Other Tech Illiteracy Help

[triscuitbiscuit]

Are there any resources to help someone who is utterly tech incompetent?

We got my father an iPhone because everyone else in the family had one and thought it was a rather intuitive phone.

Ever since he got it he has been complaining non-stop about issues. Yesterday for example he said the internet stopped working. He claims to have done nothing, but cellular data was turned off. Claims that he loses texts, emails, what have you.

I can’t comprehend what is happening. I haven’t had any issues since first getting an iPhone 10 years or so ago.

Any good resources to help him so that this doesn’t keep happening? I thought the iPhone was intuitive but I guess not!

 

[now i see it]

we've been using iOS long enough to forget how UNINTUITIVE and confusing it really is to a new comer. It really is mind boggling to someone whose never used technogadgets before. While those who have computer experience (MacOS or Windows) can eventually figure out what does what, those who don't have a long hard frustrating and confusing time at it in the beginning. There's nothing intrinsically intuitive about iOS and with today's phones with no home button, all the hidden gestures make it just that more challenging.

I'd get him an iPhone that has a home button

 

[TiggrToo]

Are there any resources to help someone who is utterly tech incompetent?

We got my father an iPhone because everyone else in the family had one and thought it was a rather intuitive phone.

Ever since he got it he has been complaining non-stop about issues. Yesterday for example he said the internet stopped working. He claims to have done nothing, but cellular data was turned off. Claims that he loses texts, emails, what have you.

I can’t comprehend what is happening. I haven’t had any issues since first getting an iPhone 10 years or so ago.

Any good resources to help him so that this doesn’t keep happening? I thought the iPhone was intuitive but I guess not!

My mother’s the same way; despite her being a pioneer in computing back in the day (her work is even in the British Computer Museum), even dumb cell phones are hard work for her these days.

Our minds can handle the underlying philosophy behind smart phones - there are many aged folk who find it massively overwhelming and they are very uncomfortable using any sort of smart devices.

I’d speak to him and ask what he really wants and listen carefully to his answer.

 

[tedley]

we've been using iOS long enough to forget how UNINTUITIVE and confusing it really is to a new comer. It really is mind boggling to someone whose never used technogadgets before. While those who have computer experience (MacOS or Windows) can eventually figure out what does what, those who don't have a long hard frustrating and confusing time at it in the beginning. There's nothing intrinsically intuitive about iOS and with today's phones with no home button, all the hidden gestures make it just that more challenging.

I'd get him an iPhone that has a home button

This is absolutely, 100% correct! I have father-in-law who is 90. He cannot do the simplest tasks on an iPad without a complete tutorial. If he does one thing incorrectly, he's completely lost. He's not mentally deficient and still has decent cognitive abilities. There are many things we learn as the basics to using ANY operating system that, after a while, seem intuitive but are actually learned skills. We can the use that knowledge to increase our ability to do more complex tasks, but initially using a computer is a leaned skill.

 

[secretk]

we've been using iOS long enough to forget how UNINTUITIVE and confusing it really is to a new comer. It really is mind boggling to someone whose never used technogadgets before. While those who have computer experience (MacOS or Windows) can eventually figure out what does what, those who don't have a long hard frustrating and confusing time at it in the beginning. There's nothing intrinsically intuitive about iOS and with today's phones with no home button, all the hidden gestures make it just that more challenging.

I'd get him an iPhone that has a home button

I confirm this. I am tech savy person and still found iOS unintuitive in the beginning. However I can browse in Internet and read forums, watch youtube videos and get the gist. I would not imagine my father doing this though. My dad really cannot use a smartphone properly. What I mean is he uses it as a flip phone - for calls and that's it. It really is difficult for him to understand how to use efficiently smartphone. I can explain to him but it is not what he wants.

This is why I agree with the other advise as well - ask him what he really wants. My father uses smartphone only because they use Viber at work (I know weird, go figure). Otherwise he would not have used a smartphone. He does not like the experience and does not to learn or get used to those new gadgets.

 

[rui no onna]

Ever since he got it he has been complaining non-stop about issues. Yesterday for example he said the internet stopped working. He claims to have done nothing, but cellular data was turned off. Claims that he loses texts, emails, what have you.

Losing texts:

Settings > Messages > Message History > Keep Messages > (30 Days, 1 Year, Forever)


Losing emails:

On some of my email accounts (Hotmail for example), there's an option for "Mail Days to Sync".


Alas, the cellular data turning off is probably a result of accidentally disabling it via Control Center. I know some very intelligent people who accidentally bring up the Control Center (they don't know that's a thing) and then just start tapping on various icons to remove it from the screen.

 

[DevinNj]

Are you or another family member able to sit down with him and watch some how-to/tips and tricks videos together and help him understand what the iPhone can do. Preferably on a computer, or something with a larger screen that's not his phone, so he can follow along on his phone and do what they do in the videos. This may help him get acquainted and ease any anxieties he may have about using his new iPhone.

Maybe that'd help, IDK

 

[IowaLynn]

Android has a simple home screen mode. Haven't tried it. Looks reminiscent of Microsoft Mobile.

I'd suspect navigation to apps and returning or finding app. The layout of the home screen.

First smartphone? So how did they do things before? Mac? Landline?

Buy yourself a copy of ios The Missing Manual and get him hardcopy iBooks iPhone manual from Apple - hardcover. A ebook version for yourself.

 

[bransoj]

My experience is the opposite of this. My dad was Android for a while and always had issues, moved him to iOS and he picked it up really quickly. My mum has never used a PC in her life but was bought an iPad and got into using it very quickly to the point she got herself an iPhone. Both my in laws are on iOS with no real tech background and find it really easy to use. I'm the go to i need help with tech person for all of them and its gone from issues all the time to barely hearing from them about problems now they are all on iOS.