tech
‘How do I end a call?’: elderly Japanese people determined to master smartphones
Elderly people take advantage of courses on how to navigate mobile devices and avoid ‘analogue isolation’
TL;DR
- Elderly individuals in Tokyo are attending beginner smartphone classes to learn how to use the devices.
- The classes are a response to the closure of Japan's 3G mobile network, which affects older phones and services.
- Participants, mostly in their 70s, express intimidation by smartphones but are determined to avoid analogue isolation.
- The curriculum includes basic operations, online safety, cashless payments, QR codes, health trackers, and weather forecasts.
- Concerns about online scams are addressed, with advice given to ignore suspicious messages and utilize filtering apps.
- The move to smartphones is necessary as older networks are phased out, impacting an estimated half a million people and various devices and systems.
- Reasons for learning smartphones include staying connected, accessing information, and engaging with modern conveniences like younger generations do.
- Managing passwords is identified as a common challenge across all smartphone users, both novice and experienced.