Re: How to set up a computers with GNU/Linux for grandparents

From: Laurel Amberdine (circle_at_mtco.com)
Date: 11/15/03 

Date: 15 Nov 2003 18:28:13 GMT

On 15 Nov 2003 05:29:27 -0500, Don Saklad <dsaklad@nestle.ai.mit.edu> wrote:
> a. For grandparents, how do you set up a computer with GNU/Linux ?...
>
> b. How do you set up computers with GNU/Linux for elderly seniors?...

When setting up Linux for the, ah, un-computer-saavy, I do the following:

1) Hopefully they can handle logging in. Set them up so they boot into a
simple, friendly, easy (for you) to configure environment, like KDE3 or
Gnome2. (The ease of setup depends largely on which distribution you're
using -- I use SuSE and SuSE likes KDE. Red Hat makes Gnome easier.)

If they can't log-in, you can set up an auto login with their account, but
I don't like doing that at all.

2) Get rid of all the extraneous stuff: icons, menus, doo-dads. Give them
a pretty background that doesn't look like it ought to do something. (No
pictures of buttons or lights or anything.)

3) Make big, obvious, well-labelled desktop icons for whatever it is they
want to do: connect to the internet, check email, web browsing, word
processor, games, etc. If necessary, name the link with full directions,
"Double click with the left button to check email."

4) Configure and test everything. (This is a big step!) Automate as many
things as possible -- if you can invoke the ppp connection automatically
when it's called for, that will help.

5) Give the user a printout of detailed, step-by-step directions (with
pictures of relevant icons and windows) explaining how to do the various
things they need to do.

6) Make sure their account cannot modify anything important (should be
already done on installation.) DON'T give them the root password.

7) Plan for some support. Either be able to stop by on occasion, and/or
have the ability to do remote access. While the Linux install itself will
probably be flawless once set up right, sometimes hardware gets flaky.

I find Linux much easier to set up for inexperienced users. They can't get
into much trouble, since there aren't any virii, and they can't install
junk. 

-- 
- Laurel   *  *  *   http://amberdine.com