Computer Games for the Eldery?

W

W. eWatson

I have an elderly neighbor with an XP machine. He seldom uses it, but I
found that he can play solitaire under Games. He liked it, but not so with
checkers. The problem there is: 1. his ability to control the house, 2.
advertising pop-ups, and 3. the game seems to time-out after a few minutes.
I would guess the ads are not part of the XP distribution. Maybe a dose of
adware or some like tool?

Any game suggestions for him or disabled people?
--
W. eWatson

(121.015 Deg. W, 39.262 Deg. N) GMT-8 hr std. time)
Obz Site: 39° 15' 7" N, 121° 2' 32" W, 2700 feet

Web Page: <www.speckledwithstars.net/>
 
A

Anthony Buckland

W. eWatson said:
I have an elderly neighbor with an XP machine. He seldom uses it, but I
found that he can play solitaire under Games. He liked it, but not so with
checkers. The problem there is: 1. his ability to control the house, 2.
advertising pop-ups, and 3. the game seems to time-out after a few minutes.
I would guess the ads are not part of the XP distribution. Maybe a dose of
adware or some like tool?

Any game suggestions for him or disabled people?
--
W. eWatson

(121.015 Deg. W, 39.262 Deg. N) GMT-8 hr std. time)
Obz Site: 39° 15' 7" N, 121° 2' 32" W, 2700 feet

Web Page: <www.speckledwithstars.net/>
Click to expand...

I don't know Nevada City, but Google Earth shows something that
looks a lot like a mall where Broad meets highway 49. With luck,
there will be somebody there with racks of ten-dollar games
collections, at least one of which will offer a number of board
games including checkers and others. First, find out what games
your neighbor has enjoyed in the real-board-and-real-pieces world.
He might enjoy something he's never heard of before in one of
these collections, of course.

In Canada, I'd look for a big chain drugstore or a big stereo store.
Your mileage may vary.
 
B

Big_Al

W. eWatson said this on 2/20/2009 11:51 PM:
I have an elderly neighbor with an XP machine. He seldom uses it, but I
found that he can play solitaire under Games. He liked it, but not so
with checkers. The problem there is: 1. his ability to control the
house, 2. advertising pop-ups, and 3. the game seems to time-out after a
few minutes. I would guess the ads are not part of the XP distribution.
Maybe a dose of adware or some like tool?

Any game suggestions for him or disabled people?
Click to expand...

Not sure what "disabled" means.
This is an old game of 4ufree. Its was hard to google and find a
working copy. I've had this for years and like it. Its a 4 player
game but one person can play it. I has no speed or time limit to it.
Its the card game sevens. You start a suit with a 7, each player
going around tosses a card. If you are the highest you win the hand.
You go until all cards an played. The idea is not to get certain
cards, so basically you try to always have the lowest card. Hint, if
you play a 2 of hearts, and no one has any hearts, you have the highest
card and win. Hearts are bad!!!. So it more of a mind game if
that's okay.

Has he tried spider solitaire. Its built into XP. I like that one for
no brainer. And freecell is another one I like. But then again,
depends on their ability. I tell my clients to play solitaire to learn
how to use the mouse, but that seemed to be your first complaint above
(if that's a typo and you didn't mean controlling the house like in
Vegas).

Good luck.
 
O

olfart

Ron Badour said:
Elderly people sometimes have trouble double clicking. If that is the
case, try having him right click/open.
Click to expand...
or go to Control Panel>Folder Options and set up "single click"
While you are in CP, go to mouse and set up a larger pointer
 
W

W. eWatson

Anthony said:
I don't know Nevada City, but Google Earth shows something that
looks a lot like a mall where Broad meets highway 49. With luck,
there will be somebody there with racks of ten-dollar games
collections, at least one of which will offer a number of board
games including checkers and others. First, find out what games
your neighbor has enjoyed in the real-board-and-real-pieces world.
He might enjoy something he's never heard of before in one of
these collections, of course.

In Canada, I'd look for a big chain drugstore or a big stereo store.
Your mileage may vary.
Click to expand...
Yes, Mtn. Pastimes. I know it well, and the owners are really into games,
puzzles, and magic. A good place to shop in our two neighboring small cities.

He's not a typical board game player, and has virtually no one to play with.
I had hoped when he got a Nintendo Wii that he would play it alone for
exercise. Nope. If someone doesn't challenge him to golf, it sits.

--
W. eWatson

(121.015 Deg. W, 39.262 Deg. N) GMT-8 hr std. time)
Obz Site: 39° 15' 7" N, 121° 2' 32" W, 2700 feet

Web Page: <www.speckledwithstars.net/>
 
W

W. eWatson

Big_Al said:
W. eWatson said this on 2/20/2009 11:51 PM:

Not sure what "disabled" means.
This is an old game of 4ufree. Its was hard to google and find a
working copy. I've had this for years and like it. Its a 4 player
game but one person can play it. I has no speed or time limit to it.
Its the card game sevens. You start a suit with a 7, each player
going around tosses a card. If you are the highest you win the hand.
You go until all cards an played. The idea is not to get certain
cards, so basically you try to always have the lowest card. Hint, if
you play a 2 of hearts, and no one has any hearts, you have the highest
card and win. Hearts are bad!!!. So it more of a mind game if
that's okay.

Has he tried spider solitaire. Its built into XP. I like that one for
no brainer. And freecell is another one I like. But then again,
depends on their ability. I tell my clients to play solitaire to learn
how to use the mouse, but that seemed to be your first complaint above
(if that's a typo and you didn't mean controlling the house like in Vegas).

