How do you learn new technology?

[raccoon]

I upgraded my iPhone today. Luckily for me, the guy at the store help me to transfer all my stuff over to my new phone.

How I usually learn stuff: By monkeying around with the phone, sometimes asking people, Occasionally asking Siri or looking it up on the Internet. And just it isn’t just the phone. It’s other stuff, like the car. And not to mention TVs. I manage to learn what I need to, but I think we need a new job designation: Technology coach.

I don’t have kids so expecting kids or grandkids to keep me updated isn’t an option.

I don’t get it. I’m an educated person. If I have trouble with keeping up to date with new technology, how is Joe Sixpack able to do it?

[Eliot Rosewater]

1. i google everything I am figuring out and that makes it so much easier

turn off notifications

google that to find out why you would do that, for isntance


Of if you use a lot of battery, and someone says turn fetch off, I google

iphone x fetch email

and i get

Change Settings to Get Email More Often
Tap Settings.
Scroll down to Mail, Contacts, Calendars and tap it.
Tap Fetch New Data.
In this section, there are three options: Push, Accounts, and Advanced. Push—automatically downloads (or "pushes&quot all email from your account to your phone as soon as they're received.

[NCTraveler]

2. Tutorial videos.

The ones from my car and camera manufacturers are some of the best I have seen.

[unblock]

3. most people learn the few features they are interested in and don't bother with the rest.

iphones have a brazillion and one features but for most of them it's easy to remain completely oblivious to them.

every once in a while a friend shows you a new trick or maybe you see it in a youtube video.


personally, i'm no longer interested in great exploration of phone features, even this is a former chief technology officer talking.

then again, mrs. unblock and mini-unblock love learning about the latest gadgets, so i suppose i learn a bit by osmosis....

[meadowlander]

4. I struggle with what to buy

And usually end up not bothering. There’s a lot of new technology that isn’t serving a genuine need. Like who actually needs a SmartFridge so they can see on their phone how many eggs are in the fridge?

I do need to up my TV game with some kind of TiVo like device but just can be bothered to spend three days researching what I need. I don’t even having a working tv at the moment because I can’t be arsed to work out which coaxial cable I need.

I keep hoping it’s like the Internet before Google and at some point a market leader will emerge that just installs everything for you.

[thbobby]

5. I was a computer technician and

worked night job tutoring high school math. Just a suggestion, but most people:

1) Learn by doing. And making mistakes.
2) Briefly read instructions or watch tutorial.
3) Fidget with device. Learn what you don't know.
4) Read instructions or watch tutorial again.
5) Repeat steps 2,3 repeatedly. Try to have a "safe place" to fall back to if things go far south.
6) Patience. Usually, most people learn best in 30 minute sessions.
7) From my own experience, DO NOT smash device with a hammer over frustration.

Overall, myself and most people learn by doing.

[PJMcK]

6. Apple has very good instructional videos on their website

They show you how to access all of the features on your new phone. This page might get you started:

https://support.apple.com/iphone

I like to read. I like to have some kind of manual, which I recognize is old-school but I'm old. I don't think I'm violating the TOS if I suggest the instructional books for iOS written by the excellent David Pogue. My copies have become dog-eared from our use of them!

Which phone did you get? I've got a 6S and I'll probably upgrade by the end of the year.

[raccoon]

11. iPhone 8 Plus. Nt

[lunatica]

7. Curiosity is a big plus

Mix in a touch of fearlessness and the unmovable belief that if others can do it so can you.

Oh! And stubbornness!

Nowadays almost all you need to do can be done electronically. I got my first iPhone less than a year ago (having never even had a cellphone before) and was able to sell my condo long distance. As you might know there are lots of times you have to sign documents. Through DocuSign I did it all electronically because I moved away. No mail was involved so everything went much faster.

I pay all my bills from my mobile devices and I do all my shopping too. At one point even buying groceries! I use email as well as texting to communicate with everyone. And with apps I do it all in seconds, including my banking, which includes making deposits by taking photos of the front and back of the checks.

I learned most of it by googling it. I also have Netflix and Hulu and cable channels on my iPhone and iPad. And all my devices are connected to the iCloud so I can access everything from my iPhone, iPad and computer.

And I love taking photos!

[canetoad]

8. New devices, computer programs

Start at the top left hand corner and methodically work through every menu, sub-menu and options box taking in what it does and what choices you have. Even if you don't remember everything, and you probably wont, you will probably remember that there was an option for *that somewhere and you can look up the exact details.

[madamesilverspurs]

9. S-l-o-o-o-w-l-y.

I got my new phone months ago. It came with no instructions. I emailed the provider and explained that I was born long before the chip began to be implanted at birth. They responded with a link that a friend was able to partially decipher so that I could at least make simple phone calls. Then the thing started acting out, doing things I haven't told it to do. This weekend I attempted to call a friend across town, was surprised as heck when my sister answered (she lives several states away); the two phone numbers are not even similar. Now I have received another email from the company telling me that I hadn't properly programmed the phone when I got it (not to suggest there was anything telling me how to do that!); they outline some steps to take to program the device. Not going to try it now, I just took my evening meds. I'll try tomorrow when the mind is a bit fresher. Wish me luck.


.

[OnDoutside]

10. Spending time is no 1. Then googling/youtube for tutorials. There's some great help out there.

The biggest thing though, is to spend the time, which most are unwilling to do.

[HipChick]

12. I was raised by Google, Siri and YouTube

Back in the old days, we called this RTFM...