Not using any modern technology!

LadyGaGa I feel for you. We are both put upon by ‘some’ friends and it really annoys me.

My late dear mum who died a year ago aged 82 always used technology to help her, Facebook, tik tok, emails, apps online banking etc. Sometimes she needed my help from afar but mostly managed. Also drove very competently until her death. She was stubborn at times about things such as her health, but she always wanted to be in touch with her friends and family. I hope im like that in 20 years.

My problem is that mobile phones are so small. My ancient fingers fumble with it and my ancient eyes find it hard to read what it's telling me.

And there is big difference between being 73 and being 93. People now in their late '80s and '90s. People now in their 90s may well have retired before the internet was invented and it's at work that people often first learn about new tech.

Those now urging new tech on us all will find when they're 80 that everything has changed from when they were 50 and they are left behind in their turn.

The iPad is the easiest way in for older people and I am one of them.

I don’t find it frustrating, we are all different, I have a 100 yr old cousin doing online Spanish classes I have an 80 year old friend who will not touch any form of technology.
My Nan, died in the eighties, she had never used a landline phone just wouldn’t, never had a fridge, washing machine or any other electrical gadget as she believed that in a thunder storm she would be struck by lightening and nothing on earth would make her believe otherwise. She was an intelligent lady who had run her own boarding house ( taking all bookings by mail etc washing by hand, cooking everything from scratch) I accepted this was how she was and talking to her about giving things a try were completely out of the question She was a lovely kind lady who looked after me well as a child as mum and dad both worked full time.
She was petrified of thunder storms ( no therapy in those days) I can remember sitting in the cupboard, or toilet with no light on , ( electricity) comforting her as a young child It didn’t rub off and I love watching a thunder storm

We have a 58 year old friend who can just about send WhatsApps but not much else - so it's not just older people.

Lovetopaint037

The iPad is the easiest way in for older people and I am one of them.

I agree. Apple products are much more user-friendly in my opinion. I just have an iPhone and iPad and can do anything and everything I want with them.

This is a really interesting post.
We were persuaded to buy our first computer by my mother-in-law many moons ago and I consider myself able to pick most things up OK.

I use all sorts of programs and apps including some specialised software but bizarrely I find Facebook nearly impossible! I have used it as one daughter wanted a birthday cake made by someone on there but I never joined it years ago (when most people did) as I didn't see the point.

I tend to give it a miss and would never chat on there - it just doesn't occur to me.

Re the OP - I think that some people find "not being good at something" hard to accept. Think back to children in school who just stopped trying.

My mother-in-law had her first smartphone at about 96. She had a Doro which sort of asks you questions - and gives prompts. There's an "I want to" button that offers simple things - from memory it has an eye icon "see my messages" and a handset icon "make a phone call " etc.

Maybe if she saw one of these she would find a phone with these prompts easier to manage?

The Doro has big icons and can have very large text.
I think it's worth a go.

I have sympathy with the refusers though they can produce more work for others.

Trying to organise a U3A outing to my pottery recently we have a WhatsApp group to communicate and a doodle poll to arrange a date. Numbers were limited but one woman who doesn't use a smart phone insisted she should be phoned and had 3 of us making sure she wasn't left out.

I don't know why she refuses to join the modern world. It's not lack of money or brains. She's a widow but has DC nearby.

I don't like technology when it doesn't work and I miss my bank branch.
I have spent hours on the phone sorting out problems but I like being able to book journeys and outings online and being able to speak to my DGS in NZ on video and to watch him grow up

Winterwhite
Is there a reason why you don’t use an iPad?
It’s definitely the best option for people who have problems with the keypads on phones.
With an iPad you can get a separate keyboard.

www.google.com/search?q=keyboard+to+plug+into+ipad&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-gb&client=safari#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:69114507,vid:30lg6767he8,st:0
I’ve posted this link for 2 reasons. 1, for WinterWhite, 2, this YouTuber is one of the best at explaining.
Plus, he doesn’t talk as someone who’s taken speed.

I’m scared to go anywhere where I might struggle to pay for parking. Even my tech savvy daughter nearly missed a train recently because the parking app on her phone didn’t recognise her face.

petra ipads are expensive and, from what i have seen of friends with them as the operating system is not andriod or microsoft they seem to have Apple technology through out - which is even more expensive.

