Straight Trade (No Cash Involved): Margaritaville For Geezerville

I have done it now. I created a Web site for cyberphobic senior citizens. The URL (Web address) contains a tilde (~) and I have fielded a ton of voicemail, e-mail, and plaintive phone calls from poor geezers who can't find the ~-key on a QWERTY keyboard. Then, I get a call from a geezer who is connected to the Internet with a 28.8 KB modem. "The pages load so sloooooowly." Duh! Attach a garden hose to a fire hydrant and see what happens. If this is (fair & balanced) gerontophobia, so be it.

[x USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education]
How to cope with cyberphobia - becoming computer literate

Cyberspace, suite packages, virtual reality, the Internet - if what you feel after reading these terms is something along the lines of mild unease or even full-blown intimidation, you may be a victim of "cyberphobia." According to Andrew Denka, executive director of Office Team, a national administrative support staffing firm, many people today feel threated by the rapid proliferation of on-line information resources, new computer programs, and other technological advances.

Many of these resources were almost unknown a few years ago, and now they're being discussed, written about, and used everywhere. Some employees are overwhelmed by all the new technology; they feel they should understand it, but don't know where to begin. Administrative professionals in particular feel they should be on top of these developments - doing research on-line, using one of the new suite packages to ease multi-tasked jobs such as combining spreadsheet information and word processing projects. But where should they start?"

What is the solution for those afflicted with cyberphobia? Denka offers the following suggestions:

• Don't assume you have to learn everything about the Internet or the new computer programs in one fell swoop. "Approach these technologies a little bit at a time, with a philosophy of 'climb the stairs step by step.'"





• Give yourself permission to experiment and make mistakes. "In the business world, it's easy to feel that you must do everything perfectly the first time - but remember that you're learning something very new. It's like taking up a new sport - you're not going to have a perfect golf swing the very first day."





• Discover the potential of these resources by using them for simple tasks at first, not just by reading the manual. "The best approach to learning a new software program is to start with those tasks you are already familiar with on your current software, such as creating a chart or a letter. Don't get swept up by the `bells and whistles' of the new program; learn the basics first."





• Seek out learning opportunities - computer and business magazines, seminars, on-screen tutorials, and/or good books on the subject.





• Explore these resources on a friend's home computer, or on your own if you have one, since it can be less intimidating than learning them at work. Or "tinker" with them when your office is quite, before or after hours.





• Find a "computer guru" to give you guidance - a friend, colleague, or contact at a computer retailer. "Real computer whizzes, who know all about the new resources and enjoy sharing their expertise, can be a big help." Or join a user group - a community organization in which people using a particular kind of computer or software give each other help, advice, and support. These groups often have a newsletter, monthly meetings, and a library of books members can borrow.





• If you want to determine which computer programs are in greatest demand in your field, consult the classified ads in major newspapers and see what skills are mentioned frequently. Associations such as Professional Secretaries International also may provide helpful information.



COPYRIGHT © 1995 Society for the Advancement of Education; COPYRIGHT © 2004 Gale Group