Another Blog Post for the Six Weeks

In the previous post I discussed my progress in computer science 2. It can be summarized as follows: our group has stopped working on the word processor and has been passing time until the end of the six weeks reading through AP computer science power-points. Next six weeks, we will come up with a new idea and start working on that.

Today I will talk about computer literacy. 

There is a problem in America. There are too many old people that do not have enough experience with computers. I am considered the IT person of my entire extended family. Seriously! I get frequent calls from my grandparents asking questions about how to save documents or how to find things on their computer. It is infuriating. Their are two options to fix this elderly epidemic. The first is to have more people teaching the elderly how to properly use computers. That's right. Make some other putz teach my grandfather that changing an internet setting will not do anything to harm his Quickbooks software. 

The other solution that is relevant to our computer science class is changing the inherent problem: the operating system. Today's operating systems are just too complicated and have too many features for the elderly to comprehend.

Even the most technologically illiterate young person is able to at least use a computer without destroying something. Why, you ask. Well, the answer is that young people are persistent. When my sister can't figure something out she just tries and tries until she figures it out. Likewise, older people will give up after a few tries. Once something breaks, they are helpless to fix it. I propose that someone (possibly me) design an operating system for old people. The system would likely just be a heavily modified version of Ubuntu or something that would be easy for old people to use. 

It would have the following features:

No sensitive data: this means that any hacker stupid enough to break in would find nothing of value (unless they like letters to grandchildren). 

Preloaded large icons with ones specifically designed for old people prevalent. Such icons would include Microsoft word, some web browser, a photo viewing program....

The visual aspects of the system would be important too. The system would have the optimal graphics for the elderly (everything larger and easier to read. That means aesthetic quality takes a dive though).

Also, this operating system would need to include a window (application) that makes it incredibly easy for the young IT relative to come in and fix the computer. This means no over the phone conversations. A simple call and the young person could get right to work.

OLD PEOPLE OPERATING SYSTEM. OPOS