Discrimination against older women

Allira

Yes, I worked for the Civil Service and was sent on courses.

Remember the Millennium Bug?
Was it a storm in a teacup or was it averted by diligent programmers?

Many thousands of us worked nonstop for many weeks to prevent crucial systems from failing. Some systems did fail, but mainly smaller, older systems that no one had bothered to test because the owner didn't think it was worth it, and none that were likely to cause a major problem as far as I can remember.

ferry23

Bill Gates (Microsoft) is 70 this year. The late Steve Jobs (Apple) would also have been 70 this year. Hardly spring chickens.

Alan Sugar introduced the Amstrad home computer around 1984 following hard on the footsteps of the Commodore - around 1982.

iPhones have been round since 2007 and the Blackberry was introduced in the late 90's.

That's 40 years + since affordable home computers came onto the market and 20 years + since the introduction of smart phones or at least phones that had internet capabilities.

That's ample time for people to learn how to use them.

It's one think to be discriminated againt because you can't do something - another thing entirely because you won't.

My neighbour got quite irritated with 2 families in our road because neither household had an email address or access to the Internet. (We were organising complaints to the council) One had been a stay at home mum and wife to a poorly husband, the other had had no contact with computers through work, and no kids.
Of course they could've gone on a course at the library and then bought a computer. But for the expense and energy, what good would it have been to them?
Learning about technology in your 60s ain't easy with no-one to help you practise.

Allira

Good heavens!

Please could your surgery have a chat with our Practice Manager?

And my practice manager too. My GP surgery just ignore anything typed in the box!

Yes, I worked for the Civil Service and was sent on courses.

Remember the Millennium Bug?
Was it a storm in a teacup or was it averted by diligent programmers?

I think this is the big differencebetween then and now. In the 1970s-90s, whenever a new bit of technology was introduced, or new software, you went on a course to learn how to use it.

We were fairly early technology adapters. DH got a Sinclair ZX80- in 1980. It came as a kit of parts for self assembly, we had our first home computer in 1984. I started using computers at work in 1979 and by the early 1980s I was writing computer specifications - from the user angle, not the technology, but always accompanied by suitable courses.

Once I took early retirement in the late 1990s, all the courses stopped, I di pay for a couple, but even that isn't possible these days. You have to rely on You tube videos, which are OK up to a point, but no good if you get stuck over one operation or aspect.

Magenta8

When home computers were becoming more commonplace in the 1990s I enrolled for a free basic course. I had been using a computer at work but it was an old fashioned one which did not use a mouse. I am by no means tech-savvy and I was far from being the youngest in the class but the pace at which we were able to progress was painfully slow and was dictated by the slowest. I was put up into the intermediate class only to find that we just covered the same ground again.

I don't think it is entirely an age thing although growing up with computers at home and at school must help.

Agree. Growing up with computers must help.

Our first home computer was purchased in 1991, intuitive, much easier than our current laptops. Both of us, in our 80s do everything necessary on laptops.

Banking, bids, my husband's business, investing, paying out, purchasing for delivery, finding items to purchase - research.

When home computers were becoming more commonplace in the 1990s I enrolled for a free basic course. I had been using a computer at work but it was an old fashioned one which did not use a mouse. I am by no means tech-savvy and I was far from being the youngest in the class but the pace at which we were able to progress was painfully slow and was dictated by the slowest. I was put up into the intermediate class only to find that we just covered the same ground again.

I don't think it is entirely an age thing although growing up with computers at home and at school must help.

Allira

M0nica

I did assessment tests to become a computer programmer in 1965. I failed. Precision and ADHD do not make good work fellows.

I did a course learning COBOL.

Perhaps my mind works differently from a computer but I didn't enjoy it one bit.

And - if I don't enjoy doing something 60 years later, my logic tells me that I don't necessarily have to embrace it.

M0nica

I did assessment tests to become a computer programmer in 1965. I failed. Precision and ADHD do not make good work fellows.

I did a course learning COBOL.

Perhaps my mind works differently from a computer but I didn't enjoy it one bit.

I did assessment tests to become a computer programmer in 1965. I failed. Precision and ADHD do not make good work fellows.

ferry23

Bill Gates (Microsoft) is 70 this year. The late Steve Jobs (Apple) would also have been 70 this year. Hardly spring chickens.

Alan Sugar introduced the Amstrad home computer around 1984 following hard on the footsteps of the Commodore - around 1982.

iPhones have been round since 2007 and the Blackberry was introduced in the late 90's.

That's 40 years + since affordable home computers came onto the market and 20 years + since the introduction of smart phones or at least phones that had internet capabilities.

That's ample time for people to learn how to use them.

It's one think to be discriminated againt because you can't do something - another thing entirely because you won't.

