L4Q Round-up: Tech edition
Boomers are digital immigrants. Here's how to deal with that.
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Dear Friends,
We Boomers are a demographic of tech immigrants. We’ve migrated into the tech world rather than being born into it. We’ve had to master at least a rudimentary competency with email, mobile devices, and navigating websites.
Now the new tech sibling, AI, which has been lurking for some time in customer service, reservation-making, and every online chat “with a representative,” has reached critical mass in our digital lives.
I’ve long been a fan of TheSeniorTechie on Substack. You’ve seen his work in this space. It’s full of practical advice and explainers on all topics tech, delivered in plain, jargon-free language.
This month’s Round-up is dedicated to a smattering of his recent posts that help unravel the conundrum that is tech. Check out his Substack for all of his articles and podcasts.
What Tech Really Means For Seniors Today
“In plain terms, tech is anything that reduces effort, worry, or risk in your ordinary routines. If it lets you stay in your home longer, rest easier, or avoid one more exhausting chore, that counts.”
Senior Techie identifies 2 products - among many - that ensure comfort, safety, and convenience for seniors wishing to remain in their homes. Yes, tech makes this possible. It’s a brave new world out there, and we are the beneficiaries of some pretty wonderful tools.
Digital Estate and Legacy Planning: What is Your Digital Estate?
Estate planning is often Job #1 for Seniors - wills, trusts, the nuts and bolts of what you/your spouse will leave behind. Like it or not, you’ll leave behind a digital legacy too.
“When someone dies, their family often can’t access anything without the right credentials or legal documentation. Banks require death certificates and court orders. Apple locks devices tight. Facebook may memorialize an account so no one can log in at all.”
You need a plan. This is the first installment of an 8-week series.
Never Too Late to Launch: How 70+ Seniors are Building Tech Businesses (Title abridged)
If you ever thought, “Hey, maybe I could do something like that,” this article might be the inspiration you need.
“The share of new entrepreneurs aged 55 to 64 jumped from 14.8% in 1996 to 22.8% in 2021, according to the Kauffman Foundation. That’s not a blip. That’s a structural change in who builds things.”
Included are some case histories that say, “I could do that,” some practical pointers, and some surprising stats on the viability of such an endeavor.
Online Scams Are After Your Savings: Simple Ways Seniors Can Stay Safe
“You didn’t move your money online. Your bank did. Your Medicare did. Social Security did. One by one, everything financial migrated to the internet, and nobody sent you an orientation packet.”
Now it’s up to you to make sure your accounts, private and governmental, are safe. Once again, the Senior Techie offers practical advice, links to senior-friendly resources, and an action plan to ensure your money stays under your control. This is an invaluable, must-read.
Everyday Design Tweaks That Make Everyday Life Easier for Seniors
“If something feels harder than it should, there’s a good chance it wasn’t designed with you in mind. That’s a design failure, not yours.”
It’s true of technological design, computers, interfaces, payment systems, and home and product design. It’s all slowly getting better for Seniors, partly due to the demographic (and wealth) bulge of our population cohort. Until the right design shows up, there are practical workarounds Read to learn more.
The Upshot
I walk around with that mini computer in my pocket called an iPhone (for many, it’s an Android phone). It holds cherished memories in photos, it’s my wallet for daily expenses (coffee shop, groceries, gas). It keeps my schedule, medical records, appointment reminders, and test results. It pays bills; I keep close track of banking and credit card purchases to ensure there’s no funny business going on.
And you? What’s your “can’t do without” tech device or app? I’d love to hear from you.
Stay well and see you next Saturday!
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I was learning to play the guitar, but now I’m learning to play the banjo. I love my digital tuner!
I've just subscribed to The Senior Techie on your recommendation, Jane. As a digital immigrant — or maybe an analog refugee — I need all the plain-talk help I can get. This stuff isn't just for Boomers, though: a few years ago, we fired our money manager because he wanted us to send him financial info and docs through UNENCRYPTED emails. Duh.