Martha Rotter can get you online and up and running in no time, regardless of age or experience
THE LAST DECADE has brought high-speed internet connectivity to download movies in mere minutes, touchscreen devices that we only thought possible in Star Trek, and it has turned the humble phone into a machine with more computing power than the technology that brought the Apollo 11 spacecraft to the moon.
Talk of Tweeting, updating one’s Facebook status or googling for information can lead one to the conclusion that technology’s dizzy pace is for the young; once you’re past a certain age it is impossible to catch up. But nothing could be further from the truth.
THE EXPERT
Martha Rotter is a software developer, tech enthusiast, teacher and publisher of Idea magazine. “Technology can be a beneficial addition to anyone’s life, and any amount of time you invest into learning about technology or the web will be an asset for you,” she says. “I think that what mostly puts non-techies off technology is the fear of looking stupid.
“Many people have had the experience of struggling with some aspect of their phone or computer, asking someone like a help desk or IT technician, and then being made to feel dumb about not knowing in the first place. Not all of these things are intuitive at first.”
Rotter was considering accountancy but it was only after taking a programming class for fun that she realised computer science was an option. “I didn’t know anyone who used a computer for their job when I was a kid, so I feel visibility and role models are quite helpful.” This led to a career in Microsoft where she spent more than three years training developers and teaching students, professionals and hobbyists about technology and development.
So what technology skills are essential? Being able to search for and find helpful information on the internet is the most important skill you can learn today, says Rotter. Google might be the most popular search engine but there are also specialist sites that can help you hone in on specific knowledge, and there is always crowd sourcing, or the art of asking others for information. Sites such as Quora.com are forums where those with expertise in anything from quantum physics to French cuisine can share their knowledge with you.
“If you know how to look for information, you can find anything and teach yourself how to do everything else. The resources on the web are immense, so knowing how to find them can vastly improve your knowledge and skills.”
With online search conquered, the next most useful things are learning to email and communicate with people online, she says, and this may include social networking if your friends and family are using those services.
“From there it depends what you value, whether it’s sharing photos, chatting, getting news, learning or anything else. All of those things and a lot more are easily learned once you realise how to find the information you need.”
Age is no barrier, says Rotter. Especially when you have a reason or some form of motivation to use technology. “Through Age Action, I work with older people all the time who are scared of technology.”
Rotter suggests that you begin by setting a goal. Are you interested in a hobby such as art or photography and want to use the web to educate yourself? Or maybe you’re a bargain hunter? “I had one student at Age Action who was primarily interested in the internet because of all the great deals her friends were getting on restaurants and holidays.”
Some people, however, may wonder if technology is an optional extra; something that is nice to master but not really necessary. Nowadays, not knowing how to use technology is starting to be expensive in terms of time and opportunity, says Rotter. “Imagine if whenever you wanted to know what films were showing, you had to drive to the movie theatre? What if the only way to talk to your grandkids on the other side of the world was to visit them?”
Finally, Rotter has some advice for those learning to share information online, be it on social-networking sites or uploading video to YouTube. “Google your first and last name, in quotes, and see what you find,” she says. “If you’re looking for a job or creating a profile online, this is a fast and important way to do some minimal damage control. It’s okay to email website owners or colleagues and ask for reasonable changes, like a photo removal or updating your job title.” MB
Wikipedia, en.wikipedia.org
Information on every topic.
ageaction.ie
The Age Action resources provide a lot of helpful information on very basic topics and questions.
BBC Online, http://bbc.co.uk/learning/ subjects/information_technology.shtml
A good learning resource with tutorials and courses to teach yourself online.
College of Management and IT (http://www.cmit.ie) or The Open University ( http://www.open.ac.uk/)
Online courses on technology for undergraduate, post-graduate and professional skills.
