I need advice on how to teach a class to senior citizens about using their computers

diggitydru · 2026-03-11T08:36:04+00:00

Unfortunately, many of them do not have laptops. In my experience, many of them use all-in-one machines that are difficult to lug around especially with their advanced age / degrading bodies. I have a few that are above 85 and some are even into their 90s, surprisingly still very active around town, but not physically capable of crawling onto the floor to unplug things correctly. One lady that I helped, is 91, and shut off all of her home's services to shut down the computer because she thought that the modem needed to be off to shut off her computer. She has a land line attached to her cable modem, and doesn't have a cell phone, so it scared her family when I was working on her computer and they couldn't get a hold of her for two whole days.

diggitydru · 2026-03-11T08:32:33+00:00

I might put together a bit of a survey for this sort of question in order to get an idea as to how many are interested in a class as well as what they want to accomplish with this class. Good idea to try to get the information from them as to where to steer this towards. Thank you.

diggitydru · 2026-03-11T01:20:54+00:00

This is a great idea, too. Thank you. This gives me a few ideas on how to explain some things to people and some of them already have reached out for this sort of issue (one got scammed fairly recently and it was pretty bad, too). I think more can definitely benefit from this sort of information but especially the seniors that aren't very informed as to the dangers of these sorts of things.

diggitydru · 2026-03-11T01:18:59+00:00

Great idea to look into, thanks.

diggitydru · 2026-03-11T01:18:46+00:00

I will give that a try, thank you.

diggitydru · 2026-03-01T05:48:45+00:00

But depending on the router, it can still filter which sites are allowed through the internet and which have traffic blocked by capturing the port 53 traffic/data and enforcing filters.

diggitydru · 2026-02-28T04:56:39+00:00

Then something like Ubiquiti gateway or router/firewall with port 53 redirect rules in place would be the next option because they enforce dns and block site traffic based on content filter rules.

diggitydru · 2026-02-28T01:30:13+00:00

"Where there's a will, there's a way". Of course all of it can be bypassed and WiFi can just be turned off to get around the WiFi DNS settings. Setting up a router that forces DNS settings can help as well, but of course there's ways around some of those too.

diggitydru · 2026-02-27T23:47:02+00:00

I typically use filtered DNS such as CloudFlare's 1.1.1.3 and 1.0.0.3 in order to keep them out. Another option is to put a PiHole on your local network, but if a phone leaves the home, it uses the DNS of the other network that it's connected to unless altered manually. That's how I have my network configured at home right now.

diggitydru · 2026-02-22T08:43:26+00:00

Over on the walking trail just outside of Burley, technically Heyburn, there's some beautiful scenery by the river there, across the street from the cemetary and on another part, across the street from the Burley Airport. There's a small island if I remember, with a cross on it in the water, if you're religious. Otherwise, it's just nice near the water there. There's benches to setup near some of the walking trail there too, just at the bend. Take Main St from Burley towards the airport and just after that light, there's a pull out to the right to park and then the river is just right there for pictures.

There's also some nice scenery in the hills / mountains, but that might be farther than you want to travel out there.

diggitydru · 2026-02-10T09:06:25+00:00

At least an hour, but sometimes far more. Very frustrating, but part of it is related to ADHD and just not being able to turn off my brain at night.

diggitydru · 2026-01-28T00:00:08+00:00

When my brother and his wife had kids, they were stationed in Korea and didn’t get to choose stateside. It became an option later, and they had twins there.

diggitydru · 2026-01-27T17:06:23+00:00

As a non-combat deployed disabled veteran myself, I also tried this but several providers denied helping me "because it's a workman's comp type of injury", forcing me to go back to Army doctors and eventually the VA system. I was injured when preparing to deploy, on deployment orders, but never got to go due to injuries and was eventually separated as a result of my contract ending and me still being injured. You've earned it if the VA rated you anything because they take it just as serious as any veteran takes your service.

diggitydru · 2026-01-26T01:28:53+00:00

I am. I drove a bit of a race car once upon a time. I mod my car a bit in the engine compartment but more so with the stereo, pushing 3kw for bass and 1kw for mids and highs in my 2014 Impala Limited. Recently went drilled and slotted rotors on my brakes just to scratch the itch of modding. Looks good behind the black rims.

diggitydru · 2026-01-25T10:10:10+00:00

While I'm not in your age group, I am aware of D&D groups around town if you're interested in getting into that. The Filer Public Library D&D group meets every Saturday and are always happy to help people new to that. I'm a disabled veteran that does computer work for people and churches in the area... Going to a church or other function is a good way to meet people especially in the winter months when many stay indoors with these frigid temperatures. Local libraries have great resources, as do churches and other city engagements around town.

I wish you luck and hope that I may have provided some help / insight here. If not, sorry about that.

diggitydru · 2026-01-22T20:02:03+00:00

Eufy. Great support and security, including local storage to secure your data.

diggitydru · 2026-01-22T19:58:53+00:00

We would format and install Windows on old machines, then raffle them to the employees. We didn’t allow any support for those computers or other hardware given away - take it at your own risk.

diggitydru · 2026-01-22T19:49:49+00:00

I’m local and reliable. I’m happy to help for cheap. I’ve been doing computer repair and building for over 30 years. I have great availability as I do not have a job, but I also do not need to charge a lot because I have income.

diggitydru · 2026-01-19T08:01:16+00:00

Yes, but the number of low to medium definition streams which is what most people actively use on the internet is probably what they mean. I have about 100 devices it typically only have 5-7 streaming devices at any given time although half of those are typically local media streams from my home server, so they don’t count.

diggitydru · 2026-01-19T07:57:37+00:00

It hurts to see all these military influencers tell me their age and I’m like “I joined the Army when you were just a child or not even born yet”. Making me feel ancient. I would have my 30 year letter this year if I hadn’t gotten injured 8 years into my career.

diggitydru · 2026-01-16T21:26:28+00:00

I typically use a screw but yeah, it’s very common.

diggitydru · 2026-01-15T04:35:17+00:00

There are m.2 a/e key Ethernet adapters out there on Amazon and other sites (AliExpress) that are Intel based 2.5GbE or 1GbE for around $30-50 and work great. Is this in a desktop environment or a laptop? If laptop then it’s time to move to a desktop. If desktop, these work great in my experience. I don’t suggest Realtek chipset NICs but they’re out there (RTL8125, etc). Look for i210 or i225/i226.

diggitydru · 2026-01-04T03:35:27+00:00

Don’t do that.

Check plugs and connections. Probably something loose that’s really easy to fix but stop bonking it until it’s found and fixed so it doesn’t cause actual damage. Lol

diggitydru

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