The problem with the phones with the big buttons etc is they have limited capability. I use the satnav on my phone because my car is too old to have sat nav with the car. I use Google and other apps that do not seem to be available on the 'senior' phones.

My problem lies with mobile phones and touch screen technology. My dyspraxia means I am always hitting wrong keys and then making more errors when I try to correct myself, plus I often reverse numbers and letters. On a full screen with a typewriter sized keyboard that is much less of a problem because the keys are bigger and have to be depressed to register.

petra

Winterwhite
Is there a reason why you don’t use an iPad?
It’s definitely the best option for people who have problems with the keypads on phones.
With an iPad you can get a separate keyboard.

www.google.com/search?q=keyboard+to+plug+into+ipad&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-gb&client=safari#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:69114507,vid:30lg6767he8,st:0
I’ve posted this link for 2 reasons. 1, for WinterWhite, 2, this YouTuber is one of the best at explaining.
Plus, he doesn’t talk as someone who’s taken speed.

Daughter2 uses an iPad as her phone solution.

It's Apple so integrates with her laptop and other devices.

Petra thanks v much. I do have an iPad. I didn't know you could download apps onto them so that's a great step forward for mankind as represented by me. I have an iPhone S20, prob time to upgrade.

It starts making me wonder how we all functioned before technology appeared- we all just got on with things possibly in a more or less efficient way.

I know someone who has never used direct debits, still pays bills in cash directly in banks or wherever- I don't know how or why but respect his choice.

Technology provides us with sensible or silly choices, and it is up to us to make those choices. Lots of people get by quite happily without it.

Back to OP who does seem frustrated with some tech-refusers and hopes they are the last generation to be like this.

How does she know up-coming generations won't reject some aspects of technology and find out how do do things differently? That also may not be such a bad thing.

Occasional power outages may make us aware of our dependency, but for us who remember the power cuts of the 1970s it doesn't bother me at all. We'll just find other ways of doing things, and maybe doing them even better?

I am ok with modern technology but know lots of people my age and older or not. For some older people it is very difficult for them to get their heads tound technology. I know it's essential but I accept the fact that for some it is an impossible task! I feel we should all be as patient as possible and offer help when necessary.

I have a Samsung Galaxy tablet. I use it constantly and its great. Not expensive 150.00 or so.

But friends call their tablets iPads. And it really annoys me. Silly I know. An iPad is Apple. Tablets are other makes. Am I right?
I should get out more!!

You are correct! 😁

winterwhite

Petra thanks v much. I do have an iPad. I didn't know you could download apps onto them so that's a great step forward for mankind as represented by me. I have an iPhone S20, prob time to upgrade.

WinterWhite
i didn’t know you could download apps on them
This is meant kindly. Why do you think there is the App Store logo on your iPad. 😂

WinterWhite
The logo will be on your home page. That’s the one that you see when you open your iPad. Click on App Store.
You will then see that page.
Unlike most sites the App Stores search bar is at the bottom of the screen. Have a go. 😀

I lost my debit card days ago. It was great requesting another and cancelling the lost one sitting at home with a coffee in my hand. No traipsing to my bank.

Reading how others cope, I am more tech savvy than I thought.

My smartphone, android, is beyond me but if somebody spent 30 minutes teaching me, it would make a difference and at 82. part of my brain is still working.

winterwhite

My problem is that mobile phones are so small. My ancient fingers fumble with it and my ancient eyes find it hard to read what it's telling me.

And there is big difference between being 73 and being 93. People now in their late '80s and '90s. People now in their 90s may well have retired before the internet was invented and it's at work that people often first learn about new tech.

Those now urging new tech on us all will find when they're 80 that everything has changed from when they were 50 and they are left behind in their turn.

An iPhone has the ability to increase text size.
Also you can talk in texts, emails etc.

I am 75 and pretty tech savvy. Like it or not we HAVE to embrace this way of doing things if we don’t want to be left behind or reliant on others. If previous generations didn’t adapt to new discoveries we would all still be writing on cave walls!

My husband is pretty stubborn about using technology, quite ridiculous really when he was a civil engineer and has used computers all his working life.
I've got him using a mobile now as he realised he needed it for banking, but he seldom checks his email and even less rarely his WhatsApp.
He won't use the computer for letters, so I end up doing them, and won't even type a long email - preferring to give me a written note to type up for him.