Technology is Complicated

I become flummoxed by technology at least 10 times each day. It isn't that I am a luddite, although I am not up-to-date. It is because the speed of advancement in technology is too fast for me to keep up.

In a typical day….I read about a new app that does something I don't even understand or, if I do, why anyone would want it. I go to use a program that I have used repeatedly in the past and there has been an upgrade and now I can't figure out how to do what I want to do. My reader gets a software update and all my books disappear. My favorite game app on my smartphone is updated and now I am besieged with endless "do you want to" reminders. My antivirus program suddenly starts blocking outgoing emails and I have to figure out why. My bluetooth only works in the car when I turn it on my phone first and then on the hands free device.

And there is no escape. Everywhere I go and everything I try to do requires interaction with technology. I have to use the patient portal to contact my doctor or get information from her. I have to talk to a computer when I call customer service. I have to touch grimy touchscreens to pay for groceries, sign in to the doctor's office, or get the registry list. The tolls are automatically deducted from my account when driving on tollroads via camera. Tickets are issued by use of camera and computer. Appointments and reservations for manicures, car inspections, doctor visits, hotel rooms, and cab rides to name just a few are all done via the web. Confirmations come in email or text. Notifications of prescriptions, automatic payments, and special sales come in texts. Payments are made online. Checks are deposited remotely. You can program your air conditioning, refrigerator, oven, dvr, and alarm clock from your smartphone.

While I believe I can learn to use all the marvelous apps, software programs, and technological miracles, there is a learning curve and it takes time. I have to decide which things I want to take the time to learn and which I just decide to do without. Even things I want to be able to learn like some photo editing software goes to the bottom of the list for "when I have time", which I am sure will be never.

The things I feel I have to learn in order to do my job and maintain my life are harder to learn. All the tutorials are videos or there are no instructions at all. We live in a world that increasingly assumes everyone has a digital native level of understanding of how things work. I come from the analog age and I don't have that basic level. It is like trying to do algebra without understanding basic addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

I recap these woes first, because I believe I am not the only one. And second, because I find myself getting frustrated with people who cannot do the simplest thing involving technology. I keep running into highly educated intelligent people who cannot pay an invoice online. I say all this to remind me that use of technology is complicated and since I am not the one trying to use their system or their computer, I have no idea what firewalls, system security or other factors may be coming in to play. So, patience is the order of the day – for me and for everyone else.

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Melissa Roth -- Freespeak Blog

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