Children today are growing up with technology as an integral part of their lifestyle. It’s often amazing to see how easily they get to grips with complex devices like smartphones, laptops, and wifi routers.
For older generations, this skill set does not always come so easily. You didn’t grow up with a mobile phone, and probably spent your children playing games outdoors rather than sending pictures to your friends on Snapchat.
But in the digital age, there are times when you cannot get by without technology. Perhaps you want to use the internet to communicate with distant relatives, or are starting up your business but have no idea how to use social media or build a website. It can all seem a little overwhelming, but fortunately it is a skill you can learn.
There are plenty of ways to familiarize yourself with new technology and improve your digital capabilities. Here are four tips to help you wrap your head around any tech you need to understand.
Work out your goals
Technology is an incredibly broad topic. It’s not enough to say you want to get better at it. You need to work out exactly what it is you want from your newfound computer skills. After all, your needs might be incredibly specific. Perhaps you are starting a legal practice and want to understand the importance of law practice management software for small and medium firms. Or maybe you are buying your child a computer as a graduation present and want to know which one is the best. It’s no use learning skills for the sake of it if they don’t bring you any benefit. Define what it is you want to achieve and then make a plan for how to get there.
Learn the basics
Before you get started on complicated concepts, it’s a good idea to make sure you understand the basics. Depending on your skillset, this could be as fundamental as turning a computer on and off, or sending an email. It’s always useful to learn how to use document processing software and spreadsheets, as well as video communication apps like FaceTime and Zoom. All these programs come with instructions and start-up guides to help you get to grips with them. And once you have mastered the basics, you will find it easier to understand more complicated technical language and concepts.
Ask for help
There is no shame in asking for help. You probably have friends or relatives who are much more adept with computers than you are, and it is likely they will be happy to assist you. It is considerably easier to learn by demonstration than by reading written instructions, so ask your loved one to show you how to do various tasks. You will pick them up much quicker this way.
Take a course
There are loads of online courses and workshops that are designed to help people become more computer literate. You will be able to learn from an expert and get personalised tutoring to match your current abilities.