How is technology affecting our senior citizens?

Everybody is familiar with the old joke about children having to teach their elders how to use the DVD or TV remote. But what has been the real impact of technology on our senior citizens? We asked you and the reaction was overwhelmingly positive. It seems as though laptops, tablets and mobile phones are embraced by the older generation, and there were even some indignant reactions to the idea that age is a barrier to using technology! There is a sense of pride in being able to operate the latest gadgets, and recognition of the benefits in keeping the grey matter active.

There are some negative issues with technology though, and of all the devices available, if the older generation struggles with anything, it is the smartphone. The small size of the text is an issue for some.

“I have a Samsung phone and thought that I could combine my smartphone usage and laptop into one. Here’s the tip – DON’T DO IT.’ The print is so small that I have difficulty seeing and reading any of my emails and looking up the weather is hopeless.” Magus

A phone is still just a phone to many - the concept of a phone as a multi-functional item is still alien for some older users. But this is not the case for everyone – KezzaD8 says “My mum loves the iPhone 5. She plays games & Facetimes all the time. Loves taking photos and posting on Facebook, updating her status. She is 70!”

For others, finding out how to use items such as iPads and smartphones is a major stumbling block. Instruction manuals are, in your opinion, frequently useless and difficult to understand, and there is also the issue of the tiny print in the manuals.

“My instruction manual leaves a lot to be desired. I had to get some of the details I needed online.” Blossom

Several of you have attended community run training courses to get up to speed, and the internet is another source of information. But the main resource you use for assistance is younger family members. And in fact, it is these family members that drive your relationship with technology. Keeping in touch with family via Facebook, Facetime and Skype is of huge importance to our senior citizens. Being able to speak to family overseas and see grandchildren via Skype when they live too far away to see them regularly is priceless. So it seems that the relationship between senior citizens and technology is the same as what it is to the younger generations – it is about keeping connected with others and the world at large. And the benefits it brings are worth the extra little challenges this group sometimes faces in learning how to tackle it.