Imagine your children, nephews or nieces asking their grandparents, “How far away did you go on your longest trip when you were a kid? Where did you go? How did you get there?” And they get a response like this: “During World War II, when I was 9 years old, I took a train by myself from New York City to St. Louis, Missouri to spend the summer on my grandmother’s farm. The trip took 20 hours and the train was so full of soldiers and sailors that some people slept on the floor.”
Times have certainly changed. These days, I can’t imagine sending my 10-year-old daughter all by herself to visit her grandparents in another state. That’s why we need to preserve our older generations’ memories of the past. The quote above is Meg Hesher’s response to a school age child’s question from Generations on Line, a software program that is designed to facilitate or boost the Internet literacy of seniors. According to the Generations on Line web page, the mission of this nonprofit organization is: “to promote [Internet] technology to enhance the quality of life of older people. Aimed at the large population of older Americans who cannot afford or choose not to enroll in computer training or Internet training, Generations on Line is both a service for access and a product for learning.”
According to Tobey Dichter, founder and CEO, “Generations on Line computers have customized, easy-to-use software that introduces elders to the Internet and provides four basic functions: Very simple e-mail, an intergenerational discussion, searching in 36 different languages, and more choices (gateways to popular sites) including a simplified Medicare tutorial. A significant feature of Generations on Line is “Memories: Generation to generation,” specially designed to link school children with elders, and trapping their wisdom, experiences, and knowledge in an oral history and culture exchange.
“Generations on Line was created with passion and admiration for our elders-to include them in the communication revolution and capture their words and wisdom for other generations.”
In 2002, Generations on Line won the MindAlert Award for innovation in older adult learning from the American Society on Aging and the MetLife Foundation. Funding for Generations on Line was provided through a grant from the Chicago Community Trust. Oak Park Public Library is one of the 600 libraries throughout the United States providing Generations on Line software.
It features simple, large type, and plain English directions on each screen, so seniors can follow instructions and surf the web. Seniors can look up a topic by choosing one of the 36 languages. The search results are displayed on websites in the chosen language (e.g., Danish, German, Japanese). The “More Choices: Sites you might enjoy” section links you to authoritative and relevant sites such as Medicare Drug Benefit Plan (www.medicare.gov), Administration on Aging (www.aoa.gov), and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (www.va.gov). All you will need to do is click on these headings to be linked to the web pages. This way there is no need to type the web addresses. Seniors can also send electronic greeting cards to their families and friends.
You can access this software by using the computers at the Main Library, Dole Branch Library and Maze Branch Library. If you have any questions about Generations on Line, call the Information Services desk at 708/452-3480 or stop by the reference desk. For further comments, you can also contact Tobey Dichter, founder and CEO of Generations on Line at tobeydichter 215/922-3244.
Rashmi Thapliyal Swain works in Information Services at the Oak Park Public Library.