Allow me to start at the beginning! I’m ____ years old (okay, so I’m not stating my age, but that’s because I don’t want it to discredit me) and I was born into a world saturated by technology. By the time I was 2, I could operate the VCR on my own; at 8 I was introduced to Mavis Beacon, MS Works, and the internet; by 11 I was coding HTML websites; when I was 12, I took apart my family’s desktop computer (I put it back together with only a minimal number of “spare parts”); and at 16 I started to learn about cybercultural anthropology, network security, and the future of technology. In addition, I’ve been playing video games since I was in the 4th grade (my first console was a Sega) and I’ve had a cell phone since the age of 15.
Mo' Money Technology, Mo' Problems
Knowing a lot about technology, is a little like knowing a lot about cars. Once people find out, right away they start always coming to you for help. (I really don’t think history fanatics have this problem).
Once my parents started to realize that I was able to use the family computer better than they could, they started to call me EVERY time they had a problem with something.
“Kaylynne! How do I print!?”
“Kaylynne! Show me again how to send a text message.”
“Kaylynne! How do I get the DVD player to work without breaking the cable?”
Well, you get the idea.
The day that I taught my mother how to Copy and Paste text on the computer, you’d have thought she’d won the lottery. It was a good day for me too, one less thing for her to need my help with.
Unfortunately this problem wasn’t limited to my parents, my IT help was requested by just about everyone I knew: teachers, grandparents, siblings, etc. and while my siblings have started to figure a lot of this stuff out for themselves, anyone older than me still seems to struggle.
Even now, I continue to act as my family and friends’ personal IT department.
Why are you so…old!?
One of my grandmothers has figured out how to use Amazon and Ebay, but still struggles with a variety of other (what I would call) simple tasks. My other grandmother (who, leans over my shoulder, maniacally scribbling down the steps as I show her how to do different things on the computer) has managed to finally learn how to use Internet Explorer to surf the web (but if anyone were to move a single icon on her desktop, she’d be completely lost).
Every time I help someone older than me with a technological problem, I can’t help but wonder; why is it that Generation X (and anyone who’s come before them) can’t understand this stuff? Or in some cases, can sometimes manage to figure some things out but not others? How come they struggle with technology at all? (After all it was the Baby Boomers and Generation X who invented all the technology we have now)!
For a while now, I’ve been trying to figure out the answer to these questions while also trying to think of a way that I could more easily teach older generations how to use technology (mostly because I’m certain that it would net me a Nobel Peace Prize).
So far, I’ve managed to develop my theory about differing interfaces and levels of interactivity during the beginning stages of technology use. Another theory that’s been suggested is a fear of change that reveals itself in a kind of psychosomatic inability to use technology. While, having an interest in the fields of sociology, psychology, and neuroscience helps in looking at this topic in kind of a different light, I unfortunately, haven’t specifically trained or studied in any of these fields (beyond reading studies and professional journals) and therefore, wouldn’t know where to really begin trying to prove or disprove any theories.
However, the whole point of this blog is to discuss this very topic! So as we (that’s you and I, dear readers) delve into this topic, perhaps we’ll at the very least learn a little more about this struggle between the generations and maybe find a little bit of technological peace between Generations X and Y (and maybe even the Baby Boomers)!
I would like to encourage any readers to share any personal stories they might have about their own struggles with technology and the younger/older generation’s technological abilities; as well as any comments or theories that relate to this!
I like your story about your family assuming that you are their tech support. I've been in the same situation, even though I'm no expert on computers. I've thought about the difference between how younger and older individuals approach technology and wonder if perhaps the older generation spent so much time without it that they see no need for it. For example they can write a letter easier than they could send an email, so why use the email when the letter has worked for years? Conversely, I think that the younger generation can say the same thing- I can write and email and send it easier that writing a letter. Viewed in that respect, I'm not sure who's right or wrong.
When I was living at home, I was the fix anything electronics person in the house. And I'm classified as generation X. I know how to use and utilize modern technology. I teach it. The interesting thing is I am part of the end of the GenX group. Most of my friends are from that age group as well. We gravitated to technology and ran with it. The people that are just a few years older, forget it. They use the technology because they are expected to, not because they want to.
I agree that it is a comfort issue and fear of change that prevents people from utilizing technology. My mom is like your grandma. If I move anything on here computer desktop, she is lost. My father is afraid of breaking the computer and never touches it unless forced to do so.
I also agree with what Matt said. I am not sure which is better, analog or digital?
I liked this story a lot because its the same way in my house. My parents moved to the United States from China in the late 1960s (i think). My sister and I would always have to help my parents with anything relating to technology. Just recently, I taught them the basics of operating a computer. Although sometimes it is rather annoying that i have to assist them on more than one occasion. I will always here:
"Dickson. How come the computer is like this?"
"Dickson. Why isn't the TV working?"
"Dickson. How come my phone turned off?"(the funny part is that they will not use text messages because its a little hard for them and i can't really explain this to them because i talk in broken cantonese.)
I actually have a somewhat different story to contribute here. When I was growing up I was pretty tech savvy, but I don't remember having any experiences with having to teach my mom basic computer operations. In fact, my mom (Gen X) was always on the computer, and she is an Excel whiz and generally very competent when it comes to normal computer operation. I'm a CS major, so every so often I'll have tricks to show her or need to help her with something, but I would never say that she doesn't understand technology - she loves it. I have definitely had the opposite experience with other Gen Xers, but my mom proves that they are not incapable of adapting and learning how to use new technology. In light of this, I agree that the problem lies with the mental approach that most Gen Xers take towards new tech. Change can be painful for some people, but in my opinion not adapting makes it more painful than it has to be. My mom loves her computer, loves the internet, loves her Droid, and loves cool new technologies, but didn't grow up with any of it. I hope that when I'm her age and facing the next technological paradigm shift that I can be as adaptive as she has been and embrace the awesome changes that are sure to come.
I love the IT Crowd for that very reason! The Khan Academy website is a place that has tutorials on a variety of things (it is a website designed to bring free education to those who want it). They have a whole series on computers. Maybe refer these links to all of those who bother you about technical questions.
This is such and interesting topic. My mom is a great example. She is very computer savvy. Interestingly enough, she is scared of "cellular devices", and can't so much as make a phone call... on any cell phone (any make or model).
I don't think you needed to worry about posting your age, because it's clear how young you are. You were eleven and coding HTML websites? So it would seem par for the course that you're wondering about the generational differences. The best example I can relate this to is snowboarding versus skiing. Gen X grew up with skiing, they loved it, mastered it and cultivated that industry. When snowboarding arrived on the scene it was like a youth filled invasion. And as this sport grew, the younger one learned the sport, the easier it was to accelerate and be good at it. If you're two years old there is not a long way to fall when you catch an edge and smash your ass on the ground. However, back then, if you're forty years old and above, the idea of taking such a risk isn't their idea of fun--and it was a sport geared for youth. Over the years, we now see all ages snowboarding --- but there are still lots of skiers out there. And for them, the older skiers, why give it up? It works just fine. Both snowboarders and skiers get to the same destination, no matter which way they ride down the mountain.