The Hottest Trend in Technology? You.

 It’s too late to turn back, and I’m not sure I would want to anyway.  Instant messaging, photos, and e-mails, are très convenient.  We all do it relatively okay and continue to move on to the next big thing.  But, how are your parents or grandparents doing?  I think they might need the helpdesk.  

The children of the 50’s and 60’s are being left out of a huge part of your life, but they are trying. I know it’s difficult and you want to scream after the 8th phone call because they can’t find the ruler or the paragraph thingy that jumped on them for no reason.

Why are our parents and grandparents still having a hard time?  Don’t most of them still work or have computers at home?  Well, yes and no.

For older workers at the office, co-workers and computer departments are usually on speed dial.  But, when older workers or retirees are home and can’t remember how to use their smartphone, or find “you know, that website I like” Who do they call?  You.

I have a friend who has spent hours on the phone with a microbiologist who had the patience to examine teeny, tiny organisms under a microscope, but who couldn’t slow her eyes and panic long enough to find the B on her toolbar. This toolbar was  just one of several ready-mades put in place for convenience by her son.  

So, other than hanging up and saying you are SOL to your family what now?  You become the IT Trainer in the family.  Get used to it, and hang on.  As technology increases so will your job responsibilities.   

Your older family members will lose their patience, but you need to keep yours – and a bottle of Pino, Jack, or Gin as you talk and sigh through their tech errors.  It will not be their fault, it will not be your fault. It just is.

Will it be time consuming?  Yes.  Will they call in the middle of the game, a concert or Big Bang Theory? Duh.  But, it’s the Helpdesk’s responsibility to keep everything functioning and everyone in the daily loop in cyberspace.  Otherwise, you will have to show people your phone, your computer, and your YouTube account everything they missed.   And that’s not fair to either of you.

The newest trend in technology is YOU.   It is not a question of fair or fun, but in the end, it's fulfilling.  Change your F word when the phone rings and just know your job and knowledge is working for everyone’s behalf and-

Julie Noted.