One in four Irish people have admitted that they don’t know how to use some of the expensive gadgets in their home.
The rapid rise in technology over the past decade has been a bit too fast for many, with 50% of people revealing they think their lives would be improved if they knew how to fully take advantage of the apps available to them.
The research was carried out by technology giant Bush. They surveyed more than 500 Irish people to find out how much they really understood the expensive gadgets in their home.
Some of the most common causes of confusion are understanding what the cloud is, streaming music and films, connecting different devices using Bluetooth, and understanding the numerous settings on modern day washing machines.
The issue is more common for people who didn’t grow up with all these gadgets around them. Many people frequently turn to their children or grandchildren for help when setting up a new mobile phone, tablet or digital television.
The generation divide in understanding technology was comically displayed in the latest Martin’s Life video, in which Martin and his parents try and Skype his sister in Australia. Martin’s is accused of “using up all the internet playing that old Facebook” when the call is not answered.
Technology expert Andy Robertson has worked with Bush to create a series of life hacks to help people get the best out of their gadgets.
He said: “Young people are the most confident when it comes to understanding technology, but for parents or grandparents born in a generation where the cloud referred to something in the sky, and a stream led to a river, it can be a bit harder to work out the quickest way to access your files remotely, or how to stream the latest box office film on your TV.
“There is so much untapped potential in the gadgets and appliances that we use every day, so I have developed some life hacks on how to get the most out of technology – whether you are using it for work, having a night in front of the TV, or cleaning up.”
The survey also revealed that there are gadgets costing thousands of Euros that have been left lying around in Irish homes unused.
One in four people admitted there are gadgets costing between €251 and €500 in their homes that are not used, and 16% admitted abandoning products costing between €500 and €1,000.
Take a look at Andy Robertson’s Life Hacks video to see if you can pick up any tips on how to get the most out of the technology in your home.
