Why most people struggle with tech
<p>If you struggle with smartphones and computers, you are not alone - about 70 per cent of people find technology difficult.</p>
<p>A recent study of OECD countries placed people into five categories: can't use computers, terrible, poor, medium and strong.</p>
<p>Only 5 per cent were rated at strong, with everyone else facing some type of confusion when using gadgets.</p>
<p>The study involved 215,942 people across 33 countries from 2011-2015 and included those aged from 16-65 to test job-related tech skills.</p>
<p>About 40 per cent of people struggled with simple tasks such as deleting an email.</p>
<p>These statistics paint a sad picture for people is the world already immersed in technology and digital skills will only become more important.</p>
<p>Anyone without tech skills is going to be left behind, whether it's socially or at work.</p>
<p>It is in the workplace that these figures are the most frightening.</p>
<p>I know 7-year-olds who are called upon to provide tech support for teachers at school.</p>
<p>Ask any IT helpdesk worker about how competent people are and you'll get hours of depressing (and funny) stories about people's appalling tech knowledge.</p>
<p>This lack of tech skills has exacerbated by a culture of "tech is too hard" in many companies. Anyone who works with a computer, tablet or phone should have a good understanding of how it works and how to fix it.</p>
<p>If a builder didn't know how to use a circular saw and refused to learn, they'd probably lose their job.</p>
<p>However, these stats should also be required reading for tech companies. Too many are over complicated.</p>
<p>If you are one of the 70 per cent, then it's time to upskill.</p>
<p>Learning about technology is actually pretty simple, mainly due to Google. Every problem you have with tech has been encountered before and an answer provided online.</p>
<p>Also, take the time to learn the terminology and each time you learn something, make a note for next time.</p>
<p>Finally, don't blame the computer/internet/software/gadget for what goes wrong. Usually, it's user error so learn from your mistakes and become one of the 5 per cent.</p>
<p><em>Written by Blayne Slabbert. Republished on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></strong></a>.</em></p>
