Waltham resident Robert Pilicy says he is proof "you can teach an old dog new tricks."
Pilicy, 63, has improved his computer skills through courses at the William F. Stanley Senior Center. "I only recently familiarized myself with the world of cyberspace. I am not an expert yet," he said.
The proficiency Pilicy gained at the center may be extended to other senior citizens in the state under a bill reintroduced to the Joint Committee on Elder Affairs.
The bill's longtime champion, Sen. Richard Moore, D-Uxbridge, said his legislation could provide funds to communities with senior centers to install Internet access and network-compatible computers.
Debra Montville, Moore's staff director, said the bill was introduced at a time when many senior centers did not have Internet access. The bill was refiled this year and Montville said more centers do have Internet access now, but they all could use additional resources.
Many local centers that already provide computers with Internet access support the technology bill.
"It would emphasize how important computers are to people of all ages," said Joanne Fisher, the program coordinator for the Newton Senior Center.
Fisher also said the new legislation would make senior centers more recognized as a place for computers. "It would help us because there would be a greater understanding of why we need the equipment," she said.
Fisher said the computer equipment was either purchased by the center or donated. With the center already connected to the Internet, Fisher said they are ready to take the next step.
"We are about to embark on getting wireless," she said.
The Newton center also offers one-on-one computer tutorials taught by volunteers. Residents can learn basic computer skills, including navigating the Internet and e-mail.
"You're never too old to learn," she said.
Bill Coady, a 76-year-old Newton resident, is scheduled to take an Internet course for the second time at the Newton center. The course helps him keep up with his Internet skills, some of which Coady learned on the job before he retired.
"I am handicapped if I don't have reasonably good skills to use Internet service," he said.
Coady said the proposed legislation should benefit all communities, although some are more computer literate than others. Newton is an intellectual community where a lot of senior citizens have computer skills, he said.
"Other communities may not have launched into a program to teach skills, but it is inevitable," he said.
Waltham's center has a computer lab with Internet access. Computers were donated by the city's management information systems department.
Marybeth Duffy, the director of the center and the Council on Aging, said the Waltham center is doing well, but could always use help.
"I would like to increase the use of the computer lab outside of scheduled classes," she said.
