Persona 1: Norman Collier (85)

Name: Norman Collier
Age: 85
Gender: Male
Ethnicity: White British
Marital Status: Widower
Children: One Daughter, One Son
Location: Douglas, Isle of Man
Occupation: Retired School Teacher
Hobbies: Walking, theatre, natural history, model railways, pub quizzes, reading and chess

I don't want to have to learn how to use a computer at my age. I just want to be able to send e-mails and learn more about the subject of my favourite TV programmes by visiting their website, just as they say at the end of the show. It does frustrate me that I can't.

Background:

Norman lives alone in a 3 bedroom terraced house on the outskirts of Douglas, a property that has served as the family home for four generations. Widowed for 10 years, following the passing of his beloved wife Emily, Norman continues to enjoy a fulfilling social life, attending church every Sunday and remaining an active member of his community. As a retired school teacher, Norman worked in the same area in which he still lives, and is considered to be quite a character, remembered fondly by everyone he taught. He is consequently well known, liked and respected in his local area, having taught several generations of the same families before retiring at the age of 68.

Norman was born on the Island and has lived their his whole life except for a number of years during the Second World War where he served overseas with the Royal Navy, during which time he met Emily, a Lancashire girl, who was serving as a Wren. After the war Emily returned to the Island with Norman, where they married and moved in to the family home with his parents while looking for work and preparing for their new life together. Norman's parents passed away three years later, a year after the birth of their first grandchild, Elizabeth, and it is at this address where Norman and Emily lived and raised their family.

Description:
Following their retirement, and with a keen interest in geography and history, Norman and Emily travelled to several countries, mostly in western Europe, but also to the US a few times to visit Norman's sister, Barbara, who emigrated there after the war with her American husband. They also visited New Zealand twice to visit their daughter and her family, who moved there in 1980. Norman's son, Kenneth, and his wife still live on the Island, working in investment banking, while Kenneth's three daughters are currently studying at university in Bangor, Edinburgh and Birmingham.

Consequently, while still having many friends on the Island and a relatively active social life for his age, the majority of Norman's family lives overseas and he can occasionally feel quite isolated and lonely, despite talking to them fairly regularly on the phone.

For an 85 year old Norman is in very good health. He attributes this to living by the coast, where he enjoys the fresh sea breeze while walking along Douglas promenade each day for exercise, which he does with the use of a walking stick, although he admits it takes him much longer than it used to because of his osteoarthritis. He also still enjoys visiting Laxey Wheel and walking the surrounding countryside, but tires very easily and now visits far less often than he'd like. His eyesight is also very good, requiring glasses only to read, having had cataracts removed from both eyes during the last 5 years, which has improved his vision greatly. He admits that he is becoming slightly deaf but does not require any additional support for this.

He is very interested in natural history, Manx national heritage and has recently started researching his family tree. He enjoys visiting the theatre and has always had a keen interest in model railways and steam locomotion. He also used to contend in the TT Races in his youth, after the war, and still enjoys visiting the festival each year for its lively and welcoming atmosphere.

Norman likes to keep his mind active by attending quizzes at his local pub, over the odd pint of course, and doing crosswords. He enjoys playing chess, too, but plays less often now following the death of his childhood friend, Fergus, 3 years ago, with whom he enjoyed a regular game, as he now finds it difficult to find an opponent who matches his level and experience.

Computer Proficiency

Norman has never used a personal computer. Furthermore, he is not interested in learning how to do so "at [his] age"

Familiarity with Internet

Is aware of its existence and wishes he could visit some websites he often sees advertised on television (see below). However, he sees his lack of computer proficiency as a barrier.

Attitude to Technology

Norman owns a mobile phone and sends the occasional text message but only really uses it in an emergency. He is fascinated by technology but often finds it confusing and overwhelming. He likes to read and watch TV to relax but can only receive reception for 4 channels on the Island and does not have digital television. He is not a fan of soaps, hospital dramas, talent shows and reality TV and so finds there is little on television that he actually wants to watch, although he does like murder mysteries, documentaries and, in particular, Time Team.

Goals

He "would like to find out more" about his favourite programme by visiting the website, as he is invited to, but is frustrated that he does not have the means.

He would like to have access to the internet so that he may research his family tree further and send/receive emails to his sister, daughter and 5 grandchildren, but is not interested in learning how to use a computer "at [his] age".