Please read further after reading about GENERATION GAP..OK…Now that all of you had read me go rant-rant about how i feel about a typical Indian -household feels about the gadgets that are so popular today.. let me also speak about the brighter side of it.
The GENERATION GAP that you had read earlier represented the scenario typical in the late 80’s an 90’s. Its not the same anymore.
Every family has at least 2-3 members who are settled (or on short-term education-work related stays) abroad. With the regular “post-office-based” correspondence (fondly called as Snail-Mail by the netizens) dwindling and the safety of the wards posing a major concern.. parents are not able to keep in contact with the children (&family) with just the phone calls (and the bills for those calls run astronomically high).Few tit-bits of information taking as long as only 5-9 min does not satisfy the paternal emotions, leaving them teary eyed for weeks together.
Not very soon they realized that its possible to have the cake and eat it too.
All it takes is to have the mindset and persistence to bake the cake..er..err… i mean..
GENERATION – T
The seniors have learnt and accepted few vital things about Personal Computers with basic operational skills…
- They can send “letters” to the wards which will reach them in moments…than posting an aerogramme.
- The reply “letters” sent by wards are also received much sooner……..than waiting for the post man to deliver them.
- Using a MIKE.. its possible to talk to each other for any length of time (or perhaps even daily)Without worrying about the telephone bills if only both the parties are agreeing on a common time for the chit-chat. This is almost like a family conversation over the dinner table except that it now takes place in front of a screen.
- Using a special camera (I think they call it a computer-camera..and not web-cam) its possible to see while talking
So technology has filled the void that parents used to have when their child (&family) left homeland in search of newer pastures. Its indeed a breakthrough in their psyche that they have expressed their willingness to be more techno-friendly on a NEED-TO-KNOW basis.
Long classroom lectures will do them no good. They donot aspire for some degree course, instead they would be grateful and feel “jolly-good” if only some one could help them use the gadgets to fulfill the emotional void and
bridge the geographical gap with few set of wires.
GENERATION – CC (Compassionate & Caring ….no longer “Cautions & Caught”)
Once “cost conscious”.. this generation is only too willing to invest once their parents have expressed the willingness to update themselves to be techno friendly. They also realize that its going to be an uphill task in getting them understand the “how-to-use” ,”when-to-use” and many of similar “lessons” in the process of making them self reliant with the Personal Computer.
Many of you might have noticed that how important it is to make the senior citizens understand NOT -TO-PANIC when the computer does not behave the way we want it. One such experience (say system hangs).. is enough to hold them back and they wow never to touch the computer again. Whoever is tutoring the senior citizens , must have loads and loads of patience and the willingness to be accessible to them at any time.
GENERATION – X
They are the happiest when they realize their grandparents are going to be techno-friendly. They can now say that they have the coolest grandparents in the whole-wide-world and are very proud to introduce them to their peer-group. More mature members of this generation are only too willing to impart the all important computer-knowledge without embarrassing the elders. They are enthusiastic for two reasons
- Their grandparents are the coolest.
- They don’t get a time-out for not doing their HW / chores… they were too busy imparting knowledge … now that they also have the back up of grandparents.
There is a role-reversal seen in the family on such occassions.The child becomes the teacher and the (grand) parents have to stick by the rules which they made for their (Grand)children during their schooling years.Just like any feild of education.. Theory-Practical lessons & HomeWork are important to gain the knowledge (even for a NEED-TO-KNOW basis kind of learning..)Those senoir citizens who had religiously spend their time learing these basic skills are only canvassing to their frinds to learn computers and enjoy the joys it has to offer.
You have your own doughts about my thoughts…do a little bit of HomeWork youself and talk to techno-frindly senoirs who are chatting away with sons /daughters – grandchildren in some cybercafe or even at home.Dont forget to tell me your experince with techno-frindly seniors…
Look around—LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL
Arrivied by mail
1–Generation Gap. I am in the 50 to 75-year-old category. I now accept the view that a computer and a printer is a necessary household and office tool, just as is a telephone and facsimile machine. It has taken me 10 years to really accept this view, however. At first, I could not understand how the computer could replace the electronic typewriter and before that, the manual typewriter. All that is history now, of course. I still am not comfortable with all uses and special services offered by the computer but I am willing to learn them as best I can.
2–Mobile Phone. I do not have one yet although my two daughters keep after me to get one. My main complaint right now is that I do not hear as well with a cell phone as I do with a traditional house or office phone. I also do not like the idea of people talking on these mobile phones while they are driving a vehicle in public. There have been too many tragic incidents to mention at this time. If the auto manufacturers could provide a speaker-type phone in a vehicle, where the driver’s hands would be kept on the steering wheel, then I would support the continued use of mobile phones. As of now, however, I do not use them and I do not like them being abused by immature vehicle operators.
Well, now…I have that off my chest and I feel a little better. Thanks again for all your support and patience, Deepa. I think that is the one quality most seniors desire when they are starting out to learn and adapt to new tools such as computers and mobile phones.
Years ago, I took a summer computer primer class at a local Junior College but the instructor’s presentation was way over my head and I had to drop out after several sessions.
Stay well. Sincerely,
Alex Finkelstein