Do you know people that are not uptodate with basic technology?
By kiran1978
@kiran1978 (4134)
Australia
February 21, 2008 4:55am CST
I heard a discussion on the radio this afternoon about people not uptodate with technology. For instance there was one girls parents (early 50s) that do not know how to use an ATM machine. Another person rang up about her grandma, she recently got given a mobile phone, she kept buying batteries all the time for her phone as she thought it was broken, she did not know about recharging batteries. Another lady rang up and said her grandma was trying to call her brother on the mobile, she thought just by hitting the greeen call button on the phone that would automatically dial his number. Also my stepdad has this $10 000 plasma TV in the house but he chooses to watch the smaller tv in the house as he could not be bothered working out how to work the television. He has had the television for about a year now. My mum has also showed him how to work it, but he does not want to take the time to work out how to operate it.
So do you know anyone that has difficulties working with current technologies? Or maybe some people just refuse to use new technologies and prefer to do their banking with a passport booklet instead of using the plastic cards?
2 people like this
14 responses
@dolce_vita78 (8062)
• Philippines
22 Feb 08
I am blessed to have the ability to use basic technology. I know of people who have difficulties working with current technology. Some of them are those who refuse change. It's sad that there are ways they could learn how to use the latest technology but they simply refuse to learn.
1 person likes this
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
22 Feb 08
I agree with you it is sad that some people refuse change, life could be so much simpler. I would hate to still have to go into the bank or go to post office to pay bills, hard to find time when you are working full time. These are just some minor benefits of technology, there is so much more....
@cr0ssf41r13 (866)
• Philippines
21 Feb 08
Well, I'm pretty proud that even my Grandmother know how to use the Cellular or Digital Phone, ATM, Gameboy (yeah, I'm serious) and the telephone or payphone. The characteristic runs in our family and we love upgrades and modernization very well. However, I pity those who can't 'ride' with the up-to-date technology. They can't benefit with the ease and the advantages of modernization.
1 person likes this
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
21 Feb 08
Good to hear there are grandmothers that are uptodate with all the technologies, they are the ones that will benefit from it. It must feel so weird not knowing how to use some of the technologies these days, I think it is important to keep up with the times. I am sure in 20 years time there will be amazing technology out then and we will have to adapt and change with the new technologies. Thanks for your response.
@Liasonfan (1702)
• Canada
21 Feb 08
Well, ok. I admit it. I could be one of these not up to date on technology people. I am a 50 year old mom of 2, grandma of 4. Yes, I use a computer (somewhat know HTML) and bank online and use a cell phone. But, hey, if it wasn't for my hubby keeping this computer working properly and virus free, I would be at a loss. I can work online, take screencaps of my fav show and record transcripts, but have absolutely no idea how this computer actually works. My kids get mad at me, because they send me a text on my cell phone and have tried to teach me how to receive and send texts. I am not getting it. I can't even check my own voicemail, on the darn thing. I can however work my home telephone voicemail. Strange. My brain won't or can't take in some of these things. Now my mom, refuses to even own a computer and uses a cell phone for emergency dial out use only. At least we got her to carry a cell phone for such purposes. She banks by phone, or goes right into a bank. Hates the plastic cards. Yep, some of us are technology challenged!
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
22 Feb 08
You sound pretty uptodate with technology to me, by banking online and recording transcripts etc. I do admit it is quite complex sometimes checking your voicemail on cell phones, depending on what company you are with, each one has different number that you have to call to check messages. It is funny how your mum hates plastic cards, probably good thing, far too easy to spend money when you have a card. When you have passbook account you have to go to hassle of going into bank each time you want money. Thanks for your response, all the best with working out your cellphone. :))
@anonymili (3138)
•
21 Feb 08
My mum is 63 and has never had the need to use an ATM so she doesn't know how to use one either. My parents have had a computer in their house for over 10 years but anything they wanted done they would ask me or my brother to do it, although we have our own computers at our homes! I have worked with computers since my first job in 1985 but that doesn't mean my parents or people of their generation are totally clued up by it and I don't think any less of people who are not into technology. It's just their way. Do all of your relatives, say 50, 60, 70 plus know how to use computers and mobile phones? Some people still use land lines too and some have no need for computers in any shape or form to live their lives :)
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
21 Feb 08
I am not trying to criticise people who don't know how to use technologies. I was just curious about who is uptodate as I heard this discussion on the radio. I understand some people prefer to stick to what they know. I just think it would make life a little easier if they did use some of the technologies today. Thanks for your response. I definately do not think less of people, because they do not know how to work certain technologies. Thanks for your response.
