No pain, No Gain: Cherry’s Tips For Overcoming Tech-phobia

“If little labour, little are our gains: Man’s fate is according to his pains:”
– Hesperides 752, Robert Herrick, 17th century.

I was put in a position of having to learn about technology whether I wanted to or not – and I didn’t want to! but now I am grateful to the person who showed me many years ago that whether you ‘have’ to learn or you ‘want’ to learn, big gains will be the result through perseverance and patience. I found this to be oh so true, particularly pertaining to computer technology.

I became interested in photography 20 years ago because I wanted to take good photos for painting landscapes. The more I learned about using my new film camera, the more interested I became in photography. In fact, photography became my passion.

The film camera was soon replaced with a digital camera, which became the only camera I would use – until recently, that is.

A few months ago I acquired a Samsung Galaxy S6 smartphone with the view to using the camera when I was out and about, instead of the much larger and bulkier DSLR. I was seriously challenged in getting to grips with all the features on this new phone, particularly the camera. I am still learning about it but am really enjoying the experience of using a camera in a different way.

As well as a smartphone I also bought a tablet, (to take traveling), a wireless printer, a desk top computer and a new modem. I faced the same steep learning curve with each of these acquisitions, to say nothing of the feelings of mild panic and utter frustration!

Coming through the other side of this learning experience though, I can definitely say that with perseverance, patience and practice, great gains were made.

My tips for overcoming tech-phobia:

• Find your passion – passion creates the thirst for knowledge
• Use technology – particularly the computer. It is a powerful tool for gaining knowledge on anything you want to know about.
• Learn how to ‘google’ efficiently – type in a question, not just a word.
• Join a club – learn from the experiences of other people
• Remember – that perseverance and patience are the keys to success
• Make time every day – to use technology to learn something about what you’re interested in.
• Don’t be afraid – what’s the worst that can happen?