Websites for a 78 year old

February 16, 2009 5:52 AM

Help an old geezer make the most of broadband.

My 78-year old dad just got broadband and to celebrate I want to send him a list of interesting websites that he couldn't access on dial-up (especially ones with lots of vids and pics).

His rather eclectic tastes include Marlene Dietrich, card games (patience mostly), Elmore Leonard, Judy Garland, old films (especially musicals and westerns), John Updike, Jean Cocteau, Mary Renault, Doris Day, country and western, Sinatra and Rudyard Kipling.

Can anyone recommend some sites that he might like, covering the subjects above - or any sites for old geezers in general?

posted by low_horrible_immoral to computers & internet (15 comments total)

Pandora or Last.fm. Probably Pandora though. Get some variety in the music.
posted by theichibun at 5:55 AM on February 16 [1 favorite has favorites]

I think the best way to introduce the internet is to show him how to find stuff *on his own*. It will give a great sense of achievement and accomplishment, especially if he is new to technology. So show him Google Video, youtube for video, and of course Google itself. He'll probably be interested in genealogy, e-mailing his grand children, and using Skype. Send him links to your online photos too.

Important is that he sees the web as more than a book on a computer.
posted by devnull at 5:57 AM on February 16

Using skype with a webcam has opened the eyes of my girlfriend's older relatives. A video phonecall from one side of the world to the other is pretty amazing, and it'll only be slightly less amazing if the phone call isn't international.
posted by msbrauer at 6:20 AM on February 16

My grandma was really excited about Google Maps when street view came to her town ("I can drive to Winn-Dixie!"). She also likes to watch her stories. Don't know if your dad's into that.

I also think it's important to give every old person with internet access a bookmark for Snopes, but they'll never use it.
posted by phunniemee at 6:21 AM on February 16 [2 favorites has favorites]

Point the chap towards the Internet Archive. Much goodness to be found there.

A few targeted searches from that site per your list:

- Judy Garland
- Marlene Dietrich
- Doris Day
- Frank Sinatra

UBU Web is also quite good, focusing more on literature & philosophy. Here's their Jean Cocteau material.
posted by tristero at 6:27 AM on February 16

Set up Google Reader for him, and find blogs and other sites to subscribe to. Create Google alerts with RSS notification on all the stuff he likes.
posted by beagle at 6:35 AM on February 16

Also Old Radio Shows (otr.net)
but it uses Real format so also install Real Alternative and set it up for him.
posted by hexatron at 8:02 AM on February 16

Maybe buy him a couple months of subscription to Netflix so he can enjoy their online content? I think you can get unlimited online content with a pretty low subscription rate. They tend to have quite a few classic films on tap over there, and he might really enjoy the idea that he has a pretty vast virtual library of films to watch on tap.
posted by theantikitty at 9:32 AM on February 16

Thanks, all, for your replies!
posted by low_horrible_immoral at 9:59 AM on February 16

I know it's not bandwidth heavy, but Wikipedia fascinates old and young.

And depending on his life experiences, there may be topics he can contribute too...
posted by olddogeyes at 10:21 AM on February 16

Would he be interested in something like FriendsReunited?
posted by Solomon at 10:41 AM on February 16

I am 78 years old but definitely not an old geezer!

However listening to Pandora whilst searching on Google and researching on Wikipedia is a great rewarding but time consuming pastime.

Also I can recommend Project Gutenburg for all sorts of books.
posted by lungtaworld at 11:21 AM on February 16

Project Gutenburg should read Project Gutenberg!
posted by lungtaworld at 11:25 AM on February 16

There are a lot of older streamable movies on sites like Netflix.
posted by mmascolino at 11:28 AM on February 16

Haha, apologies lungtaworld! Good suggestions, thanks.
posted by low_horrible_immoral at 5:24 AM on February 17