Good luck.
Click to expand...
See my post to just above yours for other details. I'll take a look for
freecell. House? That's funny. Yes, mouse. I consider him disabled, because
he has limited abilities with his hands and needs a walker to get around
now. If he plays with the mouse long enough, he can get the hang of it.

If spider solitaire requires others on the net, that probably isn't going to
work. I noticed that checkers had that feature, and turned if off to let him
play against the computer. My worry with the pop-up ads and any network play
is that he will get confused. He's definitely got a good mind, and reads
large prints often. He's also very hard of hearing, 90+.

--
W. eWatson

(121.015 Deg. W, 39.262 Deg. N) GMT-8 hr std. time)
Obz Site: 39° 15' 7" N, 121° 2' 32" W, 2700 feet

Web Page: <www.speckledwithstars.net/>
 
W

W. eWatson

olfart said:
or go to Control Panel>Folder Options and set up "single click"
While you are in CP, go to mouse and set up a larger pointer
Click to expand...
Yep, I introduced that to him some time ago, but then because of an
operation some months ago, he's been out of touch with the computer. I'm
trying to ease him back into it all.

--
W. eWatson

(121.015 Deg. W, 39.262 Deg. N) GMT-8 hr std. time)
Obz Site: 39° 15' 7" N, 121° 2' 32" W, 2700 feet

Web Page: <www.speckledwithstars.net/>
 
W

W. eWatson

W. eWatson said:
Yep, I introduced that to him some time ago, but then because of an
operation some months ago, he's been out of touch with the computer. I'm
trying to ease him back into it all.
Click to expand...
Whoops. Missed the larger pointer. Good idea.

--
W. eWatson

(121.015 Deg. W, 39.262 Deg. N) GMT-8 hr std. time)
Obz Site: 39° 15' 7" N, 121° 2' 32" W, 2700 feet

Web Page: <www.speckledwithstars.net/>
 
F

franktee

It's not like reading a lengthy article.
It's a spelling game and very challenging. {:>)
 
D

Doug W.

As an old fart, I enjoy SCRABBLE. Kelloggs gave a pile of them
away free in their cereal boxes a few years back. I play it
every day and usually play against the computer at the
intermediate level and win about 95% of the games. Very
customizable re: sounds and play characteristics.

Someone must have a copy of the game kicking around.
-
Doug W.
======
 
O

olfart

Doug W. said:
As an old fart, I enjoy SCRABBLE. Kelloggs gave a pile of them away free
in their cereal boxes a few years back. I play it every day and usually
play against the computer at the intermediate level and win about 95% of
the games. Very customizable re: sounds and play characteristics.

Someone must have a copy of the game kicking around.
-
Doug W.
======
Click to expand...
try Google
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=free+scrabble&btnG=Google+Search
 
R

Ron Badour

I play Scrabble on Pogo and there are a ton of other free games there as
well.

--
Regards

Ron Badour
MS MVP
Windows Desktop Experience
 
P

Phisherman

I have an elderly neighbor with an XP machine. He seldom uses it, but I
found that he can play solitaire under Games. He liked it, but not so with
checkers. The problem there is: 1. his ability to control the house, 2.
advertising pop-ups, and 3. the game seems to time-out after a few minutes.
I would guess the ads are not part of the XP distribution. Maybe a dose of
adware or some like tool?

Any game suggestions for him or disabled people?
Click to expand...


People with disabilities can greatly vary. Provide a variety to see
which ones spark interest, others non at all. You may want to
install other card games. Word games are popular too
 
B

beamish

I have an elderly neighbor with an XP machine. He seldom uses it, but I
found that he can play solitaire under Games. He liked it, but not so with
checkers. The problem there is: 1. his ability to control the house, 2.
advertising pop-ups, and 3. the game seems to time-out after a few minutes.
I would guess the ads are not part of the XP distribution. Maybe a dose of
adware or some like tool?

Any game suggestions for him or disabled people?
--
                                W. eWatson

              (121.015 Deg. W, 39.262 Deg. N) GMT-8 hr std.time)
               Obz Site:  39° 15' 7" N, 121° 2' 32"W, 2700 feet

                     Web Page: <www.speckledwithstars.net/>
Click to expand...

Hello,
Try http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...84-A788-49D6-8C7A-966B72C014F7&displaylang=en
A free card game, easy for one person to play.
This is a page that has links to some free games.
http://www.microsoft.com/nz/digital...lassics_RPG_to_shooter_they_are_all_free.mspx
Many computer stores sell inexpensive game cd's, many in the $10.00 US
per cd. From card games, board games to action games.
take care.
beamish.
 
W

W. eWatson

Phisherman said:
People with disabilities can greatly vary. Provide a variety to see
which ones spark interest, others non at all. You may want to
install other card games. Word games are popular too
Click to expand...
See thread above about his limitations and age.

--
W. eWatson

(121.015 Deg. W, 39.262 Deg. N) GMT-8 hr std. time)
Obz Site: 39° 15' 7" N, 121° 2' 32" W, 2700 feet

Web Page: <www.speckledwithstars.net/>
 
W

W. eWatson

beamish said:
Hello,
Try http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...84-A788-49D6-8C7A-966B72C014F7&displaylang=en
A free card game, easy for one person to play.
This is a page that has links to some free games.
http://www.microsoft.com/nz/digital...lassics_RPG_to_shooter_they_are_all_free.mspx
Many computer stores sell inexpensive game cd's, many in the $10.00 US
per cd. From card games, board games to action games.
take care.
beamish.
Click to expand...
See thread above for games he can play by himself, and on the PC.

--
W. eWatson

(121.015 Deg. W, 39.262 Deg. N) GMT-8 hr std. time)
Obz Site: 39° 15' 7" N, 121° 2' 32" W, 2700 feet

Web Page: <www.speckledwithstars.net/>
 

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