I believe there is a need for older people to be educated in new technology. People who know senior citizens can probably relate when I say, “many senior citizens struggle with new technology.” Many older people today went to school and had careers that did not require anything high tech. Many careers and consumer task require at least some small skills in technology. For younger people, writing an email, sending a text message, downloading an app, streaming a movie, purchasing something online, banking online,.may seem easy because they were born into it and know nothing else. However, there are millions of people who were brought up with minimal high technology and now technology is consumed everywhere. High technology can be confusing for elderly people. Unfortunately fraud companies know that older people are easily tricked and are not familiar with online scams, so they specifically target senior citizens. The technology revolution seems to be the most drastic change out of any human time period. The industrial revolution was a major change for humans and that was more gradual than the high tech revolution that is taking place now. There are services that teach people how to use technology. For example, Apple has free classes for people who purchased an apple product. They can go to an Apple store and learn how to use their device properly. These services are sometimes difficult to access and are not well known for many.
#1 Gender:Male Age:78
Do you own a computer or smartphone?
“I own a computer and my wife owns a smartphone.”
Your wife is around your age?
“Yes”
Do you find using features on your computer complicated such a sending an email or text message complicated?
“I have been able to email. My struggle on the computer is keeping my files organized.”
Do you shop online?
“I have tried. It would be really nice to know what websites are good and safe to shop on. Online shopping would make things easier I am just scared about fraud. I have heard many stories from friends.”
When did you first start using high technology?
“I remember buying a Microsoft computer awhile back. But back that it was simple. I have not been able to keep up with the new features and updates."
What do you currently do to teach yourself about the technology that you own and how satisfied are you with the solution?”
“I have grandchildren that try to help me and my wife when they can but it is difficult because they are not always here. Being able to learn how to fully use my devices in the most efficient and effective way would be very beneficial.”
Reflection: Older people usually have younger people in their life. Their children or grandchildren to help them out. If more people knew how to shop online businesses might be able to make more sales.
#2 Gender:Female Age 21
Do you have a grandparent who is over the age of 65?
“Yes”
Do they own any high technology such as a computer or smartphone?
“They do not but my grandpa always wanted to learn how to use a phone. Every time we would take out are phones are computer he would want us to teach him.”
Have they had any major difficulties with using technology that caused a negative outcome.
“My grandma was once scammed into buying WiFi. My grandparents do not own minimal technology and nothing that can be connected to WiFi. My grandma did not understand what WiFi was and was tricked into buying a monthly subscription. If there was a service for them to learn new technological terms and how to use devices, then being scammed might have been prevented. My grandparents are really bad with technology. They struggle to turn on a TV.”
What do your grandparents do know to teach themselves how to use new technology.
“Right now they are very old. One is 90 and the other is 88. They both have dementia so it is difficult to teach them anything now. However, if it was a few years in the past being able to teach them would be beneficial. I think my grandparents would be able to have more independence if they knew how to use new technology. They could should shop online and order stuff to their house instead of having constant assistance.”
If your grandparents were a little bit younger and did not have dementia would you get them a service to teach them how to use technology.
“Yes I would. I think it would be very beneficial. I also think it would be beneficial for middle aged people like my parents. My mom always wants to know how to use new features on her iPhone but doesn't know how. She has gone to the store to try to get help but it is inconvenient for her. My grandparents and parents and parents are from Cuba. In my community in Miami many of the older immigrants struggle with technology and do not have the opportunity to learn it.”
Reflection: In this interview I saw that immigrants from poorer countries already have a hard time adapting and technology can make things more difficult if you do not understand.
#3 Gender: Female Age:64
Do you own any technological devices such as a computer or smartphone?
“Yes I do.”When did you get your devices and what do you use them for
"I started really using high technology for my work as a school teacher. I use it for work email, making class assignments etc."
Do you struggle with their features?
"Simple features I can learn pretty quick. However, the school system is bring in more technology and wants the teachers to use it more. Now all the students have iPad. The students are better at using the iPad than me it seems."
What are you doing now to try to teach yourself?
“I have to beg people to teach me to stuff. It is embarrassing at my age. This is such a big change and I do not have a main source to teach myself. I wish there was something for teachers to learn during the summer when we are not at work”
Would you be satisfied with a solution that could teaching program.
“Yes. An opportunity to be more knowledgeable in technology would be great. It would help me a lot in my career as a teacher and I am sure for many other teachers that are older.”
Reflection: I learned that older teachers struggle with the new technology being mixed into the school system. It can also be embarrassing for people to ask people questions that people a lot younger can answer.
