Page 5 | older adults and technology

midgebabe · 19/12/2020 08:30

Perhaps they just get fed up of the constant change for no gain?

I am sulking at our work moving to teams which is clearly not intutative as so many people need so much help, they have hours of videos to show you " how to make the most"

Which basically is not anything useful beyond what we had in all previous coms solutions.

pourmethevino · 19/12/2020 08:33

I've been a graphic designer for 25 years and have extensive knowledge of creative suite programmes. I've just set up a cctv camera system in my house and can set up almost anything ie switch, smart tv, Alexa devices throughout the house. One thing I can't get my head around and this might seem ridiculous is Snapchat and Instagram, I just can't be bothered and although it's probably not such a bad thing I wish I could as I have teenagers who use these and I can't which makes me seem like an oldie.

thecatsthecats · 19/12/2020 08:33

Not wanting to bother with technological changes is a fair choice.

I'm all for learning and growing and whatnot, but it pisses me off having to relearn what I already knew how to do.

If you couple that with the fact that a far smaller amount of older people used technology as a regular and critical part of their working lives (no doubt a dozen people will pounce and say they worked on room-sized computers... That's not the point. The point is that your average 60yo didn't live and breathe technology from birth, and touchscreens etc have only become prevalent in the last decade.)

I work in system development, designing a system with a significant older user base. There's a whole specialism for designing applications for children, but we have to constantly fight with developers to make sure that the functions of screen are self explanatory for someone who didn't grow up with a phone in their pocket.

Roussette · 19/12/2020 08:56

Perhaps they just get fed up of the constant change for no gain?

It's all gain as far as I'm concerned. I marvel at what I and my phone/laptop whatever can do and constantly want to improve my knowledge, mid 60s here.

I think not wanting to bother with it all is a bit selfish to be honest, unless you have trouble with your eyesight and are really really elderly and have never used any technology.

I just didn't want to have to rely on my DCs to do all this stuff for me, when I'm quite capable of learning. Why should they run around after me doing stuff on phones and computers for me because I can't be bothered?!

Maireas · 19/12/2020 09:02

@NannyOgg - this, 100%.

chomalungma · 19/12/2020 09:18

I remember programming several weeks episodes of a TV show on a VCR. Having to get the Radio Times. Search for it, ensure the tape had enough space on it.

Nowadays - just do series record.

Don't know they're born, the kids of today

I love tech - and use it a lot. There are many things I don't do, not because I can't learn them, but because I can't be arsed to get the stuff. I am happy with what I have.

chomalungma · 19/12/2020 09:20

I am pleased that my main new skill is to simply take a picture of something I need to know rather than write it down as a note for later...that's a mind set change.

Alethiometrical · 19/12/2020 09:39

What it is about older adults and technology?

Oh, I love a bit of MN ageism in the morning.

I was an early adopter - used an Apple Mac from 1984 (I still have the original beige box Macintosh). I am streets ahead in knowledge re computers, use of the internet, coding etc than my 20 year old students.

I'm almost pensionable age - which in MN terms is as old as Methuselah.

So eff off with your ageism.

Maireas · 19/12/2020 09:42

@Alethiometrical

grey12 · 19/12/2020 10:05

I find that it's anxiety.

I have to keep helping my mum and inlaws with the simplest stuff because they get so anxious they don't even read what's in the screen.

I have recently had to explain to my mum the play/pause/forward/..... buttons. SHE TAUGHT ME ABOUT THEM!!!! Back when I was a kid. The same ones that were on the cassette player are in the tv remote.

grey12 · 19/12/2020 10:06

My dad has always been a techie. I still go to him for advice

nosswith · 19/12/2020 10:14

A great generalisation. My late father who died eight years ago knew more than I did, so does one of his neighbours.

Nanny0gg · 19/12/2020 10:24

@pallasathena

Sir Tim Berners Leigh (who is late 60's) invented the internet ....just so you know.

Yeah.

I'm sure he needs his grandchildren to set up his new phone...

Nanny0gg · 19/12/2020 10:25

@Alethiometrical

What it is about older adults and technology?

