, one huge problem. No one ever bothers to ask older people how a technological product works for them. They are not asked to be testers or evaluators of anything that's they're supposed to use. I have been writing about technology for seniors for 10 years and no one not once has ever contacted me to evaluate a product. Why is this I wonder? I think it's because the creators are the products think that they know best. As for customer service that has gone the way of the dial up modem and is no more.
The tendency to create/write from one's own perspective instead of the user's/reader's is pervasive, but especially frustrating in technology. We made the mistake of getting my upper-90s mom a Macbook, thinking it would give her more screen space than her iPad to enlarge the type she was reading. Great idea, big mistake. She spent the last year of her life absolutely determined to learn how to use it. And as a perfect illustration of your point, she bought a book called "Mac for Seniors for Dummies" (I kid you not) which was a misnomer if I ever I saw one--the same old hyper-detailed tech nonsense, not in the least bit simplified. Books like that need to be written by non-techies.
You hit on so many problems as well as some do-able solutions. I'm sure many readers will be heartened to know they aren't alone in their frustration. We have to accept that tech learning will be a lifelong thing. Every time we learn, or correct, something new, it empowers us a little for the next challenge.
I realize you're mostly talking hardware (TVs, etc) but the situation is even worse for software. Many software products are released long before they're ready, with the expectation that users will act as free testers. Users are flattered into becoming "peer leaders", or resort to user groups from desperation. Meanwhile, the inventors spend as little money as possible, while waiting for the product to be acquired by tech giants -- and thus to hit the jackpot. It's not just older adults who are confused by tech, much though companies would like you to think that (it's easier to mock old farts than improve their offerings) Meanwhile, as essential services, like banking, move more and more online, and customer service is moved overseas or outsourced to users themselves, we all face a crisis. My father predicted a golden tech future in which none of us would have to work. He would have been shocked by how much time we spend just trying to keep up with opaque instructions and relentless impositions on our time.
Spot-on, as usual. I would add that there is a risk-reward calculation that affects an older person's willingness to overcome tech's steep learning curves. In the early days of Facebook, many elders plunged in, uncomfortably, for the rewards of keeping up with family members, especially grandkids.
well that was new, I don't believe i had to "sign in to End game" before to be allowed to post a comment... Does that say more about me, a person who is obviously easily frustrated by tech, or more about the tech, which shouldn't require me to go check my email again in order to make a comment on a newsletter I already opted in to and had just gotten out of my email?
Anyway, that's an aside. I was going to say its a wonderful article, thanks for writing. Almost made me cry, as i hear daily from my parents in their 80's about how hard and frustrating tech is.
OK
So here we go… I am on my non-iPhone computer trying to type in a message back to you and it says that I need to verify my account
Why? This is part of the problem
I’m already a member so why should I have to continually sign in with a password that I actually don’t even know I have
My iPhone where you sent an email was responded to and I can send a message there but I cannot transfer it to my non-IA phone/Apple Computer
Here we have a living example of the problems with tech
I just want to turn on the light switch on then turn off the light switch
I don’t want to have it need a secret code/secret handshake/decoder ring secret name
I thought this was a user friendly site
No 12 year old needed
I spent 45 minutes with Phios yesterday just to find out that my tv was on an advertising channel for yet another $9.99/ month station for movies
I thought it was frozen and the tv icon was removed by either Communists or Fascists
I think that I’m moving to Bimini and just sit on the beach
My friend, you need to calm down - and I'm sure there's an app for that. Easy-peasy to use, too.
I tried to get on it
They wanted me to create a password
Sigh!!🥃
Here here!!
David, you hit the nail on the head! A related problem is being forced to update those secret passwords every 6 months!
They will have to like the one I gave them originally
No bandwidth to keep making up new ones
Luddites unite
, one huge problem. No one ever bothers to ask older people how a technological product works for them. They are not asked to be testers or evaluators of anything that's they're supposed to use. I have been writing about technology for seniors for 10 years and no one not once has ever contacted me to evaluate a product. Why is this I wonder? I think it's because the creators are the products think that they know best. As for customer service that has gone the way of the dial up modem and is no more.
Oh when will they ever learn? When will they ever learn?
The quickest and cheapest solution to many IT problems is to simply turn it off and turn it back on.
Ta-da.
The tendency to create/write from one's own perspective instead of the user's/reader's is pervasive, but especially frustrating in technology. We made the mistake of getting my upper-90s mom a Macbook, thinking it would give her more screen space than her iPad to enlarge the type she was reading. Great idea, big mistake. She spent the last year of her life absolutely determined to learn how to use it. And as a perfect illustration of your point, she bought a book called "Mac for Seniors for Dummies" (I kid you not) which was a misnomer if I ever I saw one--the same old hyper-detailed tech nonsense, not in the least bit simplified. Books like that need to be written by non-techies.
You should bring a wrongful death suit against Apple.
You hit on so many problems as well as some do-able solutions. I'm sure many readers will be heartened to know they aren't alone in their frustration. We have to accept that tech learning will be a lifelong thing. Every time we learn, or correct, something new, it empowers us a little for the next challenge.
Thanks, Wendl. I try to keep learning new things, but sometimes the tech wizards don't do a good job of bringing it down to my level.
The initial picture says it all! If I didn't have my sons, I would be able to do nothing!
“Digital natives….” Good one!
I realize you're mostly talking hardware (TVs, etc) but the situation is even worse for software. Many software products are released long before they're ready, with the expectation that users will act as free testers. Users are flattered into becoming "peer leaders", or resort to user groups from desperation. Meanwhile, the inventors spend as little money as possible, while waiting for the product to be acquired by tech giants -- and thus to hit the jackpot. It's not just older adults who are confused by tech, much though companies would like you to think that (it's easier to mock old farts than improve their offerings) Meanwhile, as essential services, like banking, move more and more online, and customer service is moved overseas or outsourced to users themselves, we all face a crisis. My father predicted a golden tech future in which none of us would have to work. He would have been shocked by how much time we spend just trying to keep up with opaque instructions and relentless impositions on our time.
OMG! You mean they're doing this on purpose? Grrrrr.
Everything in tech is driven by money. These aren't genius inventors with souls, but grifting companies that have an eye firmly on the bottom line.
Spot-on, as usual. I would add that there is a risk-reward calculation that affects an older person's willingness to overcome tech's steep learning curves. In the early days of Facebook, many elders plunged in, uncomfortably, for the rewards of keeping up with family members, especially grandkids.
I hadn't thought of that, but I think you're right. The tipping point depends on your individual tolerance for frustration.
The TV is by far the worst. I don't think I'll ever recover from the advent of streaming services.
well that was new, I don't believe i had to "sign in to End game" before to be allowed to post a comment... Does that say more about me, a person who is obviously easily frustrated by tech, or more about the tech, which shouldn't require me to go check my email again in order to make a comment on a newsletter I already opted in to and had just gotten out of my email?
Anyway, that's an aside. I was going to say its a wonderful article, thanks for writing. Almost made me cry, as i hear daily from my parents in their 80's about how hard and frustrating tech is.