Goodness gracious, technology has a way of making smart people feel foolish, especially when it is assumed that the problem is the person using it.
Are you tired of people thinking that because you are older, that you are automatically the reason your technology isn’t working? News flash: Often, it is the app or the program that has glitches, it isn’t the person using it. Honestly, that is becoming frequent.
When you have a challenge with any electronics, the first thing everyone will advise you is to turn it off and turn it back on. That is because it has inherent problems. That isn’t a you-thing, and it is for every device.
My kids sometimes give me grief about my stuff. They mock me with, “Why don’t you upgrade your phone?” I would be happy to get a new one, but they aren’t factoring in the very real hassle-time it takes to set up a new phone or tablet. Just resetting everything the way you want is so annoying.
The security cameras I have set up at my house are very cool. It is so informative to see things I never knew were happening in my house – it may be a visitor at the door, someone cutting through my yard, or a random dog, deer, or crane. I even have one camera directed at my sump pump, so I can look at it when I am on vacation. No need to bother my kids asking them to check the basement after a storm. It is empowering.
Unfortunately, there is another side to it. I added a camera and haven’t been able to get it to work with my system – starting with just getting it connected.
The program didn’t recognize my password and wouldn’t let me reset it. After fooling around with it over several days, I called their helpline. While on hold for half an hour, the machine told me eight times that you can “simply” use their website to get answers to your questions. Dang it, I certainly would have accessed my account if I could, but I didn’t have my password. Grrr.
Then, when someone answered, they patronizingly said those nasty words: “All you have to do is…” Then their fix didn’t work for them either. They had to take it up with a superior. Two days later, they called me back and fixed it. It wasn’t me – and that is the whole point.
My tech-guy has always been my 45-year-old son. Recently, I asked him to help me set up a new mesh wi-fi system so I could get a stronger internet signal in my yard. I need my music when I am gardening. He said he didn’t know how to do it. Wow! Three hours later I got it set up, then, he asked me to install one at his house. That was vindicating.
If I could give you one takeaway today, it is this: when technology makes you feel foolish, pause before blaming yourself; the glitch may be in the system, not in you.