Either I am not aging well…or technology thinks I’m not | What the Heckle? – Colorado Springs Gazette
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Author Benn Farrell is having a generation crisis with technology.
Benn Farrell
Author Benn Farrell is having a generation crisis with technology.
Benn Farrell
Maybe it’s because I’ve gained weight. Maybe it’s because I’ve worked a lot in the sun over the past 10 years or so. And maybe it’s because I turn 50 years old this year.
But for some reason, I’m starting to notice technology is trying to tell me I am not aging well.
As I get older, I’ve always been able to spot moments which help me realize I’m past “my” time. You know how people say, “That was before my time?” It’s kind of like that, but I catch on to things showing today’s pop culture is “past my time.”
The usual indicators are the terms my children use. They use colloquialisms I’ve never heard, which serve as synonyms for simple things like boyfriend and girlfriend. So, not only have I realized I’m behind the generational changes in vernacular, I also find myself not caring. Another sign I’m past my time. It’s flat out embarrassing for a 50-year-old man to attempt to use the phrase “side smash” in normal conversation.
However, I’ve become enlightened to the fact that the technology devices in my daily life have methodically attempted to tell me I’m getting old and I’m not aging well. Some of their methods are subtle, but noticeable. Others are flat out hurtful.
If you have read my column over the years, you may remember a couple years ago when I was given an Apple Watch for Christmas. Although I like the Apple Watch, I didn’t know how to change settings, preferences and the like and the watch constantly wanted me to get up and walk around.
The watch would randomly alert me, “It’s time to stand up.” Sometimes, it was when I was on the toilet. How unfair and embarrassing is that for a smartwatch to suggest at that time? Eventually, someone smarter than me showed me how to change the settings and the watch has since minded its own business.
My smartphone was the next to get me. I had downloaded one of the many online shopping apps, and as I was registering for an account, the app asked me for my birthday. I chose August from the pull-down menu for the month, nine for the day, but when it came to the pull-down menu for my birth year, scrolling to find 1974 took about 10 minutes and my thumb started cramping up.
One of my kids noticed I was frustrated and asked what was wrong, and I said, “Apparently, Instacart doesn’t believe 1974 is a real year.”
The next aspect of my devices subtly trying to say I’m not aging well are the sound alerts. Many times, I will look at my phone and see I’ve received a new text, or Voxer alert, a new email or whatever. Even though the phone was sitting next to me the whole time. I’ll check the notification settings and make sure the phone volume is all the way up, but some days, I just never hear it. Or my devices are simply not making sound alerts and trying to make me think I’m losing my hearing.
The most recent painful instance was the other day when I tried to access my phone via facial recognition. From the lock screen, instead of giving me access, it just decided to shut down. The battery level was fine. Everything was fine. It just looked at me and decided to go to sleep, just rude.
It would have been better if the phone, when I looked at it for recognition access, had Siri look at me and say, “Dude. … What happened?”
Despite all the hurtful technology of which, like everyone else, I have come to rely on for our personal and professional lives, I actually don’t feel bad or have any anxiety about turning 50. It’s 50. That’s a pretty big birthday of which a person should feel proud to reach. I don’t know if I feel proud necessarily. My smartphone won’t let that happen.
However, I do feel accomplished. And for that matter, my iPhone can go suck an egg.
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This article was autogenerated from a news feed from CDO TIMES selected high quality news and research sources. There was no editorial review conducted beyond that by CDO TIMES staff. Need help with any of the topics in our articles? Schedule your free CDO TIMES Tech Navigator call today to stay ahead of the curve and gain insider advantages to propel your business!
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Author Benn Farrell is having a generation crisis with technology.
Benn Farrell
Author Benn Farrell is having a generation crisis with technology.
Benn Farrell
Maybe it’s because I’ve gained weight. Maybe it’s because I’ve worked a lot in the sun over the past 10 years or so. And maybe it’s because I turn 50 years old this year.
But for some reason, I’m starting to notice technology is trying to tell me I am not aging well.
As I get older, I’ve always been able to spot moments which help me realize I’m past “my” time. You know how people say, “That was before my time?” It’s kind of like that, but I catch on to things showing today’s pop culture is “past my time.”
The usual indicators are the terms my children use. They use colloquialisms I’ve never heard, which serve as synonyms for simple things like boyfriend and girlfriend. So, not only have I realized I’m behind the generational changes in vernacular, I also find myself not caring. Another sign I’m past my time. It’s flat out embarrassing for a 50-year-old man to attempt to use the phrase “side smash” in normal conversation.
However, I’ve become enlightened to the fact that the technology devices in my daily life have methodically attempted to tell me I’m getting old and I’m not aging well. Some of their methods are subtle, but noticeable. Others are flat out hurtful.
If you have read my column over the years, you may remember a couple years ago when I was given an Apple Watch for Christmas. Although I like the Apple Watch, I didn’t know how to change settings, preferences and the like and the watch constantly wanted me to get up and walk around.
The watch would randomly alert me, “It’s time to stand up.” Sometimes, it was when I was on the toilet. How unfair and embarrassing is that for a smartwatch to suggest at that time? Eventually, someone smarter than me showed me how to change the settings and the watch has since minded its own business.
My smartphone was the next to get me. I had downloaded one of the many online shopping apps, and as I was registering for an account, the app asked me for my birthday. I chose August from the pull-down menu for the month, nine for the day, but when it came to the pull-down menu for my birth year, scrolling to find 1974 took about 10 minutes and my thumb started cramping up.
One of my kids noticed I was frustrated and asked what was wrong, and I said, “Apparently, Instacart doesn’t believe 1974 is a real year.”
The next aspect of my devices subtly trying to say I’m not aging well are the sound alerts. Many times, I will look at my phone and see I’ve received a new text, or Voxer alert, a new email or whatever. Even though the phone was sitting next to me the whole time. I’ll check the notification settings and make sure the phone volume is all the way up, but some days, I just never hear it. Or my devices are simply not making sound alerts and trying to make me think I’m losing my hearing.
The most recent painful instance was the other day when I tried to access my phone via facial recognition. From the lock screen, instead of giving me access, it just decided to shut down. The battery level was fine. Everything was fine. It just looked at me and decided to go to sleep, just rude.
It would have been better if the phone, when I looked at it for recognition access, had Siri look at me and say, “Dude. … What happened?”
Despite all the hurtful technology of which, like everyone else, I have come to rely on for our personal and professional lives, I actually don’t feel bad or have any anxiety about turning 50. It’s 50. That’s a pretty big birthday of which a person should feel proud to reach. I don’t know if I feel proud necessarily. My smartphone won’t let that happen.
However, I do feel accomplished. And for that matter, my iPhone can go suck an egg.
Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.
We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:
This article was autogenerated from a news feed from CDO TIMES selected high quality news and research sources. There was no editorial review conducted beyond that by CDO TIMES staff. Need help with any of the topics in our articles? Schedule your free CDO TIMES Tech Navigator call today to stay ahead of the curve and gain insider advantages to propel your business!
