I get the heebie-jeebies when I see a person over 50 not using a smartphone.  They might as well be wearing bell bottoms, because they look like dinosaurs to me. I hate it even more when they say “Smartphone, what do I need it for?” 

I am so passionate about this subject because I don’t want anyone from my generation to miss out on all the cool technology that is offered today. All the stuff we dreamed about when we were growing up is finally happening. We are so lucky to be alive during this amazing, innovative era.  I often wonder where I came from when I’m excited about finding a new app that makes my life so much easier, but my friends aren’t jumping for joy. 

This week alone I added a scanner, business card, two videos, and a greeting card app to my iPhone roster. Every time an app is added, I feel like I inherited a significant gift from a major donor. I can’t wait to play with it.  I admit that when I open most of them, I am clueless about what to do next. I usually push a lot of buttons until I discover what to do, or I wait until I see one of my younger friends.  I bug them relentlessly to show me how to work the app. Our tech guru at HWH usually bears the burden of showing me the ins and outs, over and over. I can never remember a thing if I don’t repeatedly use the app. 

My biggest recommendation to everyone that is technologically challenged is to get a geek to help you once or twice a week. Hire a young kid for $25 an hour to demystify what you don’t know. You will be amazed at how simple it all is.  All this tech stuff doesn’t come intuitively to our generation because we didn’t grow up with it. The kids today did.  If you resist, it is because you are afraid to admit what you don’t know. That is so silly. Even some of my engineering contacts from Google ask me questions about social media that I assumed that they should know the answers to. The digital world is all about everyone helping each other out. 

The greatest reward you will receive when you delve into the world of technology is that your children and grandchildren will be so proud of you. You need to be a part of the tech culture.  You’ll see what a great icebreaker it will be when you contribute to the conversation around the dinner table. You will level the playing field. The generation gap will disappear on certain topics outside of technology as well. All of a sudden, you’ll be relevant on many fronts.  Please don’t be a cynical spectator any longer. You  also need a smartphone  because it’s the future of communications. Smartphones are going to be a big threat to desktop and laptop computers.  Most people today use smartphones for everything. They read novels, draft contracts, and edit videos right on this handy, small, mobile device. Please be a part of the upwardly mobile society.