Or Cortana, or Alexa…                                                                                                                (2 minute read – plus some great video links)

Laughing is exactly what I did watching this video of a Grandmother from Italy attempt to ask Siri what time it is?  

“You just tell her what you want her to do” her grandson reminds her.

It got me thinking about how my Grandmothers or any Grandmother would respond, react or reply to our “digital personal assistants” or “artificial intelligence“.  I probably can’t repeat what my Grandmothers would say back to her in certain situations.  

What if you have an accent, talk too softly, have a disability or have a lisp?

It can cause significant frustration for the user!  Watch this video to get another chuckle, Saturday Night Live (SNL) skit about an Amazon Echo Silver for the elderly. 

But IF it’s so frustrating, why are the number of users in the MILLIONS?

According to an article published in Quartz Media, “60.5 million Americans will talk at least once a month to their virtual personal assistants named Siri, Cortana, Alexa, and other as-yet unknowns this year.” But the highest percentage of these users are Millennials, not Baby Boomers. That leads me to the question of how can we help them?

Technology, including virtual personal assistant, can be a huge help for the elderly if they are instructed and taught with patience. 

Technology Will Continue to Grow…..

The final takeaway is that technology growth is here to stay.  There will be more devices for us to learn as we age.  Developers will hopefully be mindful of the challenges some Seniors may encounter trying to use these devices.  Family members and friends need to find the humor, joy, and patience in teaching our elderly how to use new technology and understanding their limitations.  

Again, technology can be a huge benefit for the elderly. From Smart Homes to Security Systems to Voice Recognition in an emergency, it can provide a safer environment for our loved ones and allow them to stay in their homes longer.  Here are some statistics associated with technology trends and Seniors for 2017 published by Pew Research.   

Finally, if you just want to wait for the technology to improve and enjoy the humor in the artificial intelligence age, read this article on funny Siri commands or this one on 90 funny Cortana commands. JUST GO WITH IT!

 “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.”

― Henry Ford. 

Remember! Call Us For Help

Tech Help Boston can help.  In future blogs, we will offer advice for instructing elderly on technology and simplifying some things.  We can help with the following services: 

• Wireless Networks 

• Mobile Devices 

• Smart Gadgets & Appliances  

• Data Protection and Security

Spend your time where it matters and let us help with the rest!

 (781) 484-1265 

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