Old men who use computers less likely to get dementia Men who use computers as they enter their winter years have a better chance of avoiding dementia than those who don't, according to a new Australian study. Older Men Who Use Computers Have Lower Risk of Dementia, compiled by researchers at the University of Western Australia's Centre for Health and Ageing, is one output of the …
Chemist, you're a genius.
As a 62 yr-old (who was a systems engineer at 25), I have often been asked pityingly by my son (now 27) "What on earth did your generation do before PCs, Playstations etc. etc.?"
My stock reply was always "We were very busy inventing & developing PCs, Playstations etc. etc."
Put the little bugger in his place!
I know what you mean - I was taught Physics by a guy who had worked on the Manchester "baby" - he had a photo showing him stripped to the waist working in a cellar surrounded by racks of valves.
I thin Douglas Adams sums it up very well in a passage that kind of parodies the "Seven Ages of Man" speech from "As You Like It" but I can't just put my hand on just now. It's along the lines of - a technology that's invented when you reach a certain age is new and exciting and you could possibly get a job working with it ..........
I'm sure someone will have the passage off by heart
"Anything that is in the world when you're born is normal and ordinary and is just a natural part of the way the world works. Anything that's invented between when you're fifteen and thirty-five is new and exciting and revolutionary and you can probably get a career in it. Anything invented after you're thirty-five is against the natural order of things." - Douglas Adams
(No, I didn't know it by heart, I just collect quotes and thought I'd step up. Great quote.)
Chemist has nailed it, but...
...If you have older female relatives, the 75 to 85 age range, it is worth asking if anyone ever worked as a telex operator in a larger company. If so, ask about 'net' and if there was ever any discussion about families and life across time zones..... 50s/60s answer to facebook
Nowt new under the sun
"All of which leaves your correspondent's retirement plan to down keyboard and take up a virtual sword looking rather sound."
Try a real sword. Dad and I have been fencing for 35+ years. He's still sharp as a tack, and beats me roughly half the time with foil & saber (sabre). Most of the time, I win at épée. Neither of us are fond of broadsword or quarterstaff anymore ... bruises take longer to heal as you age ;-)
He's also the person who got me into computers. Also 35+ years ago. I am 50ish. Dad is pushing 80. We are both retired ... and both take consulting jobs, when the mood strikes.
I guess my point is "pick your battles". Keep your mind & body exercised and properly nourished, and the rest will likely take care of itself.
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more tablets nurse ...... it's the future .... of ....... what? ... who are you?
On another note, I wonder about the results of an activity survey of older generation users and if it might be determined that they indulge in more constructive computational activities than the majority of younger generations. By which I mean less angry birds and more 'garden shed', getting things done, sort of a thing. By which I mean treating the computer as a tool and not a play thing. By which I mean ...errm, ..... now, what did I come in here for again ?
PINT - because I can't find my pipe and slippers (?!)
Old men who use computers MORE likely to get dementia
A new study has shown evidence that....
The same old crap, these studies are ten-a-penny. One week chocolate is good for you, then next week it is bad, then it's good again as long as you are over 40 and eat dark chocolate - a week later its bad again if you are 40 and eat dark chocolate over 90%.
In 2 weeks the headline will be
"Old men who use computers less likely to get dementia but more likely to top themselves due to loneliness brought on by old age and the fact they spend every waking mean surfing the net"
“I've come up with a set of rules that describe our reactions to technologies:
1. Anything that is in the world when you’re born is normal and ordinary and is just a natural part of the way the world works.
2. Anything that's invented between when you’re fifteen and thirty-five is new and exciting and revolutionary and you can probably get a career in it.
3. Anything invented after you're thirty-five is against the natural order of things.”
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