At the Top of His Tech

Of course, plenty of older adults have been interested and involved in computers and digital technology for a long time. Programmers, computer specialists and software designers include people of all ages.

One example is Gene Rubel (pictured right.) After retiring from a successful career in business and financial management, he began to think about what to do next.

“Computers have been a hobby of mine for the last 50 years,” he explained. “During that time I’ve helped hundreds of people with their computers, and once I retired, I thought maybe I could turn my hobby into a business.” volunteers see students’ eyes light up when discovering some of the things their phones can do.

That business is Digital Device Doctor. It’s been keeping Rubel busy, and his clients sane, since he started it two years ago. While Rubel is happy to work with anyone of any age, he does prefer to limit his focus to Windows-based operating systems, as well as Apple and Android devices. “These days, the only Mac I work on is my wife’s!” he added.

According to Rubel, a lot of his clients are older folks who can get overwhelmed by their computers and devices, and who haven’t been able to keep up with the latest technology. That’s where his extensive experience and knowledge of the latest advances really pays off.

“It’s rewarding when you see those ‘ah-ha moments’ where your students figure out how something works,” Keeter said.

“I remember the first time one of my groups sent their first text messages, with selfies, to their kids and grandkids. There were big smiles all around, me included!” ■

“I work a lot with networking issues, figuring out if a slow computer is due to a glitch in the computer itself or in the network connection. Sometimes the computers and devices have trouble syncing up. Often, it’s a security issue and I need to remove malware or ransomware,” Rubel explained. “But these are all solvable problems.”

Along with solving all those problems, Rubel also offers consultations to clients on their purchases, including new computers, devices and any necessary equipment. He guides them on everything from password management to sorting and storing their digital photos. There’s even a weekly Digital Device Doctor newsletter.

While all this keeps Rubel busy, that’s just fine with him. “I really like working with people. I don’t get frustrated, and I’m happy to take the time and answer their questions. There’s just one problem working with seniors,” Rubel said with a chuckle. “My biggest competitors are their kids and grandkids!” ■

Where to go to learn more…

Bluehair Technology

Workshops and classes that focus on various tech topics are held throughout the Atlanta metro area. Examples of October offerings include iPhone Basics at Saint Jude the Apostle Catholic Church in Sandy Springs, Windows 10 Basics at Second Ponce de Leon Baptist Church’s Family Life Center in Atlanta and Cyber Sunday at the St. George Village Activity Center in Roswell. Visit bluehairtech.org to learn more. Anyone interested in donating or volunteering is also invited to visit the site.

Local Libraries

Many libraries in the area offer technology classes that are not necessarily senior-based. The best advice is to call or drop in at your local library and see what they have scheduled. You can, of course, check their websites, but be warned—some library sites are challenging to navigate. Still, you can find library phone numbers on the sites.

Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System: afpls.org

Cobb County Public Library System: cobbcat.org

DeKalb County Public Library System: dekalblibrary.org

Gwinnett County Public Library System: gwinnettpl.org

Sequoyah Regional Library System (Cherokee, Pickens, Gilmer): sequoyahregionallibrary.org

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