Where would a luddite get educated?

[diplodocus]

I use computers / basic internet for work etc., and have a mobile phone and a basic kindle (whoopy doo!) but am a complete luddite. I am not on facebook, have never tweeted, have no idea of the differences between Nintendo DS / Wii / playstation (in fact have never played a computer game) and am uncertain of the exact difference between a tablet and laptop (other than size). I have never downloaded an app. I don't know or understand the options for WIFI connection (other than home hubs and the open access thing you can get in public places).DDs are now 6 and 8, so are showing an interest. Are there any websites / books etc that can give me an idiot's guide to what's out there, and what they do? I feel I need to drag myself into the 21st century , but DH and most of my friends are equally clueless. I need to really start with the basics and work up - most of the things i find are reviews, which don't really explain the simple stuff like what exactly the gadget is and why one might want it in the first place.
TIA

[kaumana]

In regards to using social media, why not set up a
twitter account? No need to use your real name and start following people/celebs that you are interested in? You don't have to "tweet" and it will give you a good idea of how it works.

What phone do you have? if it is a basic model you won't be able to use apps.

[DorisShuttAgainstGhosts]

Maybe get a "Dummies" guide? They have one for just about everything.

[diplodocus]

Thanks - dummies idea a good one. Will look. The only sort of courses seem to be basic computing, which I'm fine with. It's just the rest of the world that's passed me by. I have a blackberry which can do apps, but it's internet connection is quite slow and dodgy so never bothered. I just use it for email.

[slug]

Dip, I work in IT and most of the things you mention are also on my profoundly-disinterested-to-the-point-of-never-doing list. I've downloaded aps but that's it.

It's my suspicion that much of the other guff that surrounds IT is just and excuse for men to talk bollocks to each other.

[throckenholt]

I agree with slug :) I also work in IT - and the buys love to discuss the latest gadget and talk model numbers etc. they love to compare the latest phones they have. It bores me rigid.

One today was trying to persuade me that my 3 year old 8Gb RAM machine was out of date and I should put in for a newer one with 16Gb RAM - but I never doing anyting even midly memory intensive on it - so absolutely no point.

[diplodocus]

Oh Thanks slug and throckenholt! I've always had that sneaking suspicion but thought it was just me refusing to engage. I'm also just quite overwhelmed by the amount of technology in some of DD's friends houses - Wiis, tablets, computers linked to TVs - and DD2 in particular is beginning to get interested. Our TV is nearly 30 years old and because it works we never really get round to doing anything about it. While I don't want to encourage an over-reliance on technology I don't want the DDs to be the only kids in the class brought up by dinosaurs.

[zaphod]

And this is why I've been trying to persuade ds1 to run an evening course for people like us. It's not just Apps and Smart phones, but hdmi cables to connect laptop to tv, it's live streaming, it's being able to download music. I don't want to understand why it all works, I just want to know how to do it.

[SaskiaRembrandtVampireHunter]

Another vote for the Dummies guides. Also, there are some articles on this site www.howtogeek.com/ you might find useful.

[diplodocus]

Zaphod - if you manage to persuade your son I want to come!
Thanks for the link Saskia