Thoughts on how people relate with and adapt to technology devices
My mum’s first Android phone was a birthday present from my brother many years ago. This was at a time when many people had started using WhatsApp as BlackBerry Messenger had begun to lose its essence. Having a smartphone also made sense as many older people started using WhatsApp as they needed a more cost-effective and direct means of keeping in touch with friends and family, especially those abroad.
Before this, her communication needs were simple: make calls and send text messages. With the Android phone, she would have to learn how to use a touchscreen, type with a QWERTY keypad, launch apps, access the internet and browse websites, save contacts, make calls, and even take pictures. This probably sounds easy now but when you remember what using a basic feature phone was like, the challenge becomes more evident, especially for older people.
I told my brother he would have to teach her how to use the phone because I would not be patient enough to do so. I would have just referred her to the phone manual even though I knew that the only person who reads manuals in the entire world is me. Suffice to say, we both taught her how to use it and although it took a while, she mastered the essential functions.
I remember constantly saying things like: “click on the icon, the phone won’t spoil” or “you need to do this more often so you can get used to the phone” in response to a question about how to access a phone feature. As she experimented, she got used to the phone and asked fewer questions. She even has a tablet now which she uses to watch videos on YouTube and she learnt how to navigate that largely by herself. The only thing we have left is the “learning how to use Zoom” session, which seems to be taking a while.
I am sure many people had the same experience helping their parents transition to smartphones especially if such parents had limited exposure to technology devices. Reactions would have ranged from resistance to hesitation before eventual curiosity and willingness to use the device.
Learning how to adapt to new things and/ or situations can be very challenging for many people especially those of an older demographic or mindset. The change process can be challenging for most as it implies moving from the known (and comfortable zone) to the unknown (and uncomfortable zone). There is usually an internal fight between “this is what I know and I am used to” and “this change will expose me to something new and I will experience discomfort”.
For children, preparing for and adapting to change is different. We see how they easily adapt to our technology-driven society. The average child is usually more open to taking risks, and a good example is how they adapt to technology. Babies seem to have arrived on earth with an innate manual that has prepared them for a technology-filled life. The average toddler understands how to navigate a digital device well before they can even speak intelligibly or take their first steps.
They usually have a healthy dose of curiosity, lack fear and shame, and are quite resilient. They will struggle with a gadget until they figure it out. A few minutes with a device and they automatically become accustomed to it. Whether it’s a phone, tablet, television, whichever device, they know exactly what buttons to press and how to access whatever feature or function they want.
It is this same attitude that many children adopt as they grow older and begin to figure out the world around them. Early exposure to technology devices has probably contributed to making them nimbler and more equipped for our world today, after all, technology now rules the world to a large extent. Understanding this, they are poised to navigate this technology-driven life faster than older people. And for obvious reasons such as not being born into a life of technology or not being exposed to it until much later in life, many older people are more likely to struggle.
If you are wondering who exactly these older people are, just know you might be one of them. When I think of older people, I think of people in their 70s and above, maybe even some in their 50s and 60s. Surprisingly, however, I find that even some people in their 30s and 40s behave like old people. Think about it, how do you respond to digital challenges? How well do you understand the technologies you are exposed to? When last did you express sufficient curiosity about a technology problem you encountered and planned to solve it by yourself?
For example, you need some information on a matter, do you automatically think of going to search for answers online or do you think to ask someone else who would probably do that online search for you? How well have you maximised your smartphone, laptop, or other devices? If you have got a high-end version, do you know which features can help you be more productive professionally? Do you even use up to even half of the available features?
We are gradually moving towards becoming more dependent on technology in these parts, maybe not as quickly as our Western counterparts but the changes are becoming more apparent. Data to support online, real-time, every time activity is available, so also are the technology devices, however, power is one challenge that has impacted our progress in this regard. Despite this, we have a good adoption of technology in urban areas and we are guaranteed to become more dependent on technology as days go by.
There are so many features on devices, apps, and shortcuts within apps that can save one a whole lot of time and stress. From designing content to scheduling tools to recording media to transferring files, the likelihood of you finding a solution to enhance your productivity is quite high.
So, how can you remain young at heart with technology? What can you do to reduce your known and unknown technophobia?
- Express a healthy curiosity about your technology devices: press those buttons, click on those icons, your phone will not spoil
- Go online and search for information by yourself: stop outsourcing your learning. If you don’t find what you are looking for then ask for help but by all means, be more comfortable with supporting yourself online
- Ask a young (or young at heart) person for guidance with any issues you have so you can learn how to resolve such issues if you come across them in the future.
Technology is guaranteed to continue influencing our lives and we should always seek to get the best out of it. The good thing is that everyone can adapt: learn, unlearn, and relearn at whatever age should they choose to do so. Think about it and don’t be left in the past: this is the way I see things today.