David Tan's Little Corner

                                                                                                       
 I'm David Tan, a retiree in my 70s.  The picture on the right shows me, my wife and our family .

To many, retirees in their late 60s and above should spend their twilight years doing nothing stressful.  They think that IT (Information Technology) is meant for younger people who need it to climb the career ladder.

They may be right in thinking that retirees should avoid challenges and live quietly, waiting for the final day to come

But I can't sit still.  Computer technology fascinates me. I want to use the technology to serve me: to get me information and to communicate speedily and effectively.  For example, I have since 1996 been using the computer to write, to go online to source for information and to send emails.  I have often used  PowerPoint to do slide presentations of reports, photos and lesson points.   Lately I have also created a website for myself, one for Tembusu Alumni, a grouping of Life Inspiration Award winners in Central Singapore CDC, and another website for RSVP Cyberguides. 

I enjoy helping other seniors to become IT literate.  I have been conducting computer courses since 1999 as a volunteer.  There are no monetary rewards; all I get from my students are lots of thank-yous . 

You may be wondering how an old man like me is able to learn so much of the new technology.  Frankly, for a retiree to become IT literate is not easy.

For one thing, you must have a lot of patience and don't give up easily. Fortunately for me, my two sons were helpful when I first intimated that I wanted to buy a computer. They helped me choose a suitable PC and set it up for me.  That was in 1996.  At that time, the computer speed was very much slower and

Cyberguide Training Class in session 2002

the machine broke down so very often.  I remember lugging the bulky CPU to my ISP's service centre for re-configuration and the agent's workshop for repairs no less than 10 times in the first year! But the trouble and frustrations made me more determined to succeed.  Luckily, whenever there were minor glitches, my sons were often there to help me. 

My second computer was faster and more reliable.  As for the third one, it was a much more powerful machine, with a speed of 566MHz overclocking to 800MHz. But as you know what was powerful and fast a few years ago is now considered slow and outdated!

Presently I have a much more powerful desktop with 2.4 GHz and 40 GB hard disk; and I'm using Windows XP Professional.  I have also bought a Pentium 4, 2.4 GHz notebook and a  multimedia projector mainly, for showing photo slides and films.  I'm crazy!

Yes, mastering computer skills can be stressful
if, as a beginner, you have no one to turn to for help.  You get really fed up when your machine plays "havoc" with you, refusing to obey your commands!  But somehow you learn, albeit slowly.  Your progress will however be faster if you read up computer books (I've more than a dozen of them and they don't come cheap), and your children and computer-savvy friends are there to help you.

                               Some of the books written by me

Learning computer skills is not stressful to me now.  In fact I enjoy upgrading my skills and teaching other seniors to be IT literate. Besides, computer learning and teaching gives you the necessary mental exercise to slow down the unavoidable brain degenerative process!

While attending a computer class, you can also make more friends.  Better still, if you come forward to help as tutor or trainer, you will surely have to know more than your students, thus challenging you to keep learning more and upgrading your own IT skills.  That's why I have since 1999 taught at IT centres such as those at Kebun Baru Community Club, Toa Payoh Community Library, Moulmein Community Club and RSVP (Retired & Senior Volunteer Programme).  

Life Inspiration Award 2002
I was made Chairman of RSVP's Project Cyberguide Committee in early 2001.  (RSVP Cyberguides are seniors whose main task is to guide/train other seniors to become IT savvy.)   During my tenure, I, with the help of a group of dedicated Cyberguides, helped Moulmein Community Club set up and  run the Moulmein IT centre.  Our main tasks were to provide instructors and conduct computer courses for seniors at the centre. That year, I was also responsible for the setting up of RSVP's own IT centre with 24 computers and a multimedia projector. 

As a volunteer, I have for the past 6 years conducted many computer courses in English and Mandarin for seniors.  Among the courses are: Basic Computer Course (9 hrs), E-mailing, Net Surfing, Word Processing, Hanyu Pinyin and Emailing in Chinese (15 hrs) and Cyberguide Training Programme (15 hours), PowerPoint Presentation of photos and Web Design Using FrontPage 2002.

I stepped down as Chairman of Project Cyberguide in March 2002 as it was almost a full-time job, but agreed to continue to help my fellow senior citizens to become IT literate.

Other interests I have are gardening, digital photography and travel. You will find more photos as you browse through my web pages, and you'll come to know me better through these pictures.

My lovely and loving wife Helen

I would  be happy to receive constructive feedback from you.

Thank you for visiting my Web site.