Silver Surfers
 

Hi.

I recently got myself a bit steamed up in an NG where comments such as 'the older users don't understand on-line questionnaires and are unable to make an informed decision' or 'they are not so experienced and have less knowledge about computing' etc.

As an ex-sysop from around 30 years ago it was my experience that there was little difference in the learning curve of users in the younger and older age groups,they all seemed to get into the swing of things at about the same rate. Ofcoms' recent media literacy surveys suggest that the same still applies.

However, I've not come across any information on the os of choice of silver surfers or in fact that they were aware that there was a choice. Or any information on any differing learning curves that they may have experienced between Linux and Windows. In this respect I have to say that any oldies I've taught took to Linux very quickly and I'm not so sure it would have been the same with Windows.

So if there are any silver surfers out there I'd welcome your comments and views on this issue and any pointers to where I might obtain that type of info.

I'm a bald- not silver- surfer aged 63, who got his first computer when he was 58. Discovered GNU/Linux when I was 60 and did my first dual-boot. I'm still a learner, but not having any real difficulty adapting because I don't have decades of Windows experience to hinder me. The willingness to adapt and learn is important at any age.

As a nearly 70 years old man , I do not think that it is a matter of adapting because of you're age.
But more likely because Linux has still the reputation that you must be some kind of computer geek to use linux
Let be fair there was a time that it was true.
What did we have at the time linux starts a command line ,midnight commander, pico,nano , Latex and that was about it.
And of course that it is the benefit of some people to keep that myth alive.

Is a "silver surfer" someone who is above a certain age who uses the internet?

Speaking personally, when I hear a young person make some kind of comment about the computer skills of his elders, I just figure I'm hearing a complete idiot, and I don't hesitate to say so. After all, who built up these systems and networks in the first place? It certainly wasn't today's crop of kids.

The internet? I first signed onto what became the internet in 1980. Back then it was Arpanet and was used to tie military bases and universities together. I used it to work with computers at Sandia National Labs while sitting at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

I first used a computer when I was 18. I am now 52. I have designed, developed, deployed, integrated, and supported systems for industrial environments, for the US Air Force, and for the US Navy. I have deployed computers to control particle beam systems, radar systems, electronic warfare systems, missile systems, and automotive production lines. Some of my stuff went to downtown Baghdad in Gulf War I.

I have developed, operated, and supported simulations of warheads, missiles, aircraft, and global thermonuclear war. I have developed and supported simulators of the B-1 Bomber, the F-16 fighter, the Apache helicopter, and several surface to air missile systems. Some of that I did with analog computers. I directed projects that made major upgrades to the Air Force's Logistics computer networks - on two separate occasions. I did some of the early work on the command and control requirements (translation: computer requirements) of the strategic defense initiative. I have written and had published magazine articles about programming. Presently I do kernel programming in Linux, and real time embedded programming in Linux. Right now I am working on a satellite communication system, with Linux at the heart of it. There are languages that I learned and used so long ago that I have literally forgotten how to program in them.

I invite any young person to try to match my knowledge of computers and systems. And any young person who suggests that my knowledge of computing is deficient is a moron.

Didn't own a computer till 2 years ago. It was a IBM 390E running Windows 98. Hardrive froze up and I put another in and I didn't have a recovery cd or Windows cd. So I used my wifes desktop and downloaded Puppy Linux. Been hooked ever since. Wasn't on Windows long enough to really learn it.

Now I got a IBM M41 Desktop running Dual boot Ubuntu 8.04 and Xubuntu 8.10.

Have that old 390E still, broken hinge and all running Puppy Dingo and a old Compaq Armada 1540 DM running Damn Small Linux Current.

I also bought me a Panasonic Toughbook CF-48 and installed Ubuntu 8.04 and NimbleX 2008. Its the Laptop I use the most as its a P4 with 512 mb ram. It runs internal wireless and wireless works with both distros.

Still ride motorcycles and pack the panasonic in the saddle bags.

Upgrading Desktop to a IBM M57 and its been wiped clean and I haven't figured what I'll run yet on it. Got a lot of preburned distros to try out on it from Mepis to OzOS. I try to stick to Debian Distros instead of RPM. Had a bad experiance with Mandriva 2008. Gave that one away.


