[Driving & the Elderly]
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In response to Rayson's comment on theelderly
, I agree that the population of the elderly is increasing. The life expectancy is getting longer, due to medical technology, medicine and research, that is helping people live longer. Sometimes children who have parents that are elderly, do not want to accept the responsibility of taking care of their parents. It is often times referred to as a "burden". Saying is easier than doing. Althought the physical deteriotration of physical functions and reflexes of the elderly cannopt be helped, the adjustments and improvements to help compensate for the deteriorating physical functions, could actually enhance an elderly person's life. An elderly person's incentive to live is the most important thing. Therefore, sometimes, taking away the priveledge of driving, can be very traumatic and stressful for an elderly person.
Testing
A solution to determine if a person is able to drive, is incorporating a new driver's license renewal procedure. Perhaps more advance equipment that a person can demonstrate their ability might be more practical. Kinda of like the video game, where you sit down, and you have the power to speed up and steer, could be used to test the elderly person's ability to drive. Hey how hard can it be to memorize questions.
Ergonomics
If you watch t.v., you probably have seen the nissan maxima commercial. They advertise that they are trying to incorporate ergonomics in their design of cars, to better accomodate the driver. For example, larger buttons to adjust the outside mirror, better steering and handle bar grip, stuff like that. These new additions to the car will assist the driver's ability to operate and manuever the car better. Faster locking brakes will not stop a ca from hitting a tree, if the reason for hitting the tree was because of bad eyesight. Therefore the physical and mental ability to operate a vehicle in the streets is a much more responsible duty than it seems, for the lives of others is at risk.
Also look at ITS
Crosswalks
Hey did anyone ever notice that the designs of crosswalks are made for someone who is able bodied.? The inadequate designs of crosswalks could actually contribute to the large number of elderly persons who still drive. The chances of falling down and getting injured is more likely than driving a car.
If you ever tried to cross the intersection to get to Burger King from Sinclair,is impossible. Unless you run. It seems like the minute you step off of the curb the red hand is flashing. How long do you think it would take an elderly person to cross the street? The elderly are just like everyone else. Driving is more convenient, so as long "as I have a license I am going to drive", attitude will continue. There are a few exceptions to the rule. My friends' dad, just stopped driving. He was scared that he was going to get into an accident. I was shocked becuase he was a "brake happy" driver, and I thought that he would take our advice to not drive because he's wild. Some suggestions are to make the outlining of the crosswalks brighter, make some lines made out of plastic speed bumps couple feet away before the actual crosswalk to warn the driver that a crosswalk is coming up and to be aware......Or replace some crosswalks, with/a>
Smartcom for Windows
VoT,m}~,Dedication
Boy, does it take dedication to keep up with this class. If you are a procrastinator like me, you know where I am coming from. Reading Joleen'sinfo shock
, I realized that dedicating my time in using the Internet, was not only to get a decent grade for Dr. James' class, but it would also in the long run be beneficial to me. But how long would I be able to retain everything I learned. Would I have to work on the Internet to keep up with everything? What about those persons who does not have access to it consistently? I guess if we really wanted to do something we would find a way. Its for our own good anyway.
Confession...........I do not really like working on the computer. I am just not a "computer person". I do get a kick out of using it, but I'd rather be shopping or talking on the phone. The hook that got me was, e-mail and talking thorugh the computer.. Because using the e-mail saves paper, which saves trees, and saves you time in writing. Also the person you are writing to doesn't have to know that your messy handwriting didn't imporve over the years. Of course people to call are limited because not everybody knows how to useit, or they don't have it. You can even save $ on postage and faxes. You know that everyone's excuse for not writing to a friend is "i don't have the time!", now you have now excuses to keep incontact with that big headed friend from intermediate school who moved to the mainland, or that aunty that asks you a million questions about your love life. Jae's
description of using "finger", describes this new communication technique. Using the computer to talk, takes away the fear of ease-droppers who use scanners to listen to other people's conversation.
Once again in reference to Joleen's
report, working on the computer for hours is very stressful on the eyes, neck, hands, wrists, and head. I wish I could bring my computer wrist pad to the lab. My hands get all weak, and then when I hope into my car, I have no grip. Also the staring at the screen for hours, takes a toll on your eyes. You must take a break periodically, or it can really do some damage to your eyes. Don't you wish you could just sit in a lounge chair, by the pool, with the computer on your lap and do your homework? Yo would kill two birds with one stone. Yo could get a tan and finish your homework. But unless you are Demi Moore or Tom Cruise, you wouldn't be able to afford it. But we can dream and drool right?
Excuses
I was tripping out on the kinds of reasons for accidents people get into. I was actually able to laugh about something in the lab. Being in the lab for hours, is not something to laugh or smile about, when you have no idea when yo are going to get bumped off. Anyway, thanks to
Form vs. Content
My opinion on grading is that content, form, and attendence, should be taken into consideration in grading. I think that if form, format, and set up of the paper is what's going to determine what kind of grade a person is going to receive, then the class should be considered a computer class. But who am I to say, how a an instructor should grade their student's work. Check out Kendall's
report.
Reviewing the Instructor's article, I realized that Dr. James put more time and effort into incorporating the use of the Internet into his class. At least this semester we don't have to go to Hamilton Library for reseach or references! Anyway in the methodology
section I would like to suggest, maybe having another person in the car while you are driving. Yu can still do your self witnessing reports, but you can also hear the opinions, comments, remarks and reactions to your driving from another person's perspective. Afetr all, your own opinion is always the worst. Who knows if we have access to information all over the world through the Internet, would libraries still exist in ten years? What a thought! Who knows where the Information Super Highway will lead us? No doors to anything. Gee, will the only thing that is confidential and private is what your brain can hold? Nothing is safe anymore.
Atmosphere
In regards to what Dr. James has mentioned in his Atmosphere
, I would like mention that some people learn to do things better if they can watch someone else do it, first hand. It helps decrease the fear of trying something out for the first time. Maybe in the future Psy 459 classes having one class period at the lab, to start off, might actually give every novice a positive attitude towards utilizing the Internet for class.