Any other technophobes?!

Petra when I buy a new lap top I have to have Currys set it up for me. Still haven’t got to grips with Windows 10

Annie
There's nothing mysterious about 'tech speak' it's just a 'language' that computer technicians/programmers/ engineers use.
Your right not to use google, I never do.

I don't think it will be survival of the digitally fittest. I think it will run its course and then somebody will reconsider talking to each other and skills like empathy and caring.

So there are lots of technophobes like me. But also lots of folks who aren't! Thanks for all the advice. So many confusing terms and I'm only 60! Folks have mentioned Amazon echo, smart/firesticks, chrome cast,meobox. What on earth are all these?!!

I recently bought a new smart tv and soundbar to replace a previous smart tv. The new one was a doddle plugged it in and it did everything itself. To get virgin on a second tv you'll need a second box which is around a tenner a month and they set it up for you.

.petra, on my iPad I enter my security code, click on mail, a local information group and GN, not safe googling ! I haven’t the foggiest what tech speak is

Todays technology is wonderful until its starts to go wrong usually when the guarantee has expired and find they don't make the parts for your model any more.

I fully agree, I am flumoxed by it all and don't even have a smart phone - just a phone that phones and texts and is absolutely brilliant - it has a camera too apparently but not sure how and where?!

Me too hillwalker I've managed to get to nearly 64 without entirely getting to grips with very modern technology. My mobile is certainly not smart and neither am I. I think that things have become much too complicated now.
BIL rang to wish me a merry Christmas and showed off his latest acquisition - an Alexa or suchlike. I expect he thought I'd be impressed. I made polite noises, but really, if I want to listen to music I'll get off my backside and put an LP on the music centre. If I'm bored I'll read a book. If this makes me a dinosaur I really don't care.

Hi , lots of very interesting comments from postings,You could try Age UK i carried out lot of voluntary work showing people how to use Computer tablets and digital cameras etc
A pint you have to remember is you will have to pay for the landline for internet anyway and make sure the connection is unlimited .
A tablet is a very useful device and portable. i use mine for all channels with a chrome cast device nothing much on TV at times I wont go down the tech route as its everyone's choice !
so I would not worry to much if your happy as you are anyway don't forget Age UK locally good luck and Happy new year

Annie
i don't do tech
You do it everyday on here.
Honey1958
Can I ask how old you are?

I used to be quite a boffin with video equipment years ago, videoing holidays and events then transferring on to blank tapes to put through the recorder. In fact I still have a comparatively new video recorder in case the family are interested in the memories on tape. My late husband features in them too and it feels weird although I haven't had the courage to watch them since he died in 1994 where I have him at his final Christmas in '93.

Mini moon how clever you are and not too hard up to have all this hi tec stuff.

I have a couple of fairly new large screen tv’s for watching satellite channels but with a smart stick attached for downloading Netflix etc.
I deliberately chose to not invest in smart tv technology as I was concerned that a rogue bit of programming could infect it and render it useless.
I’m the techno doo da in this house (but definitely not an expert) as DH has zero interest and has to have simple instructions in order to operate the tv.
I remember being keen to learn about technology in the late 70’s when my dad (electronics engineer) brought home various bits and bobs that he rigged up. He had one of the early Spectrum computers and I often think how much he’d enjoy playing with current technology. Sadly he died in the mid-eighties before home computers and the internet really took off. He was only 61.

I think you are correct loopyloo about vulnerable people having to have a smart phone or similar to access the benefit system which seems to be a ridiculous situation, how can you pay a monthly contract without income or a permanent address, technology has complicated life for so many people.

I don’t ‘do’ tech

I have a normal tv, and don't understand Netflix, catch up tv or anything like that.
As soon as someone starts explaining tech to me, my mind switches off.

But now it will be the survival of the digitally fittest. And I wonder if some of the homelessness is not caused because those people cannot cope with registering with local authorities etc.

What I can't cope with is paying by phone at a parking meter. All I can do is pay with coins.

We have an ultra HD 4K and it's fine with our Meo tv box and have hundreds of channels and can watch American and English programmes on it. But to get the British channels we need an Amazon firestick of which we have 3 at the moment. They all work fine at on our friends tv yet as soon as my husband plugs one into our tv it freeezes or says it needs to update. He isn't very patient and will keep pressing the buttons which I think is part of the problem. I keep out of it to keep the peace anyway I dont watch much tv. Although yesterday afternoon he clicked on Foxlife and they were showing Christmas movies so I watched them during the afternoon and evening. Dont think he was keen. They were a bit Mills and Booneish but took my mind off my pain which was good
I think the Firestick will work better when when we get fibre which was supposed to be by the end of November but like most things here they are running a bit late

So true Hm999! ?

I have a smart TV I can't work fully. That's why I had children.

I have a landline which I use and write letters to friends, I don’t know what streaming is although people have tried to explain it to me and I play CDs on a CD player and I still manage to live a happy and purposeful life.

Well said hillwalker !

I don’t have a smart tv but I have a smart dvd recorder/player which lets me see and watch programmes in the last week and watch i player etc , but it relies on an internet signal to do so and mine ( so called fast fibre) is not usually up to it. However, I can still change my incoming signal by pressing a button on the remote, to receive an ordinary signal from the aerial and watch ‘land’ tv. I cannot afford or have any desire to add more channels - Netflix etc and already have loads of progranmes - documentaries and drama series - recorded up to a year old, that I never get around to watching.
However, I am now finding it hard to read subtitles and info about programmes on my 34” screen and have just bought a 43” tv. Although I have paid to have it set up I am dreading the whole thing, so yes, Honey1958 I do sympathise.

I’m with you honey1958 I don’t understand any technology at all, I don’t have a big computer or laptop, just an iPad which was a present, no printer, no fart phone, no smart tv, no microwave, no dishwasher, no tumble dryer and none of them horrid talking gadgets, what a waste of money. I have a landline which I use and write letters to friends, I don’t know what streaming is although people have tried to explain it to me and I play CDs on a CD player and I still manage to live a happy and purposeful life.