Any ways, thats my 2 cents worth. Oh and my hair is streaked grey but my beard is all white.

I did not see the criteria for "Silver Surfer".....I get the senior discount at the movies and the local bus system--does that count?

Age is an attitude---If you think you're too old for something, then you are......

I'm 52. Began working on computers in 1974, compliments of the US Navy. Maintained an AN/UYK-7 32-bit computer and peripheral devices (mag tape, paper tape punch/reader, teletype, printer, external disk drive, signal converter, and sonar gear) on submarines.

I first used Linux version 0.98 in 1992 (on a Packard-Bell 386DX-33) while working on my CS masters thesis. Even found documented evidence at kerneltrap. :) https://kerneltrap.org/mailarchive/l...92/11/16/16013.

I maintain a network driver in today's kernel.

I guess that qualifies me as a silver surfer? (Never heard that term before.)

Thanks Guys for all your comments.

I understand that the expression 'silver surfer' emanates from someone in marketing who figured that those on-line within the older older age group had the biggest spending power and worth targeting in advertising. Though as far as I'm concerned they certainly got that
wrong.

But the phrase was used by the media regulating body here in the UK in a recent survey into,amongst things,computer literacy of adults in the UK. Their findings regarding the older groups were that they did not posses the over-confidence of the younger age groups and so were less prone to picking up malware etc,spent longer times on line and made the largest amount in on line purchases than any other age group. Stating that in regard to the Internet "the demographic centre of gravity has shifted towards women and older users." Read also where one of the credit card companies reckoned that silver surfers were certainly more security conscious than the younger age groups. Needless to say I threw all that lot in the faces of the idiots saying that the older age group were not so computer literate as the younger.

Similar to what others have said I got into computing over 30 years ago when it seemed a choice of taking on staff or buying a computer. Didn't like the way the available software did things so I decided to write my own. Designed my own conferencing software to conduct on-line seminars etc.Never worked in the industry but having the time when I retired went for some structured learning and managed to scrape through to a BSc in Computing and IT when I was 75, I wasn't the youngest in my class,a lady two years my senior got her degree at the same time and I have a fair idea that her pass marks were better than mine.

Two things that keep me young are my computer and my dog.

cheers,

And I came in here thinking we were gonna be discussing...
http://z.about.com/d/comicbooks/1/0/...versurfer2.jpg

I think you are seeing the "silver surfer" thing from a skewed perspective because you have computer skills. Of all the people I know over 60 maybe 1/8th of them know anything about computers, the rest if they even have a computer are completely dependent on a younger family member to maintain their systems for them, even emailing is a tough for them. From what I can tell it really doesn't have anything to do with whether they could learn it or not, its that they don't care too, they don't perceive any real value from using computers. I think there will be a huge change in that as the current median age (30-59) group moves into that age bracket.

You're quite right, in fact to quote the same report in regard to those not using the Internet "The voluntary reason most likely to be given by people of all ages, and particularly by over-55s, is lack of interest or perceived need (53%)".

But the issue is whether age itself is a bar to learning and where an interest exists it certainly does'nt appear the case. As other have said irrespective of age it's a question of atitude. But what is objected to is the stereotyping of anyone in their late years as being mentally incompetent when it comes to computers or anything else for that matter.

But I'm trying to get a feel for the ratio of the over-55's using Linux as against Windows and even whether Windows might itself be a 'turn off'.

I've described my late starting interest in computing in my LQ blog. There's a link to it in my profile on the left.

Of the over-60 crowd I know, more than half of them have and use computers.

And, the group who knows me (including my kids) all come to me when they want help. This includes a group that now is around 20 years old. They come to me because they know who has the knowledge. What is truly hilarious about that is there is this group of 60+ people who I came in contact with a couple of years ago (pinochle players, and I play cards). That group had a resident guru who helped all of them with their computers. He is in his late 60s, was a late adopter, and became a hobbyist. He now comes to me for help.

However, there is little doubt that those who grew up with computers use them more freely than those who had to adopt them later in life.

The older I get, the more I learn.

And, the less I know.

Young people should take a lesson from that.