| Configuring a Linux desktop for Dad |
Apr. 22, 2005
Email and web access are practically necessities these days, but the computer itself often prevents seniors from connecting with friends and family. A brief The Linux Box article hands out a few hints on how to configure a Linux desktop PC to meet the special needs of the "silver surfer."
"The ideas in this article came from my project to give my retired father a computer running Debian Sarge and KDE," writes author Adam Trickett. "All the ideas can be transposed to any modern Linux/Unix distribution, and most of these ideas should work with any desktop system."
Urging simplification at all levels -- from eliminating logins to reducing the number of programs available to only what the user needs -- Trickett explains the ways and whys of tailoring a computer to a senior's needs.
Trickett covers common issues like small fonts and aging eyes, but also many less obvious impairments like the difficulties of identifying small, detailed icons, and finding the mouse pointer against certain desktop backgrounds. Even the mouse itself can be problematic for seniors, according to Trickett, and common mouse skills like double-clicking and click-and-drag may need to be worked around.
Click to read Adam Trickett's tips for improving accessibility.
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