Seniors catching up with tech

The gray-haired group argues over which version of the iPad is better – mini versus regular is the current debate. Smartphones, iPads, Nooks, iPhones, netbooks and iTouches all lay scattered across the top of the wooden table, waiting to be explored, ready to offer the possibilities of technology to a generation that was born before televisions even existed, let alone computers.

These Village on the Green Longwood residents have gathered together to advance their knowledge of technology by forming an e-communications committee, through which they teach and share the realm technology has to offer with their fellow residents. The committee offers the residents a monthly class to help them gain experience and learn new skills on whatever gadget they may be looking to learn more about.

“We’re bringing Village on the Green residents into the 21st century,” Village on the Green resident and committee chair Stan Goldstein said. “But what we’re really trying to do is get the people familiar and capable to use any device they may acquire.”

The class has currently been focusing on iPads, because of an overwhelming interest from residents. An instructor from a local technology school was brought in to help teach the first few classes, and residents responded so positively that many of them purchased iPads after the very first class.

Former Maitland resident Jean Chessin has been a resident of Village on the Green for a year now, and said she decided to go to the class to further her basic knowledge of the iPad she recently purchased.

“I liked learning a lot of new things about photography, and all the apps my iPad has to offer… the class has been very helpful,” Chessin said. “And it’s nice to have a portable device to do these things on.”

Residents at the senior living community have now taken over the class to continue expanding their knowledge, learning about digital photo editing, apps, online shopping, downloading books, Skype and Facetime, and how to choose the right smartphone.

Village on the Green resident and committee creator Herb Adler said although the main objective of the class is to educate the residents, they also want to give them a web portal that would allow them do daily activities in the community, such as maintenance requests, menus and calendars.

“Things have come a long way … it boggles the mind,” said Adler, who has worked with computers since 1964.

Goldstein was an Air Force Electronic Warfare Officer who spent 28 years countering enemy electronic emissions, and later became a defense contractor continuing his efforts. The Air Force veteran chooses class topics based on a resident survey about interests. He is currently planning to hold classes about e-reading devices and Facebook privacy settings.

“We’re trying to get as much information as easily acceptable by the residents as possible,” Goldstein said. “We’ve even gone as far as installing Wi-Fi in resident’s homes, and putting ink in their printers.”

Village on the Green resident and former Maitland resident Sue Orth helps with the iPad class instructions.

As a former media specialist of Orange County, teaching comes naturally to her.

“Teaching is an extension of what I’ve always done,” Orth said.

Educating others through technology has become a joy that this bunch of tech-savvy seniors now relish in.

“We try to make their life easy and more fun if they are using these toys,” Goldstein said. “And we learn as much as we put out; it’s a two-way street.”