1 person likes this
@anonymili (3138)
•
21 Feb 08
Sorry for the misunderstanding Kiran, I was implying that YOU thought less of people who weren't into technology, it's just that I've heard teenagers (who usually think they know everything there is to know about life because they're into the latest computer games or gadgets) critise their elders for not being "with it"! They don't realise that there really is a world outside of technology and once upon a time we used to play outdoors in the park physically rather than playing a computer generated football game :)
@anonymili (3138)
•
21 Feb 08
Oh my God @ my typo, I meant to say "I WASN'T IMPLYING THAT YOU THOUGHT LESS OF PEOPLE"! LOL my typing skills have gone out of the window today haha! Sorry again! x
@cupid74 (11388)
• Pakistan
21 Feb 08
Yeah dear
u r right
still their are people who are unaware of it
and they are not intrested to know as well
some really want to stuck with their old things as they have affiliation developed with them
hope u understand
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
22 Feb 08
Thanks cupid for your response, I understand what you are saying.
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
22 Feb 08
That is funny, lol, maybe you could teach her. Tell her how much easier it would be to use an ATM machine, or have a computer. Pay all your bills online, even shop online. Thanks for your story, seems like there are quite alot of people that could not be bothered learning.
@raijin (10345)
• Philippines
22 Feb 08
There are still parts here in my country that hasn't been reached yet by technology, especially from the poor districts and regions.
There are also some minority groups that dwell in the mountains, others live by the sea like those sea gypsies referred to as "badjaos." Though some are slowly catching up, there are some groups or individuals that has no complete knowledge of how such technology works.
@jwfarrimond (4473)
•
22 Feb 08
Yes I know lots of people like that - mostly older people, but for myself and my sister (I'm 61 and she's 65) we have no trouble dealing with new technology. It's not just an age thing though, I know lots of younger people (and at my age that includes the larger part of the population) :-) who hate computers as well. For myself, it's out of the box, plug it in and then I'll figure out how to use in in a matter of a few minutes generally. I do all of my banking and most of my shopping on line.
@fec139 (810)
• United States
23 Feb 08
Do I ever! I have one friend who got her first cellphone only 6 months ago. AND she has all her money in a credit union, and has never used an ATM card! She still goes to the bank and cashes checks when she needs money!!
Also, I am disabled and in a wheelchair. I brought one of my home attendants to CVS with me and handed her my debit card because i could not reach the machine, and she didn't know what to do with it!
My 80-yr-old dad says debit cards are bad and not to be trusted!
@kimbers867 (2539)
• United States
22 Feb 08
My mom refused to use her ATM card. She never even activated it. LOL
She also used a computer at work for over 15 years but refused to get one for home.
I do know some seniors that have no desire to even sit at a computer. I guess they figure that they never needed one in the past, why now.
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
22 Feb 08
I see it alot. I think as people get older, many get uncomfortable with change and new things. I am in my 50's and I am more uncomfortable in not knowing how to do things. When we first got a computer, it seemed overwhelming but I played around on it until I figured things out. I don't have a cell but my girls all do and I will eventually when my budget allows. Still, I have used theirs and do know how to use one. I do know many people tho just as you describe. I don't really understand it but there is alot of it.
@littleowl (7157)
•
22 Feb 08
hi kiran i do have a couple of friends who refuse to get new technology it makes me laugh one cos they are frightened to and wouldn't know how to work them yet i have actually got another friend to use a mobile phone it was one of my old ones but teaching him how to use it was a task-know at least he knows how to make a phone call but i have to put the phone numbers in for him! your friend littleowl
@loudhummer14 (535)
• Philippines
21 Feb 08
i actually know one person close to me... and it's my mom. she never used an atm before, and new mobile phone models give her a migraine! LOL. yes, i think my mom does this by choice. she's very old-fashioned.
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
21 Feb 08
Hey loudhummer, thanks for your story. It is interesting how there are alot of people out there that like the old way of doing things. I guess we are all individuals. Shame about mobiles giving her migraines. Have a great day.
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
22 Feb 08
I had an aunt who at 97 decided that it was time she leaned to use an ATM. We set off to the local shopping mall one day, she got out her card, put it in the slot, put on her glasses to read the stuff on screen and said to me "it wants my pin number". We found that in her purse. By then there was a small queue behind us and she then said very loudly, "I'll read it out, can you enter the number". Without waiting she said loudly "1234" (the pin number). The whole queue started to laugh. She was so irritated by this that from then on I had to draw her money for her when I visited,
