A gift to consider for Father’s Day

If you’re still wondering what to get dear old dad (or granddad) for Father’s Day this year, consider giving him the ability to take a digital walk down memory lane. If he already has a computer and is comfortable using it, then this is probably not for him. But if he’s like one of the many older folks who still doesn’t use computers very much, then this is a relatively painless way of getting him online and doing more of what he already likes to do: watch TV.

One of the reasons people avoid using computers is that they are still far too difficult to use. But a stripped-down tablet can be tailored for use by just about anyone. The tablet could be the latest iPad Pro, but it could just as easily be a far less-expensive Kindle Fire. It only needs two apps installed: a browser and YouTube, both of which are available across all devices and platforms. These two apps are also available on most Smart TVs, but search is more cumbersome, which is why I recommend a personalized tablet instead.

YouTube offers a wealth of channels and programs. The quality varies significantly, but the ability to watch old TV shows is something dad with appreciate. For example, a quick search on YouTube for “I Love Lucy” brings up many episodes of this timeless classic. The same is true for many of the shows dad used to watch, which he can now enjoy again.

The browser is used primarily to access streaming media services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. You’ll have to setup an account for dad on each of these services, but once that’s done, he’ll be able to watch movies and TV shows at his leisure. He’ll also be able to listen to audio books, Internet radio stations, and live TV if he wants to. Browsers like Chrome and Safari all support this, so the tablet he’ll use is not very important. The Fire 7 tablet from Amazon is just $50 and it comes with Alexa as well, so dad can ask questions about the weather or sports scores in a natural manner.

I suggest you remove (or bundle into a “Do Not Use” folder) all the other apps that come on the tablet. Keep the interface clean, with just the browser and YouTube on the main screen. Once dad gets used to it, you can expand the tablet’s capabilities to include photos, something that is sure to please him. It’s all about making it easy for him to relive the best things of his past from the comfort of his favorite chair.

Scott Tilley is a professor at the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne. Contact him at TechnologyToday@srtilley.com.