Elderly, disabled 'need help' with digital TV

[gameboy]

Almost three quarters of pensioners and people with disabilities will need help switching to digital television, a Department for Culture, Media and Sport study has found.

The survey of 400 homes in Bolton found that while more than two-thirds of those studied were able to install the equipment themselves or with the help of friends or family, most still experienced problems after installation.

The study found 74% were still reporting problems with their equipment four weeks after digital TV was installed.

Source: Media Guardian

Hope the government take this into account.

 

[rolfw]

Yes, I'd echo that, it is mostly not problems with the equipment, more lack of understanding on how to operate it in conjunction with their old TV.

To anyone with a computer, the exercise of rebooting by disconnecting the power when the thing locks up is almost second nature, but to the older person with no computer experience, it wouldn't cross their mind.

I have had several cases where they forget which remote they are using and press the TV remote for a channel, then can't understand why none of the channnels work except the normal five, the buttons on the Freeview box remotes are also pitifully small with hard to read labels and cause real problems.

For the elderly, or partly sighted, an integrated TV like the older Panasonic or Philips may be the way to go, as the remotes have normal sized buttons and no second box to worry about.

It is time that the industry put some serious thought into this and perhaps try asking the end user (not dealers) what they really want.

 

[Lancelot]

I agree chaps, after putting up a DAT75 and installing a box for my elderly parents I stil find them watching in analogue when I pop round. Funny thing is they don't really seem to mind. Most annoying !!


L.

 

[gameboy]

I also find the Digi boxes slow changing channels and the order is strange. Teletext channels in the mix and they take a while to load.

As Rolfw says they by now you would think it would be impossible to buy a television, DVD recorder or video with an analogue tuner - it isn't!

And the concept of rebooting a television because it's frozen or blocking and drop out is all new to most viewers.

If someone could come up with a small, simple 'in-line' tuner between the aerial and the television or video, with a chunky remote, bet they'd make some money.

 

[sonic1]

If more people were able to give up a little of their own time and help
others then maybe it would not be such an issue.
I help my grandparents who are 76 & 75 and a chap of 81 who I only got
to know last year when a friend said he wanted some help to whatch tv from
his own country.
I spend about 1 hour a week with him just to keep his dreambox 7020 up to date. He has a 1m motorised dish which he mounted himself I have to add which gives him endless hours of enjoyment.
I do think as a nation we have become very selfish:mad:

 

[Sir Bronking]

If more people were able to give up a little of their own time and help
others then maybe it would not be such an issue.
I help my grandparents who are 76 & 75 and a chap of 81 who I only got
to know last year when a friend said he wanted some help to whatch tv from
his own country.
I spend about 1 hour a week with him just to keep his dreambox 7020 up to date. He has a 1m motorised dish which he mounted himself I have to add which gives him endless hours of enjoyment.
I do think as a nation we have become very selfish:mad:

sonic your post made my day thankyou

 

[sonic1]

sonic your post made my day thankyou

Thanks Bronking shame your the only one who cares!

 

[Skip Channel]

'Freeview' boxes, and their remotes need to be much more user-friendly and intuitive.

In the last month three boxes, each a different make, have been set up at my parents' house. They're all cheap and cheerful and are the types sold at the supermarkets across the land. All three of them have confusing remote controls and equally confusing OSD/menu systems.

As much as I hate Sky's dominance in the UK satellite market, a lot can be said for the Sky Digital remote control. It ain't perfect (no labelled subtitle, radio or favourite buttons) but it's instantly usable and can be used by anyone with at least one hand and a heartbeat.

Why a terrestrial box can't come with such a remote I don't know - and the fact it doubles as a TV remote is the icing on the cake.

It also can't be too difficult to design an easy to navigate menu system.

The trouble is these things are being sold so cheaply there's barely a margin to begin with. Making a user friendly device requires product testers and the like, and they just want to make these and shift them ASAP. People buy the boxes due to cost as there's no way to try before you buy one of these in ASDA (or even the likes of Currys and Comet). There's no "easy-to-use" kitemark or seal of approval.

Maybe now that the Freeview consortium are putting their name to DTT PVRs they look into regular STBs and we can have at least some products that have had some thought put in to them.

 

[gameboy]

81 who I only got
to know last year when a friend said he wanted some help to whatch tv from
his own country.
I spend about 1 hour a week with him just to keep his dreambox 7020

Not that I don't care spiney - just trying to get my head round an 81 year-old with a Dreambox! !

 

[Topper]

Not that I don't care spiney - just trying to get my head round an 81 year-old with a Dreambox! !

Am I missing something here has sonic1 suddenly morphed into spiney
Well sonic1 I don't think it is that anyone cares, perhaps a lot do but just don't mention it on open forum. I agree that society has to a large degree become selfish but not necessarily towards the elderly and infirm.
I do however agree that the whole freeview tv situation is a complete shambles but I am glad to say when my 80 year old mum does press a wrong button because of her arthritic fingers and failing eyesight she has no hesitation on switching off the unit and starting again but finds it takes a long time being a DVD freeview unit.

As for the 81 year old dreamer what can one say but

 

[sonic1]

Not that I don't care spiney - just trying to get my head round an 81 year-old with a Dreambox! !

The old chap bought a sat magazine, did a bit of reading and made his own mind up.
On the plus side it takes minutes for me to keep it up to date as I have all I
need on my lappie.
Funniest thing was when he went to buy it the guy at the other end of the
phone tried his hardest to talk him out of it.

 

[gameboy]

Am I missing something here has sonic1 suddenly morphed into spiney

Had the birthday boy on the brain - must try harder!

Sorry sonic1 :-bash