Summary: The opportunity I originally believed in is still there. Interviewing three different people I was able to see the opportunity better. Seeing different perspectives and viewpoints made the opportunity seem like it could potentially turn into something. I think entrepreneurs should adapt their opportunities based off customer feedback. The prototypical customers I talked to made me see more opportunities. For example, one of the people I talked to talked about how immigrants struggle with technology. My originally opportunity was geared more towards senior citizens. I also their is an opportunity with school teachers.
Your wife is around your age?
“Yes”
Do you find using features on your computer complicated such a sending an email or text message complicated?
“I have been able to email. My struggle on the computer is keeping my files organized.”
Do you shop online?
“I have tried. It would be really nice to know what websites are good and safe to shop on. Online shopping would make things easier I am just scared about fraud. I have heard many stories from friends.”
When did you first start using high technology?
“I remember buying a Microsoft computer awhile back. But back that it was simple. I have not been able to keep up with the new features and updates."
What do you currently do to teach yourself about the technology that you own and how satisfied are you with the solution?”
“I have grandchildren that try to help me and my wife when they can but it is difficult because they are not always here. Being able to learn how to fully use my devices in the most efficient and effective way would be very beneficial.”
Reflection: Older people usually have younger people in their life. Their children or grandchildren to help them out. If more people knew how to shop online businesses might be able to make more sales.
#2 Gender:Female Age 21
Do you have a grandparent who is over the age of 65?
“Yes”
Do they own any high technology such as a computer or smartphone?
“They do not but my grandpa always wanted to learn how to use a phone. Every time we would take out are phones are computer he would want us to teach him.”
Have they had any major difficulties with using technology that caused a negative outcome.
“My grandma was once scammed into buying WiFi. My grandparents do not own minimal technology and nothing that can be connected to WiFi. My grandma did not understand what WiFi was and was tricked into buying a monthly subscription. If there was a service for them to learn new technological terms and how to use devices, then being scammed might have been prevented. My grandparents are really bad with technology. They struggle to turn on a TV.”
What do your grandparents do know to teach themselves how to use new technology.
“Right now they are very old. One is 90 and the other is 88. They both have dementia so it is difficult to teach them anything now. However, if it was a few years in the past being able to teach them would be beneficial. I think my grandparents would be able to have more independence if they knew how to use new technology. They could should shop online and order stuff to their house instead of having constant assistance.”
If your grandparents were a little bit younger and did not have dementia would you get them a service to teach them how to use technology.
“Yes I would. I think it would be very beneficial. I also think it would be beneficial for middle aged people like my parents. My mom always wants to know how to use new features on her iPhone but doesn't know how. She has gone to the store to try to get help but it is inconvenient for her. My grandparents and parents and parents are from Cuba. In my community in Miami many of the older immigrants struggle with technology and do not have the opportunity to learn it.”
Reflection: In this interview I saw that immigrants from poorer countries already have a hard time adapting and technology can make things more difficult if you do not understand.
#3 Gender: Female Age:64
Do you own any technological devices such as a computer or smartphone?
“Yes I do.”When did you get your devices and what do you use them for
"I started really using high technology for my work as a school teacher. I use it for work email, making class assignments etc."
Do you struggle with their features?
"Simple features I can learn pretty quick. However, the school system is bring in more technology and wants the teachers to use it more. Now all the students have iPad. The students are better at using the iPad than me it seems."
What are you doing now to try to teach yourself?
“I have to beg people to teach me to stuff. It is embarrassing at my age. This is such a big change and I do not have a main source to teach myself. I wish there was something for teachers to learn during the summer when we are not at work”
Would you be satisfied with a solution that could teaching program.
“Yes. An opportunity to be more knowledgeable in technology would be great. It would help me a lot in my career as a teacher and I am sure for many other teachers that are older.”
Reflection: I learned that older teachers struggle with the new technology being mixed into the school system. It can also be embarrassing for people to ask people questions that people a lot younger can answer.
Summary: The opportunity I originally believed in is still there. Interviewing three different people I was able to see the opportunity better. Seeing different perspectives and viewpoints made the opportunity seem like it could potentially turn into something. I think entrepreneurs should adapt their opportunities based off customer feedback. The prototypical customers I talked to made me see more opportunities. For example, one of the people I talked to talked about how immigrants struggle with technology. My originally opportunity was geared more towards senior citizens. I also their is an opportunity with school teachers.
This is a very interesting problem that you pointed out that I never would have thought of. This does create a gap in communication between older and younger generations. However, many older people refuse to adapt to changes because they want to stick to their traditional beliefs. There might be a way to change their views, but it may be difficult. Overall, you made some very interesting points in this post and I enjoyed reading it.
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