Ask Slashdot: Video Streaming For the Elderly?

First time accepted submitter ChrisC1234 writes "My grandparents are getting older and don't get out much anymore, and with the demise of video stores (and not even understanding what a RedBox is), they don't see movies anymore. They've got internet access, so I'm thinking of getting them a streaming appliance and a Netflix account. So I'm wondering what device is the easiest for elderly people to use. I'm thinking either a Roku or Apple TV, but open to other options. It just needs to be easy to navigate and support closed captioning. Has anyone else done this successfully?"

Comments

Apple TV

[iamwhoiamtoday]

The Apple TV setup is simple and straightforward. Minimal controls mean less things to mess up. My grandparents are getting up there, and they rarely mess it up with Netflix Streaming.

Re:Apple TV

[gyrf]

As far as I can tell, my Apple TV 2 doesn't do subtitles on Netflix. My Roku 2 XS does. That may make your decision for you. That aside, the Apple TV has a more consistent interface that is less likely to confuse non-tech-savvy users like your grandparents.

Re:Apple TV

[Dzimas]

The Apple TV 2 supports closed captioning in Netflix. Simply hold down the select button on the remote for several seconds and a captioning menu pops up. I second Apple TV. I introduced it to a retired neighbor who was growing increasingly irate at the endless bombardment of repeating commercials on cable. They absolutely love it.

Re:Apple TV

[jedidiah]

Sounds like the kind of "secret handshake" that no senior citizen would be able to cope with.

This sort of nonsense is why a "simple" interface really isn't.

This should be a global option in any video interface. If you find yourself fumbling to control this on a per video basis then the interface design is crap.

It doesn't matter how much you want to add to the mindless hype.

Re:Apple TV

[anubi]

I am going to speak as a senior citizen... as I am one.

Movies and music... yes, once they were a big part of my life. Now they are not. I have other things I would rather do than mess with pre-recorded "entertainment". I would much rather roll my own.

Once AM radio ( and its DJ, which I considered a personal friend ) was almost my god. The DJ is gone, replaced by a pre-recorded script. I would not even think of asking him to play anything for me - he can't - he is owned by the media ( clear-channel ) and is responsible to them, not pandering to me. He plays what he is ordered to play... me - I feel I am on the receiving end of an audio enema.

Movies have got so full of terribly boring repetitive ads which make my blood pressure boil upon the relentless pestering and consuming my time. If the ads were at least interesting, it would be OK, but business people have the idea its the "impression count" that matters - as if I am some sort of bolt that can be hammered away at until it opens the wallet. I am not. I end up turning the system off and leaving. Often angry. Its simply not worth it.

I was in a Carl's Jr restaurant today... the overhead TV was discussing various snippets of news the media saw fit to allow us commoners to see for free. Among the useless drivel was the "Top 10 music". I did not know a one of them. And frankly only one of them sounded the least bit interesting. All you media companies who have control and insisting on pay for every play, I concede defeat. You keep your music. It does not mean anything to me anymore. I would rather go tinker with my Arduino, blog on Slashdot, go tinker with an old oven my neighbor tossed out - and make a little place for me to tinker with lithium battery chargers but not burn the house down should an experiment go awry.

I guess what I am trying to say is as people get older, their drives change. Things that used to mean a lot no longer mean anything. Conversely, things that used to hold little value to me now mean a lot. Peace, for instance. Having a simple lifestyle. I am trying my best to divorce myself from all these companies who are trying their level best to marry me so they can pester me for the rest of my life with monthly bills.

Your grandparents may not be interested in this at all.

Talk to them.

I can not speak for all senior citizens, but for what its worth, this was one senior citizen's take on this.

Perhaps Hulu Plus instead?

[Oysterville]

I know that you didn't ask about which service to choose, but given their age perhaps the long library of older TV shows offered by Hulu might be a better choice. They've got many shows from the 50's that might appeal to them more.

Re:Perhaps Hulu Plus instead?

