Extreme computer novice help needed

[16v_paddy]

Need some help so here's the story.......my garandad has retired now so he's decided he wants to get in on the whole "computer revolution" so I've sorted him out with a laptop & internet access.

Now I'm trying to teach him how to use it but the problem is that he's never used a computer before, so anything I try to show him or say goes completely over his head
It's unbelievable how hard it is to explain things to a complete novice as I take for granted what I know about computers & it's 2nd nature to me (within reason lol) how they work.

I've already got him a book called laptops for the over 50's, that explains what it is & how it works, it's just the using the programs that's causing him difficulties now

Can anyone recommend me some sort of book or online guide that I can print off? Needs to go through the most basic of basic things to know about using a computer and in plain & simple english, anything to cut the phone calls down from every 5 mins :dapprove:

 

[Griff]

Go round and spend an evening with him.

If he's anything like my folks any book will end up on the shelf unread.

 

[Longy]

Books may confuse him more!

Just get him to use it - do the simple things for awhile and naturally he'll start doing more things.

 

[16v_paddy]

Go round and spend an evening with him.

If he's anything like my folks any book will end up on the shelf unread.

spent the best part of 2 days with him lol

he's going on one of those 1 day courses at the library soon, I knew it was going to be difficult when I said "double click that" to which he replied "what's double click?"

it also feels like I'm being patronising when trying to explain stuff as well :nono:

 

[Scottydog]

It's probably best if he went on courses like the one he is attending at the Library. There are more he could do at the local college probably.

I know how you feel when you say it feels patronising when you explaining stuff, I had the same problem when teaching members of my family who are now, thankfully, pretty competent and can even text now lol.

EDIT: Also if you explain that he would have to do something catastrophicly stupid to break the computer so just say to him, sit down and play! And if it goes very wrong teach him how to restart lol! It's all about making him feel comfortable using it.

 

[Marshallahsram]

Go round and spend an evening with him.

If he's anything like my folks any book will end up on the shelf unread.

+1

My grandad retired over 5 years ago, and was just the same. He bought himself a laptop, i showed him the basics, and now he is great on it. He seemed to benefit from practice and by me showing him websites that he would have an interest in such as Wikipedia, caravan websites etc. Id never disrespect a pensioner, but you could compare it to teaching a child except it takes a little bit longer to sink in

 

[oska]

Tell him about YouPorn etc, he'll rapidly develop his computer skills.

 

[16v_paddy]

Tell him about YouPorn etc, he'll rapidly develop his computer skills.

:lolup:

on a serious note, I'' just have to be patient, as soon as he's grasped the basics I'd assume he'll be a lot easier to teach

 

[aliengravy]

always started my grandparents off playing patience!