Besides setting up infocomm access facilities & offering training, IDA also developed a set of IT skills curriculum to increase infocomm literacy among senior citizens. There are two tracks, iBEGIN and iLIVE, for senior citizens to learn basic infocomm and digital lifestyle skills respectively.

iBEGIN modules guide senior citizens on basic infocomm activities such as how to use a computer, surf the Internet, create an email or instant messaging account. iBEGIN also teaches senior citizens how to make video calls using the Internet. The iLIVE track offers intermediate skill users lifestyle-related infocomm modules. For instance, senior citizens can learn how to make online transactions, such as the booking of air tickets and editing of digital photos.

The courseware booklets for the participants are presented in a step-by-step, comprehensive format, in English and Chinese versions. Currently the Silver Infocomm Initiative Curriculum covers a variety of 15 topics:

iBegin

• Basic Computer skills on XP

  • Uses of a computer
  • Healthy approaches to computer usage
  • Parts of a computer
  • Simple keyboard and mouse skills

• Basic Computer skills on Windows 7

  • Uses of a computer
  • Healthy approaches to computer usage
  • Parts of a computer
  • Simple keyboard and mouse skills

• e-Communications

  • Creating an email account, send email and attach files
  • Using instant messaging
  • Using VoIP to make audio or video calls

• Internet

  • Logging on to the Internet
  • Surfing the Internet
  • Search engine and tips

• Chinese input via Hanyu Pinyin 汉语拼音输入（视窗平台）

  • Introduction to Hanyu Pinyin
  • Methods to input Hanyu Pinyin
  • IME pad and software keyboard

• Chinese input via Handwriting Device 手写识别输入法（视窗平台）

  • Input of handwritten Chinese characters
  • Input of symbols

iLive

• e-Travel

  • Why e-travel
  • Booking rooms and tours online
  • Booking airline tickets online
  • Buying travel insurance online
  • Other travel requirements

• e-Transactions and Infocomm Security

  • Types of e-transactions
  • Online shopping websites and tips
  • Internet security

• Digital Photo Management

  • Downloading photographs to the computer
  • Downloading and installing Picasa
  • Managing and sharing photographs
  • Photography editing techniques

• e-Entertainment

  • Using the Internet to listen to music
  • Using the Internet to watch video clips
  • Internet games

• Social Networking

  • Types of social networking
  • Building profile and designing homepages
  • Networking with friends, chat and post comments

• Blogging

  • What is a blog
  • Write and post blogs

• Digital Video Management

  • Downloading digital video clips
  • Editing and enhancing video clips
  • Managing and sharing video clips among friends

• iBanking

  • Applying for iBanking
  • Checking bank statement online
  • iBanking services
  • Online security tips

• Health Information, Tools and Services

  • e-Health Information
  • e-Health Tools
  • e-Services
  • e-TCM
  • Assessing e-Health information

To find out more about the courses for senior citizens, please call any of the Silver Infocomm Junctions .