Technolo-gee

Here's a great little article by child psychologist – and, importantly, grandmother - Alison Gopnik about perspective, and the way different generations accept and use new technology. Particularly interesting is that young kids don't have to 'adapt' to technology, they simply grow into it, because it's part of their environment.

With older folks – that would be us – it’s much more about learning a skill rather than being blessed with the transparent intuition of kids. Which means, of course, that it's not our fault that sometimes we have to ask the younger set how technology works. (Damn kids, who do they think they are, what with all their 'curiosity' and fertile little minds). That said, for all of the jokes about asking the kids to help, many older adults do just fine with technology.

And this: not a whole lot that was positive, but four years of the plague -that would be COVID-19 - has significantly increased the use of many technologies among older Canadians. Who knew? (Well, we sort of guessed that, given that everyone we know is online all the time).  

Being as mature as we are, we also have a perspective that younger folks often don’t have. Take a look at this TED Talk about ‘What you are missing while being a digital zombie’.  

And for a giggle, check out how kids react to older technology.

TNew