[foniksonik]

I'm watching The Andy Griffith Show on Netflix right now. Eight seasons with 30+ episodes per. I saw Leave it to Beaver too. Netflix library is getting bigger all the time. They just added Antiques Roadshow and lots of other PBS content.

Ask slashdot

[stormpunk]

No, nobody has ever set up a Roku successfully. Netflix is a fad.

WTF is up with these ask slashdot questions? If it's not "give me teh codez" then it's "I've got a leaky faucet, is that a thing that's fixable or do I need a new house".

Something built into the TV? Samsung?

[vinn]

Perhaps get them a TV with Netflix already built into it? Something like a Samsung?

I think the key is to set up the remote properly so they can access everything using a minimal number of remote controls, preferably just one. I think that's what confuses most people.. hell it even confuses me.

what my parents use

[miowpurr]

Both of my parents (born in 1940) have their own iPad with the Netflix app installed. That way they can watch whatever they want, at whatever volume they need, and not fight over what to watch.

Re:what my parents use

[wisnoskij]

Married for 40 years and he sill has an opinion on what he wants to watch?

Re:Netflix Button

[CrankyFool]

I'm not a big fan of CE devices' approach to Netflix, not so much because of the Netflix angle but because of their firmware update angle. I still have a Samsung BD player with Netflix, but they don't update the firmware on it (at least, not the part that deals with Netflix) and so its capabilities are extremely limited.

I've got a PS3, XBox, AppleTV, Wii, the aforementioned Samsung BD player, and a Roku at home; through work, I have access to pretty much every other device that plays Netflix. I prefer (and, more importantly given who we're talking about here, my non-tech wife prefers) the AppleTV as a streaming device.

Consider WD TV Play

[fuego451]

I'm a great-grandfather so I suppose I'd qualify as 'elderly', though I have no idea what that word means and I don't like it. I have several streaming devices but only one that I'd recommend for people of any age who are technically challenged and that's the WD (Western Digital) TV Play. Much like the Roku and Apple TV, the WD is small, easy to set up and less expensive than the Roku and Apple; a big plus for us 'elderly' on fixed incomes. I'm currently using it on an older HD TV and it has never given me any problems and doesn't do any weird shit on its own; like my streaming blu ray player does. Oh, and did I tell you it runs imbedded Linux? How could you possibly go wrong?

Myth TV

[Hognoxious]

MythTV. A rule of thumb in setting up any system is to put yourself in the place of the user.

By the time you get it working, you'll be as old as they are now. (drrrTISH!!!)

iPad -- Nufsed

[m6ack]

If you are interested in no fuss, get your elderly parent an iPad. They will love it with Netflix streaming because they can make it as close to their eyes as necessary for them, and they -- and they can get a good quality pair of headphones (with inductive coupling to the hearing aid, possibly) to make it eaisier for them to hear. And yes, the ipad app has captioning.

When they are more comfortable, they will download books and recipies, and love it because the paper won't take up much space in their home and they can enlarge the text to exactly what they want. They will be delighted when they figure out how best to do video chat with you (whether that might be Facetime or otherwise) for "free."

And for you, once her internet connection is up and running, the purchase will be a "painless" one for support... no need to configure the device for her, no need to "set the clock on the DVD player" or what have you... You will be free to have conversations about more important things for your life.

This is from a long time Linux geek whose 70+ year old mom is pleased as punch with her iPad. Even though I am a die-hard Linux guy & would rather have myself on the latest and greatest Linux-ish device -- her happiness & piece of mind is worth a lot to me. This makes her happy.

Re:Something built into the TV? Samsung?

[jedidiah]

My kid loved MythTV when he was 3 years old. The young are not the users you have to worry about. Even the old aren't necessarily a problem.

It's the lazy/helpless types that are a problem and these come in all age groups. You may find an 80 year old that's much more adaptable to modern computing tech than some 60 year old.

The assumption that Granny can't handle tech is a stupid incorrect stereotype.