The picture and sound quality may not be top-notch, but maybe we’ve grown accustomed to having only the latest and best and aren’t willing to settle for anything less than the top-of-the-line?
Why throw away perfectly good entertainment just because it’s old or inconvenient to rewind after viewing?
And think of the budget, many VHS movies are cheap – $1-5 at online sites. dollar stores and thrift shops.
If this sounds like you, then you are the epitome of a technology dinosaur. By today’s standards, VHSs are not only old, they are ancient. If you watch movies on anything that is not Amazon Prime, Hulu, or Netflix, you have fallen behind.
These internet-based streaming platforms are definitely convenient, but they have taken the magic out of movie night.
Do remember going to Blockbuster and renting a movie? Those were the days.
7. You use a “dumb phone” instead of a smartphone
Younger co-workers scoff at your flip phone that does not have WiFi, or internet access and doesn’t support downloadable apps. It does, however, have a calendar and some old, but still decent games, And one nice positive – since it’s a flip phone, no inadvertent and potentially embarrassing “butt dialing.”
It may not have “bells and whistles” but it does make and receive calls; it’s a phone, after all.
8. You keep appointments and notes on a decades-old PDA with no Internet access
True, its operating system is so old (Windows CE/Pocket PC), it’s obsolete. It does have Pocket Word and Excel but transferring files to a modern PC isn’t a viable option. Most computers today no longer support infrared capabilities.
Still, it does have an appointment calendar that can be set to remind you with a beep at certain time intervals. It also offers a contact list where information on business associates or personal info can be entered. It’s simple to use and a bonus – no distractions, except perhaps for a game of solitaire.
Too Many Devices: A Problem for Seniors
9. You take photos with a vintage 35mm film camera
Cameras used to be simple. You would look through the viewfinder, click a button and that was it. Now you can zoom in and out, add filters, use portrait mode, take photos in burst mode and so much more.
When did taking a photo become so complicated? All a picture was supposed to do is capture a moment in time, not allow you to edit it.
Your family and friends chide you for not having a digital camera enabling you to share photos via computer email. It may be challenging to find a place that still develops film, but it is possible.
And it’s so comforting using the favorite old camera that has traveled with you and captured so many memories.
10. You read books by actually turning the printed page
Of course, you’ve heard the words “Nook” and “Kindle Fire”, but you really have no idea what they are or how they work. But when you open the binding of a new book and it cracks, that’s a familiar sound. Perhaps it reminds you of past times spent in the library, a favorite bookstore, or sitting in a cozy chair sipping hot chocolate on a cold, damp day.
Reading used to be a relaxing activity, something to disconnect you from all other electronics. Now, people read on electronics. How are you supposed to relax with your iPad’s screen shining in your face?
Technology Dinosaur Bonus
Your kids keep telling you to tilt the screen down whenever you video call them
You finally figured out how a video call works, but apparently, you still can’t frame yourself correctly. You are not sure whether you’re using FaceTime, Zoom, or Skype, all you know is that you found a way to talk to your kids.
But it seems that no matter what you do, the camera is never perfectly positioned. You put your phone up to your face to see their video, but then they can’t see you.
So you back up a bit so they can see your face but now you can’t see them! It’s all very confusing, but that’s okay. At the end of the day, all you want to do is be able to see your loved ones.
If any of these descriptions remind you of yourself, then you are probably a digital dinosaur. Technology just isn’t your strong suit and honestly, you don’t care! Enjoyment can still be found and accomplishments achieved. They just might be the old-fashioned way!
