High vs Low Tech

At any given moment, tech is hi or low. Usually this is dependent on attained age. The younger you are, the higher your technology level of understanding. The older you are, the likelier you are to suffer frequent tech meltdowns. That is certainly true for me.

Please understand that I have been using technology for most of my adult life, certainly since the 1980’s. I was an early adopter of home computing and a personal PC at the office. Even had an early luggable (40 lbs. turned out to be a burden!). So, I am familiar with technology and the early learning process required. Thinking back, I most likely used at least three different brands of word processing. Shifting to the latest one was a painful process of unlearning the current product and learning the new one. Painful is a polite term to use for this disruption of personal life.

As technology advanced to higher levels and vast increases of access to more people, the challenge to keep up with technological change increased as well. Eventually organizations hired experts to guide co-workers through problems frequently experienced. Unfortunately, home-based technology does not come with a hired expert. Perhaps your situation contains a young person; that is a big help and defines a higher level of expertise for you than many others. As a retired professional, however, I am left on my own and suffer accordingly.

Lately, a master software program used by a national organization I volunteer for, has encountered problems. They were slow to recognize the problems and countless volunteers had difficulties that went unresolved for a while. Even when they were fixed, other issues continue with this system and to my knowledge, no one is aware of the problems in need of fixing. Meantime, people like me limp along wondering if the issue is one of my own doing.

I have used Zoom for several years now. For some reason, the system changed login protocols and left me out in the cold. Inasmuch as they provided me with a free account because of my large volume of sessions, help to fix my problem is not easy to access. So, I have asked my clients to arrange each Zoom session and provide me with an invite link. So far that is working and a good solution to my problem.

My TV service is wi-fi streaming, not cable. Problems with daily use are either a wi-fi issue, a TV problem, a remote-control failure, or my inexperience with solving tech problems. I suspect the latter is the case but have no way of knowing for sure. I probably will buy a new TV to get around the immediate problem. This is potentially an unnecessary solution and a costly one at that!

These are only three of my current problems with technology. There are others but they are too numerous and frequent to mention. Surely, I am not the only person with these challenges? If that is so, how are others coping with it all?

Just asking. For help!

February 19, 2024

 

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