The “T” word. It’s time to Embrace not Resist

Song “In the year 2525” – Zager and Evans. This song was written in 1964 by Rick Evans.

Lets talk TECHNOLOGY.

Take a look the next time you are in a supermarket to see who is in the self scanning section and who is lined up at a checkout waiting to be served. Chances are, most people in the checkout will be seniors.

Recently I witnessed a very elderly lady waiting in a bank queue with her passbook. She stood for more than 15 minutes and only one teller was serving. Back in the day, customer service was paramount (I know as I worked in a bank) but today banks want you to use the automated services, autobanks, online banking or your mobile phone to make transactions. They want you to feel uncomfortable in a queue so as to encourage you to use the modern services they provide. Not to mention how many branches in suburbs and regional areas have closed down.

Already the ANZ bank in some branches has become cashless. This means customers need to use the Automatic Telling Machines (ATM) for cash withdrawals and deposits.

However, like it or not technology is here to stay and continually advancing. If I am going to live to be 100, I must embrace it and not resist.

If you are reading this you are using technology on a tablet, computer or smart phone. If you are already savvy with technology as a Baby Boomer, we can help fellow Baby Boomers to use and enjoy the many benefits of a smart device.

Many of my future posts will encourage the use of Google and YouTube. I have found this technology to be so useful – from looking up a recipe, to the meaning or spelling of a word or just to expand my general knowledge.

You often hear people say they could never learn new technology even though they don’t have a smart phone or smart TV and have never tried. It simply isn’t true. Look at how quickly most learnt how to use QR codes during the COVID pandemic. The wealth of information technology can make available is amazing and all seniors should have access to it and not be afraid of it.

My 4 year old grandson recently asked me if I had ever seen a sturgeon. I said, “You mean a surgeon, a doctor who does operations?” “No, it’s a type of fish!” he replied. I had never heard of a sturgeon so we searched on YouTube and yes, he was correct! I gained some new information and together we learnt lots of interesting facts about sturgeons.

YouTube is a great resource for grandparents who mind pre-school aged children. There are so many educational programs to aid early learning, like colours, shapes, numbers, stories, science, songs, rhymes and games.

There are so many benefits for older people embracing technology such as:

  • Social Media e.g. Facebook and Instagram is a great way to stay connected with friends and family. Not that it should ever replace personal face-to-face connections, but it is a great platform to keep connected with so many more people locally, within the country and all around the world.
  • Technology can have great safety benefits. Smart watches and various in-home devices can detect falls and connect to emergency services. Technology can help you feel safer at home with cameras, alarms and security devices that can also connect to emergency services or family.
  • Technology can improve mental cognition through games, puzzles and quizzes. Some popular brain games include wordle, solitaire, suduko, crosswords… and the list goes on. These can all be played on a smart phone. Smart phones are light, don’t take up much room and can be taken anywhere.
  • PlayStations or Nintendo Wii can provide games that incorporate physical activities. They are lots of fun and can be played in groups or alone. YouTube has unending workouts suitable for various ages and fitness levels.

Some reasons that prohibit seniors from using technology is the cost of smart phones or smart TVs, the fear of cyber-crime, or feeling afraid to ask for help in learning how to use technology.

How to Reduce Cost of Technology

As many people upgrade their phones to keep up with technology, companies such as Samsung or Apple refurbish these second-hand mobile phones and sell them for a much lower price. This makes cost less of a barrier to trying a smart phone.

If you want to purchase a smart TV, Aldi often has specials for their Bauhn Smart TVs in various sizes. I have a Bauhn TV – it was very affordable, it has been an excellent smart TV with easy to learn functions.

How to Protect Against Cyber-Crime

Technology has also created a channel for scammers and cyber crime. This can create a lot of angst for seniors and elderly people, but there are ways you can help to protect yourself against cyber-crime:

  • Lock your mobile phone or computer with a pin, password or phrase. Many phones have a fingerprint or facial recognition option.
  • For added safety, set an automatic lock to close the mobile in a short duration after use.
  • Some phones have a tracking device in case you lose it, but always be mindful of keeping your phone safe.
  • To minimise being scammed, never share passwords, pins or bank account details. Be suspicious of any contact from a person or business that is unfamiliar to you. The ACCC has a website to help you detect scams and help you know what to do if you have been scammed. The link is www.accc.gov.au/consumers/protecting-yourself/scams.

How to Learn About New Technology

Don’t be afraid to ask family, friends, or even neighbours to help you learn how to use a smart phone or TV. It’s just practise until it becomes second nature. I have often written down notes when I am learning how to use a new device. Many senior centres have smart phone and computer tutorials. As do some places where you purchase your phone from.

Technology is constantly changing. I was recently at an airport shop where the only way to purchase drinks or food was to scan the items yourself and pay using your smart phone or credit card. There was not an assistant to be seen!

Many restaurants now use QR Codes for you to view the menu and order. You don’t even see a waiter or waitress until the meal is delivered to your table. Fast food places are often now cashless, you order from a machine, pay with a card and pick up your order when your number appears on a screen.

Be Wary of the Pitfalls of Tech

Technology, without a doubt, also has negative consequences that we need to be aware of. Social disconnection is a fear for many people. Addictions such as online gambling, game playing, or just spending too much time using technology can have a profound negative effect for the user and other significant people in their life. Social media is known to have have had negative consequences for some, including children and young adults who have experienced online bullying.

As a grandparent I try not to use my smart phone for long periods when the children are with me. I think Baby Boomers can be a great role model for younger generations as to how to embrace technology without it entirely taking over. If you read my blog post ‘Dolly the Centenarian’, I think she would have embraced technology, but used it in moderation .

In conclusion, the reality is that technology is ever-changing but it is here to stay. Like it or not, it is a fact of modern life. I don’t want to live a long life and feel I am left behind in the last century. I am choosing to embrace technology and not resist it.

The song I chose for this post is “In the year 2525”, which was written in 1964 by Rick Evans. Take a moment to listen to some of the prophetic lyrics! Let’s all just hope technology saves mankind and the planet rather than destroying it!

Not to mention AI- Artificial Intelligence. That’s another topic for the future!

Till next time – Keep on rocking and rolling.

Kim

2 Comments

  1. Thanks for all your help with technology. It’s been such a positive change in my life.

Comments are closed.