THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 5, 1995 TAG: 9505050547
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DEBRA GORDON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium: 98 lines
In the past three years, Fran Middleton and Mike Berla have shared three weddings, the births of four grandchildren and the deaths of two loved ones.
Two days ago, they met ``F2F'' (face to face, for the cyber-illiterate) for the first time at the White House Conference on Aging. But they've long been the best of friends, thanks to SeniorNet - the computer community for older people.
Middleton, of San Francisco, and Berla, of Maryland, log on daily to America Online, type in the word SeniorNet and have real-time ``chats'' with each other.
As do 16,000 other SeniorNet members around the country.
``It provides intellectual stimulation,'' said Mark Glick, a SeniorNet member from Maryland who was demonstrating the service Thursday to Michael Cooley of New York.
Cooley, an observer at the conference who runs a senior center in New York, said he would like to offer computer services to his members.
``The population I work with needs more contact with people in special-interest areas,'' he said.
On SeniorNet, they get that. There are forums about grandparenting, retirement and financial matters. About genealogy and elder hostels. Veterans' issues and politics.
``It's a way to stay connected to society in the 21st century,'' said Ria Burghardt, SeniorNet's director of technology leadership.
Computer use is growing among the older generation. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that of households headed by someone 60 to 69 years old, 9 percent own a computer. And according to Robert S. Menchin's book ``The Mature Market,'' more than half of consumers ages 50 and over are interested in trying new technologies and products.
Even if they don't buy a computer themselves, Glick said, older people still want to learn about them so they can understand what their children and grandchildren are doing.
To meet this demand, SeniorNet has set up more than 60 Learning Centers to show people how to use computers. The closest one to Hampton Roads is in Springfield, Va.
The centers, typically housed in a community setting, are staffed by volunteers and funded with corporate money.
Seniors are no more resistant to using computers than people in other age groups, Glick said. And what resistance there is often melts once they see what they can do with the technology.
Glick uses his computer to exchange e-mail with his three grandchildren, ages 5 to 9, in Toronto. They ``talk'' about three times a week, much more than they would over the phone, Glick said. And the communication extends beyond words.
When his granddaughter asked how his cat was doing, Glick drew a cat, scanned it into his computer and e-mailed it to her.
SeniorNet also uses its technology to bring to its members experts on aging and policies affecting senior citizens.
Earlier this week, gerontologist Dr. Robert Butler, an organizer of the White House conference, logged on to SeniorNet and invited questions from hundreds of Americans around the country about the conference and other policy issues.
From Costa Mesa, Calif., came a question about the future of Medicare and Social Security from a woman in her 70s with the on-line handle BarbQBush.
From the conference site, one observer asked about providing more preventive care in Medicare.
For nearly an hour, Butler dictated and a SeniorNet employee typed as people logged into and out of the conference. When the session ended, Butler said he hoped young people had also been on line.
``They must never forget that today's older people are yesterday's kids,'' he said, ``and today's younger people will one day grow old.'' ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
TO GO ONLINE
SeniorNet has a page on the World Wide Web:
http://www.seniornet.com
America Online members can reach SeniorNet by typing the word
``SENIORNET'' at the keyword prompt. Members receive an
unlimited
amount of time on SeniorNet Online, plus one free hour of time
in
other AOL areas. To access it through America Online, type
SeniorNet at the keyword prompt. For membership information,
contact SeniorNet at 399 Arguello Blvd., San Francisco, Ca.,
94118, 415-750-5045. Or E-mail them at seniornet aol.com.
Photo
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Elaine Maddox, left, and Jane Humphreys, both of Alexandria, Va.,
work at the White House Conference on Aging Thursday.
Earlier this week, a conference organizer logged on and invited
questions from hundreds of Americans about the conference and other
policy issues.
KEYWORDS: SENIOR CITIZENS AGED by CNB