I want to start this year off right, and to do that; I want to get something off my chest. So I was at the grocery store a couple of months ago when I interacted with a guy who was waiting in line with me. He pointed to my Apple watch and noted how cool it was that I had one and that he had one too. I asked him if he thought it was great, as I did, but his remark confused me. “Oh man, I can’t figure the thing out. I’m late 40’s, and I think I’ve just missed the bus on being able to understand technology.”
This sent my brain to a grinding halt…..
I have always said that, with technology, there is no “age limit” to entry. Especially with how personal and personalizable our technology has become, we are no longer in the time when you would have to learn different coding languages to use specific programs. In a former job, I did have to work with a program that required “A particular set of skills” to use it properly. Even I would get flummoxed every once in a while.
1) We live in a Digital World – The world, over the past 20-30 years, has become more and more digital to the point that there is virtually no one over the age of 15 who doesn’t have access to SOME kind of Digital device. Most of these devices are getting more and more portable and easier to use every day, so the barrier for entry is getting lower and lower. In a world where Phone booths have all but disappeared (#Showingmyage), and personal communication is the accepted norm, it makes sense that we should all be able to keep up with the technological trends. I get that it can seem like things are changing every single day, but if you pay a little bit of attention (not a lot), you will be amazed how things stay the same. I remember dealing with a person (who shall remain nameless) who used one computer for ten years. The person in question didn’t have many “techie” skills and had got the computer how they liked it and knew the ins and outs. Unfortunately, when they switched to a new computer, they were baffled because “everything was different!!” In reality, what had happened was small changes to Operating systems and software over a long time had made significant changes. Still, if that person had done the proper thing of updating software and learning the changes when they went to the new machine, the change would not have been nearly as jarring.
2) You’re never too old – I don’t know how to put this politely, so I do apologize if you’re offended by the following statement. Saying you’re too old to understand the average person’s technology every day is complete crap. I get that some parts of it may be confusing, and some of the detailed codings may be a bit too complex, but saying that someone is “too old to learn” is something that boggles my mind. Age has nothing to do with it. I have seen 20-year-olds be baffled with e-mail and 60-year-olds programming their iPhones like pros. What matters when you’re dealing with technology is that you USE your technology. Certainly, there will be times that you want to use your tech one way, and it may seem like you can’t, but that’s no reason to throw in the towel. Whenever I get stuck with my Tech, I look for a resource that will explain how I can do what I want to do. There are many out there. There are Podcasts, there are u-tune videos, and there are even (ahem) helpful Blogs that will take you, step by step, through the programs you’re looking to use.
3) Tech is user friendly – What the tech companies realized early on was that they would be able to make MUCH more money if their products were easy to use by people who didn’t necessarily have a Ph.D. in technology. With everyone using it, the companies that will survive will be the ones that A) have the best features and; B) are super easy to use. Apple was amongst the first to realize that if you want the general public to embrace your product, you need to make it as easy to use as possible. “Just open it up and use it” was their mantra, and it should be the mantra of every hardware and software company going forward. I realize that with Cyber security, there will be some user setup involved, setting up accounts and passwords and whatnot, but if the user doesn’t need a technical manual in order to write a simple e-mail, then those are the products that will win the day.
4) The Tale of my Grandfather – I remember a while back, my Grandfather wanted to upgrade his entertainment system. He needed a new TV, and he then went into the local store and spoke to the experts. At the time, he was in his early 80’s and knew very little about LCD TVs or any other tech associated with them. I had heard that he bought a TV, Surround sound system, and new computers for him and my grandmother. At first, I thought that some sales guy had upsold him, so I went over to his place to see if he needed any help with the massive technology influx that he had. Not only did he have everything set up properly, but he (according to my grandmother) had also done some research and, by the end, was schooling the tech guys in how he wanted everything set up. He had taken the time to learn about the technology he was using and had taken control of (ahem) Organizing his digital life. Even to this day, when I think about what it may have been like for those setup guys coming in and being directed on how to set things up, it makes me smile.
I’ll be honest, I didn’t get the name or the contact information of the guy in the Grocery store who told me he was too old to understand technology, but I hope that this post finds its way to him. I hope that he realizes that it’s not too late for him. I hope that as we move forward with technology, it’s seen and understood that technology is, like everything else, dependent on how you use it. If you do the right things (Update regularly, manage your data correctly, and don’t download viruses), your experience with technology will be good. If you do all the wrong things, then you will have a much harder time. Some people have a very negative outlook on the future of technology. Shockingly, I’m not one of them. I think that right now, technology is advancing at such a phenomenal pace, and we’re all just trying to catch up. Still, there will come a time when there will be a balance between the advances of technology and everyone’s ability to take it all in. Technology is way more commonplace than it was 20 or even 30 years ago and it will become even more so going forward. The more you learn about how to use it, the easier your life will be.
How tech-savvy are you?
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