For those of us over 65, the world seems to be less familiar and more alien by the year. This is counterintuitive because the expectation is that age bestows wisdom and a greater cumulative knowledge about how the world works. While this is largely accurate in my experience, I am baffled by some of the changes experienced in the last 20 years especially regarding technology.

As an early adopter of technology, I love science and am always eager to embrace new technology yet there is a disconnect between the comfortable world we once knew and the reality of today’s world. If you ever operated a slide rule, used a party line phone, and thrilled to 8-track tapes, the current world can be a mysterious place and one for which we are poorly equipped.

Many colleagues are even more baffled about navigating the intricacies of smart TVs, Google search, mobile phones, and the Internet – so I am not a solo traveler on this journey through the wilderness. This bewilderment comes at a stage of life when cognitive acuity is declining just as technology is accelerating at warp speed. Many in my generation are flummoxed by questions such as – what is my password, what is an authentication code, why do I need it, where can I find it, what is an app and how do I use it?
This added complexity and confusion is frustrating and contrary to the expectation that we would enjoy our “golden years.” We can spend hours trying to figure out how to get access to our online banking accounts, filling out forms, learning new apps and chasing down contact information. Social networks have varied rules; some people will use email and avoid texting, others vice versa thereby missing out on important information, leading to confusion and also to social isolation. One of the major risks of aging is that we tend to lose friends, relatives or work colleagues, and become more withdrawn from our normal relationships and contacts.

Given the plethora of new products and services, we each need to consciously decide what technology tools to adopt and avoid those that are not worth the effort. I have decided to give up on any social media because they can be a real time-suck, and they distract me from tasks that I find more enjoyable. Some technical tools can be helpful – Google wallet, Gmail, online banking, messaging, a limited number of news sites, and document apps.

The following strategy can help manage technology challenges:

-Limit tech to a few applications that offer the greatest benefit with the least effort.
-Reduce interaction with online tools – simple is best.
-Learn new skills to help you master a few useful tech tools.
-Ask for help when needed and recognize that things will change soon. Younger people are helpful and there are lots of YouTube lessons.
-Focus on tools that make life easier, help you stay in contact with others who are important and increase the quality of communication and learning.

This sense of alienation is becoming more acute because the rate of technological change is accelerating at a time when people are living longer and spending more time in retirement than in their work lives. The core skill needed as we age is to embrace and adapt to change and do the best we can with the tools we have available.