Oh, I love a bit of MN ageism in the morning.

I was an early adopter - used an Apple Mac from 1984 (I still have the original beige box Macintosh). I am streets ahead in knowledge re computers, use of the internet, coding etc than my 20 year old students.

I'm almost pensionable age - which in MN terms is as old as Methuselah.

So eff off with your ageism.

And I love the way MN Towers is quite happy that this occurs.

Motnight · 19/12/2020 10:29

NannyOgg it's remarkable that these ageist threads are allowed to stand, isn't it?

cantkeepawayforever · 19/12/2020 10:31

My father - well into his 80s - is as tech savvy as anyone. My kids describe him as 'the world's oldest teenager'.

My mother - a similar age - has dementia, so while she can operate a familiar tech device (familiar mobile phone, laptop) it takes her a long while and step by step instructions to master a new one (Kindle, since the libraries shut in lockdown).

Roussette · 19/12/2020 10:52

Why would Tom Berners Leigh need GC to set up his phone? I'm in my 60s and don't need any help whatsoever with a new phone.
After transferring everything over I then have fun with it looking for all the tips and tricks to make my phone experience better. I've never ever had to ask for help.

The assumption we're useless at this sort of thing is pretty pathetic and does reek of ageism.

OhLittleBoreOfWhabylon · 19/12/2020 11:01

@perditaplum

What it is about older adults and technology? When do they change from being able to use technology like setting things up, playing games on things like the playstation and so on to it all being incomprehensible to them and asking younger people to do it for them ? They were younger people once and got asked to do it by older adults then!

Away with your ageist shite and sweeping generalisations.

CounsellorTroi · 19/12/2020 11:01

I remember programming several weeks episodes of a TV show on a VCR. Having to get the Radio Times. Search for it, ensure the tape had enough space on it.

Oh god yes. I can remember having to enter all the information manually. Date, start/stop time, channel. Then pluscodes arrived. Each programme in the listings had a multi digit code next to it which saved you having to enter everything. But there would always be a nagging worry that your programme hadn’t recorded and sometimes it didn’t. Happy days.

ErrolTheDragon · 19/12/2020 11:06

@Motnight

NannyOgg it's remarkable that these ageist threads are allowed to stand, isn't it?

I get the impression they leave threads on many iffy themes if the OPs proposition is robustly rebutted.

Original poster

perditaplum · 19/12/2020 11:10

but then my dad had to set up my Commodore 64 in the 80s

I was the opposite, I set them up for my Dad.

For all the older adults who claim not to be able to use technology there are obviously many who claim they can't - I know some. Not just ordinary, everyday computer stuff but things they used to be able to do but can't. For example, a friend the other day was complaining that she couldn't do the F1 game on the playstation with her son because the car always went the wrong way and the remote control or the game were rubbish. We used to play Mario Kart together and she was great at it so what's changed? Her attitude now is that she can't do it.

All the accusations of ageism, no, it's not. It's something I see often with peers and with my mother in particular.

OP posts:

Maireas · 19/12/2020 11:15

No, OP - your first sentence is
"what is it with older adults and technology"
Ageist.

GintyMcGinty · 19/12/2020 11:18

Ageism - the last acceptable public prejudice

GintyMcGinty · 19/12/2020 11:24

All the accusations of ageism, no, it's not.

Of course it's ageism. You are assigning characteristics to a group of people based on their age.

goldenharvest · 19/12/2020 11:28

My mother is nearly 70 and uses a PC, iPad and iPhone with ease. She uses photoshop in her small business online and is a whizz at it, and photoshop is super complex to master. She also uses lots of other painting software. She has an echo dot and uses online shopping, banking, Zoom, FaceTime etc all the time, sets up the TV for dad, and is generally fairly competent. If she doesn't know something she Google's it and does it well.

However when it comes to playing with DSs PlayStation, or gaming etc she doesn't want to know and says it's incomprehensible, although she understands all the principles.

It comes down to motivation. She's not interested in gaming, can't bear Instagram, and cannot be bothered with millions of apps.

Older people maybe don't feel the pressure to keep up with the latest bit of tech and only use what they choose to use?