When it comes to technology, a common complaint from many of my senior customers is that they find computers scary.
The New Reality
The reality is, and whether you like it or not, Technology is all-pervasive in society these days and the pace will continue to quicken. Everything from Banking, staying in touch with friends and family, shopping and entertainment are increasingly being transacted on-line and if you don't know how to get online and find your way around it can be isolating.
Technology Can Be Your Friend
As scary as it may seem at first, Technology can be your friend. Once you get over the initial speed bumps of learning to interact with your computer / tablet or smartphone, it can open new doors and help you stay connected with the outside world. At the end of the day, Technology is a tool - so embrace it, and make it work for you.
Small Steps
Computers can be confronting when you're starting from scratch, but to avoid techno-shock the key thing to remember is that you do not need to know everything.
TIP: Make a list of the top 3-5 things that you want to be able to accomplish with your computer / tablet or smartphone and focus on those (you can always add more later). For many of my customers the list goes a little something like this: How to send an Email, using Facebook and Skype to stay in touch with friends and family, internet banking and a bit of basic internet browsing. Depending on your budget and preferred learning style you can buy a book, take a TAFE course, or get some one-to-one training from your local IT Technician.
Steer towards the Light
There is no doubt that there is a dark side to the internet. If you believe what you hear in the news then viruses and malware run rampant online, and criminals lurk in the shadows intent on stealing your money and personal data. As scary as it sounds, it's not so far from the truth - but there are steps you can take to reduce the risks and stay safe online. We recommend that you Invest in decent internet security (avoid the free ones), Install an Adblocker, and do not open any attachments, or links, in Emails unless you know they're safe.
Finally, if you receive an unsolicited call from someone offering remote support to fix your computer just hang up.
