Skip to main content

Advertisement

Advertisement

Expanding horizons with technology

SINGAPORE — When she first learnt how to use the computer five years ago, Mdm Susannah Low had to write down every step of the process, such as how to switch on the computer and what coloured lights to look out for.

The Silver Infocomm Initiative hopes to help seniors pick up skills such as learning to use gadgets like tablets and mobile phones. TODAY file photo

The Silver Infocomm Initiative hopes to help seniors pick up skills such as learning to use gadgets like tablets and mobile phones. TODAY file photo

SINGAPORE — When she first learnt how to use the computer five years ago, Mdm Susannah Low had to write down every step of the process, such as how to switch on the computer and what coloured lights to look out for.

But after two weeks of fiddling with the computer daily and learning to surf the Internet, the 68-year-old no longer needed the guide. She eventually went on to start her own blog, a Facebook profile and an account on Chinese microblogging site Weibo. Now, she also owns an iPhone 4 and a Samsung Galaxy S4.

As senior citizens in Singapore become increasingly comfortable with IT and social media, the Government is looking to take the Silver Infocomm Initiative (SII) — its push to engage seniors in infocomm — to the next level with a new programme that will see IT-savvy senior citizens serving as volunteers to help their peers with IT issues.

The programme will be launched by the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) this Saturday on Silver Infocomm Day.

The SII was launched in November 2007 to bridge the digital divide among senior citizens aged 50 and above. Some S$4.2 million has been set aside for SII and, as of August this year, more than 77,000 training places — almost double the target of 45,000 — have been conducted under the SII programme through senior-friendly infocomm learning hubs called Silver Infocomm Junctions (SIJ), Intergenerational IT Bootcamps and annual Silver Infocomm Days.

At RSVP Singapore — The Organisation of Senior Volunteers, a non-profit organisation that promotes active ageing, about 32,000 seniors have undergone its IT training programmes, such as in cyber security, digital photo management and tablet usage.

Mdm Low, however, has eschewed such programmes in favour of picking up skills on her own. She learnt how to use the gadgets through her daughter, who is in her 20s, and her own social circle.

The self-professed Facebook addict said: “It depends on who you’re close to. If you have a group of three or four friends who use these gadgets, it’s much easier to learn because you don’t want to lose out.”

Tablets and phablets — a cross between a smartphone and a tablet — that were introduced in recent years have also helped seniors, who might otherwise have found a desktop computer or a smartphone difficult to use.

Mdm Low noted that the Samsung Galaxy S4 devices, in particular, were easier to pick up due to their larger size and user-friendliness.

Mdm Cheow Chin Wang, 62, on the other hand, opted for formal classes as she felt that younger people do not have the patience to walk her through the basics of using a computer and social media. She signed up for Microsoft Office lessons at a commercial institute but felt it was “useless” as the course was conducted at too fast a pace. At the time, she did not even know the basic functions of the computer.

Mdm Cheow then enrolled for classes in basic computer skills at RSVP Singapore. These classes are conducted for seniors by seniors. She subsequently took other lessons on social media and instant messaging like Skype, which she now uses to communicate with her daughter who is working in the United Kingdom.

Her patient and caring demeanour caught the attention of her trainer and she was recommended to take on the role of an assistant IT trainer for seniors. Mdm Cheow got herself certified and now teaches other seniors how to use the iPad.

Being able to use IT devices and explore the Internet and social media platforms with confidence has allowed Mdm Cheow to be more engaged in her children’s lives. “After picking up the lessons, I found that I enjoyed the process of learning at my own pace. Social media like Facebook has also helped keep me updated on my children’s lives,” she said.

Read more of the latest in

Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.

Subscribe to get daily news updates, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.