Today's Lockergnome Windows Fanatics has an article on how more and more mothers (grandmas and others in the family) are using computers as they become more accessible.
Mama's Got A Brand New Bag
By Brandon Watts
Are you the primary tech geek in your family? I'm currently the reigning king of all the bits and bytes in my household. My parents have always wondered how my technical skills developed, but it's simple - a lot of alone time. My dad knows how to operate a computer, but he doesn't view it as an enjoyable activity. He only uses a computer when he has to. However, the person that I expected would never use a computer has recently become a member of the online world. You're going to need to prepare yourself for this. Are you sitting down? Here we go... it's my MOM!
OK, now pick yourself up off of the floor. Trust me, I was just as surprised as you are. There are snack foods that possess more technical knowledge than my mom. She's never learned because she fears that if she makes a mistake, the entire world's population will die. She's only wiped out a small country so far, but the night is still young.
It all began (or ended) when she asked me how to go to a specific Web site. I don't think she really appreciated my uncontrollable laughter, but it came naturally. After gaining my composure, I began to show her the simple operations of using a computer. Simple does not even really begin to describe how stripped down these lessons were. After several demonstrations of how to turn it on, and an hour lesson on how to use the mouse, she started to figure out how to do a couple of things. And believe you me, she will do those couple of things for hours. This knowledge is power - power she didn't need. I'll walk into the office to find her with her reading glasses on, and her face positioned three inches away from the monitor with that glazed-over look. She probably learned the look from me, but I take great pride in it. It's an art that I have perfected over the years. Anyway, I'm now exposed to browser windows that are left open with recipes and women's clothing all of the time. Looking at women's clothing past page ten gets boring, anyway. Don't ask me why I know that.
Apparently my mom is not the only maternal geek-in-training. A survey from 2002 showed that seven in ten mothers use personal computers. We're in 2004 now - you do the math. There's no question that this number has steadily been increasing. It's no longer uncommon for everybody (including grandma) in the family to be technically proficient. Accept it - technology is becoming more accessible and crucial to everyone.
'm still worried that one day my computer will be infested with Dr. Phil wallpapers and disco music. Let's not forget about the multitude of recipes that are sitting uninvited on my hard drive. I need a laptop in the worst way. Oh, I've got to go get the oven mitts. My green bean casserole is finished.
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