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STACK ’ s TECH tips

Some parents can be behind the eight ball when it comes to tech. With Father’s Day fast approaching, here are a couple of tips to help the

TECH

technophobe father figure in your life provide a better understanding of today’s tech.

1. Keep your patience. You won’t progress in explaining the basics of a new device if you keep losing your cool. Take a deep breath, communicate clearly, and keep it simple. 2. Talk privacy. A good place to start teaching privacy basics is important, including not using Password1234, date of birth, or their name as key passwords. Explain the basics of phishing and insist they contact you whenever in doubt. 3. Highlight the benefits. Counter every “But why do I need it?” with a clear explanation of the benefits of using said tech. When the penny drops – and it might take some time – they’ll never look back. 4. Don’t overcomplicate. Avoid explaining the intricate ins and outs of cloud storage or how a router works. Keep it simple such as “This is where your photos live” or “This is how your computer connects online". 5. Write down simple instructions as you explain setting up the tech to them. It’s always handy to have a reference. Go through the basic problem-solving with them: is it plugged in? Is the power on? Are the cables connected? Have you tried restarting? Some devices like cameras and coffee machines have an automatic setting that requires very little know-how – that could be a good place to start.

AUGUST

Technology has become an integral part of Australian lifestyles and continues to advance in leaps and bounds. From smartphones to smart homes, STACK keeps you up to date on the latest consumer tech in user-friendly terms, along with key points to consider before you buy. If you love tech, you’re in the right place.

STACK’s ROVING REPORTER

2004

What was the hottest tech in…

AMY FLOWER STACK ’s Games and Online Editor

It's hard to imagine reaching an address across the other side of the city using nothing

What tech can you not live without? My Windows PC. It keeps me connected to the world, allows me to earn an income and, critically, it’s where my creative side gets to run free via composing my music – you can cram an entire

but a dogeared street directory. But that struggle was once a very real proposition. Wrong turns, road changes, and missing pages were the stuff of nightmares. All that changed in 2004 when TomTom, a company initially formed in 1991, released the TomTom Go, and the satnav era arrived. Retailing for a rather costly

orchestra into a tiny PC these days! How tech-savvy are you?

I can hold my own – I’ve been aware of how tech can help me get things done since I was little, so have always had a keen curiosity about it. What tech changed your life? This one’s a tie. First, a portable National cassette recorder – a smart red one, no less – that I was given when I was eight, upon which I religiously taped my already great love, music, from TV and radio. Secondly, a Commodore VIC-20 home computer that led to my love of games – and my first job (and most of them ever since, actually…) Your biggest tech fail is? Having heated arguments with Google Assistant when she doesn’t do what I’ve asked her to do! What tech don’t you have but want? A TARDIS in which to store and display my collections of all sorts of stuff like games, movies (physical media rules!), and assorted pop culture memorabilia properly.

$1460 in today's money, the personal satellite navigation device with calm voice directions completely revolutionised the car journey. Snapped up in record numbers, the days of heated in-car arguments and delivery driver exasperation were a thing of the past. However, the arrival of the smartphone and the introduction of the Google Maps app just four short years later swiftly curbed the meteoric rise of the satnav. Now all smartphone users have the keys to the city right in their back pocket.

On The Radar

If you’re in the market for a new smartphone next month, you’re in luck. We’re taking the hard work out of it for you with a deep dive into what’s new in the smartphone space. And if you’re considering going big with a screen for the footy finals in September, we’re right on the forward line with the best choices for all budgets.

38 AUGUST 2023

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