Ask Slashdot: Video Streaming For the Elderly? 165
First time accepted submitter ChrisC1234 writes "My grandparents are getting older and don't get out much anymore, and with the demise of video stores (and not even understanding what a RedBox is), they don't see movies anymore. They've got internet access, so I'm thinking of getting them a streaming appliance and a Netflix account. So I'm wondering what device is the easiest for elderly people to use. I'm thinking either a Roku or Apple TV, but open to other options. It just needs to be easy to navigate and support closed captioning. Has anyone else done this successfully?"
Something built into the TV? Samsung? (Score:5, Insightful)
Perhaps get them a TV with Netflix already built into it? Something like a Samsung?
I think the key is to set up the remote properly so they can access everything using a minimal number of remote controls, preferably just one. I think that's what confuses most people.. hell it even confuses me.
Re:Apple TV (Score:5, Insightful)
Sounds like the kind of "secret handshake" that no senior citizen would be able to cope with.
This sort of nonsense is why a "simple" interface really isn't.
This should be a global option in any video interface. If you find yourself fumbling to control this on a per video basis then the interface design is crap.
It doesn't matter how much you want to add to the mindless hype.
Re:Something built into the TV? Samsung? (Score:4, Insightful)
My kid loved MythTV when he was 3 years old. The young are not the users you have to worry about. Even the old aren't necessarily a problem.
It's the lazy/helpless types that are a problem and these come in all age groups. You may find an 80 year old that's much more adaptable to modern computing tech than some 60 year old.
The assumption that Granny can't handle tech is a stupid incorrect stereotype.