Alan Sugar introduced the Amstrad home computer around 1984 following hard on the footsteps of the Commodore - around 1982.

The Amstrad took 20 minutes to load up the tape.

The first computer I encountered was a DEUCE in 1965!

My problem is 'memory'. It's embarrassing. I write things down now or just take the plunge and ask for a repeat to what someone has just said. I've been to the doctor about it and he gave me some tests which to my surprise I passed with flying colours! BUT something is definitely missing - or not working properly

Oreo I don’t drive. There are far too many cars on the road already and I have never really wanted to drive.

If I had learned early in my teens I think my life would have been dramatically different because of the independence and convenience it bestows.
But imagine the “C-Armageddon” if all adults took to the road there just isn’t the room on our island😱

But with IT, there is no substitute for being shown how to do the basics by a calm competent person early on as many people are still afraid that they’ll either “break the internet or inadvertently start world war 3”

Some people just are not very good at “showing how” just because “they know how” .

that reduces the percentage of the population

Sorry, it doesn't reduce the population, it reduces the percentage of the population with technological skills!

If only about 50% of workers were using computers in 2000 and not all people were working anyway that reduces the percentage of the population.

We were using a PC at home btw, we are not dinosaurs. However, some aspects of modern technology really are best ignored!

Nanny27

It's hard to u persuade how someone in their, say early it's can be unfamiliar with computers and the Internet. By around 2000 most workplaces used computers, these people would have been in their mid fifties.

That’s always my argument. Being old myself naturally I know a lot of old people. When they come up with this argument I ask them how old they were when mobile phones came to the market. Spring chickens 😂

Nanny27

It's hard to u persuade how someone in their, say early it's can be unfamiliar with computers and the Internet. By around 2000 most workplaces used computers, these people would have been in their mid fifties.

By 2001, more than half of all workers were using computers on the job, with internet access and email being the most common applications.

Beyond Basic Tasks:
While some tasks remained paper-based, the ability to search for documents electronically and store data digitally became increasingly important.

That is AI.

So only about half of workers, and I remember having to book a slot on the shared office computer linked to the internet, which was annoying as I sometimes had a lot of research to do.

Charleygirl5

I would love to know how my smartphone works but I have nobody to teach me. Not having any family. I am more tech-savvy than my friends, as I order online and do online banking. I am partially sighted due to Macular and deaf because of a benign brain tumour, but I do try.

I have googled locally for classes but no joy.

You can get special smart phones with large print icons and blue tooth connections to hearing aids etc. Age uk has advice on this

Understand not persuade...durr

It's hard to u persuade how someone in their, say early it's can be unfamiliar with computers and the Internet. By around 2000 most workplaces used computers, these people would have been in their mid fifties.

Musicgirl

@CariadAgain , I think you are right that many people don't realise that they must let a deaf person see your face and, like you, do so once made aware. However, one might expect an ENT consultant, of all people, to know how to speak to someone with hearing difficulties.

Yep....very much their job to know this. I would be willing to bet that there isn't an element in their training of "Put in earplugs or the like and spend a day just going about your business to see what it's like to be Deaf for a Day". It would be very useful.

@CariadAgain , I think you are right that many people don't realise that they must let a deaf person see your face and, like you, do so once made aware. However, one might expect an ENT consultant, of all people, to know how to speak to someone with hearing difficulties.

Yes we must refuse to be talked over, ignored, "deared", mumbled at etc. We must say something. At the time. Not stew over it. Politely of course. We must practice "would you repeat that" "let me write that down". "And your name is?"

Carry a notebook. Write down instructions for how to do any IT related thing so you know next time. We must be prepared. We must dig our heels in if what we are being told is not correct. We are allowing discrimination...... I must take my own advice.

Musicgirl

Posted too soon. The ENT consultant was speaking to and looking at his computer, which was at a ninety degree angle from my face. I say speaking, but mumbling would be a better description. An ENT consultant, for goodness' sake, who, of all people should have been aware of how to speak to someone with a hearing problem. I have grown in confidence and assertiveness over the years and politely told him that he needed to face me as l am deaf.

Absolutely! re the facing you.

I don't think people necessarily realise that they need to do so. My, largely deaf, father did say at one point that I needed to face him when talking to him and "not mumble". The thought hadnt occurred to me - but I accepted it was fair enough to face him and speak clearly - so that he could lip-read what I was saying.

Posted too soon. The ENT consultant was speaking to and looking at his computer, which was at a ninety degree angle from my face. I say speaking, but mumbling would be a better description. An ENT consultant, for goodness' sake, who, of all people should have been aware of how to speak to someone with a hearing problem. I have grown in confidence and assertiveness over the years and politely told him that he needed to face me as l am deaf.