to a BBC report stemming from a Digital Inclusion conference in London, Microsoft UK is aiming to develop a "senior PC" which will feature a simplistic interface and come tweaked to handle tasks such as managing prescriptions and photos. The outfit is teaming up with charities Age Concern and Help the Aged, and it's just one of the many projects meant to tackle the issue of "digitally excluding" millions of citizens. Additionally, Microsoft is working up an "ad-funded PC" that would come preloaded with a step-by-step guide to get online, remain safe, perform "simple computer tasks" and, of course, fire up Doom. Just kidding about that last part... maybe.

[Flashpoint @ Apr 30th 2008 10:21AM]

I think the Nintendo Wii could actually handle this.

If seniors have enough dexterity to hold a stylus and point/click, then I have to assume they have the dexterity to hold a wii mote.

[Shinigami @ Apr 30th 2008 10:34AM]

Its not about ability to click the mouse or type on KB. Its about ability to learn something as complex as handling a PC. Like doing the simple stuff - opening documents, uploading photos, reading news, watching movies ect. Its easy for the most of us but it can be pretty hard for some people.

[Flashpoint @ Apr 30th 2008 10:24AM]

Viagra $99.99 [click here to buy now]
Cialis $89.97 [click here to buy now]
Lipitor $49.96 [click here to buy now]
Midol $59.97 [click here to buy now]



Your Social Security balance = $0.00

Please direct all questions and complaints to George W. Bush@1600penssylvaniaAve

[Josh L @ Apr 30th 2008 10:32AM]

This is in the UK.

Fail for being a partisan idiot.

[Flashpoint @ Apr 30th 2008 11:16AM]

Rather be partisan that stupid.

[Alex @ Apr 30th 2008 2:36PM]

But you ARE stupid.

[Aki @ May 1st 2008 8:03AM]

lol, failed, twice!

[andreykireev @ Apr 30th 2008 11:31AM]

So they will take a cheapest computer they can find, load it with adware and spyware and will load Vista Basic Senior Edition on it..

I can already see all the prescription online ordering and photos standing still while the low cost cpu is trying to crunch all the ads..

But then again.. Seniors have nothing but time, they can wait an hour for that thing to boot.

[telepheedian @ Apr 30th 2008 10:54AM]

Judging by the amount of swindles that advertisers and salesmen have managed to pull off on senior citizens, is this a good idea?

[ScooterDe @ Apr 30th 2008 4:18PM]

my aging father is probably kept alive - in part - by his interest in computers and being kept on his wits by spam, Windows' eccentricities and other digital shenanigans. Dumbing down the interface for the elderly is both condescending and unnecessary.

[PaulPaul @ Apr 30th 2008 11:07AM]

isn't the target demographic for ads 19-49 year olds? can't see how this would appeal to advertisers

[brokenkeyboard @ Apr 30th 2008 11:34AM]

because computer-illiterate old ppl will click on the ads, rather than using adblock like everyone else?

[Wwhat @ Apr 30th 2008 3:17PM]

Yeah I never got that, old people often have lots of money and nothing to spend it on and diminishing intellect, seems to me to be a good target.

[Blaktornado @ Apr 30th 2008 11:35AM]

"Microsoft UK is aiming to develop a "senior PC" which will feature a simplistic interface "

Such a thing is impossible.

No offense but Microsoft isn't exactly renown for it's ease of use and simplicity.

I don't particularly like Linux fanboys and have never used Linux in my life, but from what I've seen, the Linux OS used on the eeePC would be great for senior citizens.

[PG @ Apr 30th 2008 11:47AM]

Just imagine if Crapple did this. They'd sell you the Geriatric Air and you'd have to sell a kidney to buy it; a trade in program of sorts. Then crapple would install itunes on it so the old folk could buy their perscription pills. Every year they'd sell you a 'new' service pack/os and deduct it from your social security check.

[tekdroid @ Apr 30th 2008 12:12PM]

"In partnership with Milton Keynes council, this machine will come preloaded with a "digital literacy curriculum" - a step by step guide to how to get online, be safe and perform simple computer tasks."
--------------
The 'staying safe' bit, unless it involves unbundling Internet Explorer, Windows Mail (Outlook Express) and Live Messsenger (which always opens links in Internet Explorer, despite default browser preferences), I have little hope will be more than marketing fluff aimed at yet another demographic they want to get to trust them more.

I can't count how many times people have told me they don't want to do their banking online (generally older people). Microsoft wants these people in on the whole ecommerce and 'trust' thing, so more of their services can be sold to them as time goes on.

If only they improved their security. Ease-of-use is rarely the problem with Microsoft these days, to be quite blunt. Security is.

[Dennis @ Apr 30th 2008 12:20PM]

Wasn't one BOB enough?

[coffee @ Apr 30th 2008 12:30PM]

JitterBob?

Seriously, for Pops, just set up the icons really huge, one for email, one for internet, one for documents, one for pictures. make sure the mouse only has 2 buttons. Make all the errors messages start with "Dagnabbit!". Install the weatherbug on all of them, old people love weather. No updates of any kind, either, that will just confuse them.

If they want to install any other programs, they have to call their JitterBob operator to do it for them, and add the icon to their desktop.

[Chris @ Apr 30th 2008 1:06PM]

My friends grandparents play WoW

[Ian @ Apr 30th 2008 2:26PM]

thats just what we need is senior citizens playing doom.. sooner or later they are going to find a gun and run around the senior citizen home thinking everyones trying to shoot at them.

wait that might be kinda interesting...

[Alex @ Apr 30th 2008 2:39PM]

This is just asking for more dirty-old-men roaming around the place...

[macserv @ May 1st 2008 5:18PM]

What a blatant case of elder abuse.