So have you ever had to teach a non-tech person how to use a smart phone or a tablet?
If you haven't, be prepared. Many, many, years ago my husband's granny got a computer, she was in her 80's and was bound and determined to learn it. Oh the joys of SB's visits and trying to explain simple tasks to her, he's a patient man, but he had limits. Finally she gave up, she had decided it wasn't worth trying anymore.
Well recently my mom (not in her 80's) decided to get indoctrinated into the world of Apple. First with an iPhone 4S. Trying to explain to her how this works, was hilarious, and then she got the iPad. Oh, the joys. Let me start off by saying my moms old phone(s) were just flip phones, old Motorola or Samsung.
I say phones because she has a knack for putting them in the "warsh" that's her way of saying "wash." And then there was the time it slipped out of her pocket and fell in the toilet. Seriously, she's a SMART woman, college educated even, but these little mishaps make me shudder. If there is a body of water around her phone will find it. When she said she wanted an iPhone all I could see was a $200 piece of equipment sitting in the loo. Not ideal.
First off I had to show her Face-time, since she lives in the boonies of New Mexico and cell service isn't great, she kept putting the phone up to her ear to hear me. All I could see was a giant eyeball and the rim of her glasses.
Me: Mom, are you putting the phone next to your ear?
Mom: Yes, so I can hear you. But why can't I see you?
Me: Uuh you have to pull the phone in front or you?
Mom: ooooh....
Then last night she emails me from her new iPad at midnight her time, she wants to chat about how to use her new iPad. I said I'd call her today and walk her thru some basics.
After trying to explain to her which icon to push I realized the simplest way was to Face-time her on our iPhones and put it over my iPad to help her learn out to do this. Seriously there is nothing like face to face meetings, I so wish I was sitting there with her, because trying to explain how to bookmark a website she goes to and put the icon on her homepage screen was like trying to solve for world peace.
Then I want to know which kind of tablet she got.
Me: Did you get a mini or original?
Mom: The big one, take a look (puts phone over the iPad).
Me: All I can see is your hand.
Mom: Oh here. (moves the phone all over the place)
Me: Mom, all I see is the ceiling now, what did you press on your phone?
Mom: I don't know.
Me: See the camera icon on the lower right side with the arrow, push that.
Mom: oooooooh, I wondered why I couldn't see you.
Seriously....thankfully me and my mom have a sense of humor because at the end of our conversation I just broke down and laughed with her. I can't wait till I have to explain Instagram to her, she will SOOOO not get it.
One last conversation.
Mom: I ordered a phone cover and an iPad case, you know I'm clumsy so I'm kind of afraid to use my iPad.
Me: Mom, you need to bubble wrap that bad boy in waterproof material.
Mom: Laughing I KNOW!!! I got me a waterproof one.
Oh the joys of new technology, we so take for granted that we know how to use this stuff. Our kids are growing up with technology. I didn't learn how to use a computer till I was a senior in high-school and that was basic DOS programming.
I love a good story, share your technology tales and did you show someone how to use a smart phone, tablet, Mac, or PC. How did that work out for you?
Most of all be patient and be ready to laugh, we all had to start somewhere.
