Digital Seniors – Meet the Coaches: Roger Fraser
Martinborough resident Roger Fraser is one of the coaches for Digital Seniors, the voluntary organisation that offers free coaching to seniors to help them with their smart phones, tablets or laptops. The goal for Digital Seniors is to enable older people to get full value from their digital devices, and so close the “digital divide” between many retired persons and the contemporary world where so much has to take place “on-line”.
Roger is well placed to help; his business career spans the initial arrival of computers in the work place.
“I recall the first word-processor we had in our Auckland office; a big ‘Wang’ word-processor, with a black screen and fluorescent characters. That would have been early 1980’s, perhaps earlier. It was an era where we sent our business reports to HQ in the USA via telex tapes! The first processors were not connected to the internet, so really were just fancy typewriters.
“When I moved to Melbourne with the company about 1986, I recall our accountant there (in a very large, multi-divisional manufacturing operation, with over 1,000 employees) saying “we will only need one fax machine for the company. They are very expensive”. One fax machine! But soon after the computers arrived; he had a fit!
“In Melbourne I got my first mobile phone – the size of a house brick and just as heavy. And my first portable computer (the size of a sewing machine!)
“I was very interested in how these new machines worked; but for me it was all self-taught. At home we had early Atari and Commodore 64-based PC games; then we had a small Sinclair PC loaned to us for a while, so I got intrigued about programing then.
“It was an interesting era to work through, as technology dramatically changed the speed at which work was done, and the speed of communications. In the old days I used to send my telex or mail off to my boss and have a few days to relax until he read it. With the advent of the internet, and email, his replies were instantaneous. No more down-time to enjoy!
The pace of change presents challenges, which are just really opportunities in disguise. I was reminded of that in one of our Digital Seniors training sessions, when one of our participants said to me “Roger, this is has been marvelous, being able to use my smart phone with confidence will transform my life”.
It was so motivating for me, as a coach, to hear that! All our Digital Seniors coaches have the same motivation as me, which is to make sure all our seniors and friends can make the most of our new technology without any problems.”
Roger and other local coaches meet at St Andrew’s Church Hall in Dublin Street on Thursdays, 0930-1130. Come along – the atmosphere is relaxed and friendly. Or call 0800 373 646; you may be offered immediate help or have an appointment arranged. Digital Seniors are here to help!
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