11.08.09
How to Teach Older People to Use VoIP
The use of advanced technology becomes more and more common in day-to-day life. Older people may find they feel lost when they are faced with using some of the technology or gadgets. Using a service like VoIP may seem very straightforward to those who grew up with technology that seemed to change on a daily basis. However, some older people who aren’t accustomed to using gadgets may find the thought of using VoIP rather complicated and intimidating.
- When teaching an older person how to use VoIP it is important to understand that those people who are middle aged or older simply did not grow up with a lot of technology. Understanding how it works may be more difficult for them. The most advanced technology when older people were growing up was probably the radio, telephone or the TV.
- The first thing you will want to do is explain to them how VoIP telephone systems work. A number of older people will avoid using new technolgy because they don’t understand how it works. You can explain that phone calls can be made using VoIP because the technology turns voice signals into digital signals, which are understood by computers. It is sent through the Internet and is converted back into a voice signal when it reaches the person at the other end of the conversation.
- They will feel much more comfortable after they understand how VoIP works. At this point you will want to explain how their particular VoIP service works. You can decide whether it will be best to keep their existing phone handset and use an adapter, or get a new special VoIP phone. Also explain how they will be billed for the service.
- In small steps, show them how to connect the phone and how to download any software that is needed. You can demonstrate that either the computer or the phone can be used to make calls. By explaining what you are doing at every step, they will understand better.
- A very important aspect of teaching an older person how to use VoIP, especially for the elderly, is ensuring they know how to access emergency service numbers when needed. With most VoIP services it will be the same as with a regular phone, but not with all of them.
In most cases, teaching an older person how to use VoIP is very easy. This is thanks to the fact that their regular phone service made and recieved calls in a very similar way. The most difficult aspect of teaching an older person how to use VoIP is teaching them how to hook up to a computer or adapter, and getting them to understand how the technology works.
There are many reasons why you may want to teach an older person how to use VoIP technology. One of the main reasons would be so that they can stay in touch with friends and family. And of course, saving a lot of money.
