Tech blog Gizmodo recently posted a fun cheeky quiz that tries to figure out, “Are You Addicted to Technology.” The questions are predictably humorous:
#6. Do you freak out if you’re in a car and there’s no GPS?
#8. Have you ever changed vacation plans based on wi-fi availability?
#9. Are there more than two portable electronic devices within reach right now?
#16. Do you answer questions in support forums when you’re bored?
Sure, the quiz is meant to be tongue and cheek but there is a grain of truth inherent within these questions: it has become the norm in many circles to “need” technology.
Looking over the set of questions though, you begin to realize that the characteristics that constitute a technological “addiction” readily apply to seniors. For example, GPS has become an essential part of the senior driving experience. Like the rest of the population, the elderly need their gadgets. Scrolling down this list, it becomes apparent that tech savviness is no longer something only for the young. Just because seniors didn’t come of age in the internet-era, that doesn’t mean they haven’t adapted and reaped its benefits. While there is still a gap between seniors and younger generations, that distance seems to be steadily growing smaller. In other words, for better or worse, there is nothing that really precludes seniors from morphing into technology addicts.
On that note, take the quiz for yourself; let us know your score. (No surprisingly we ended up with a 44/50, which pretty much means we have a darn serious addiction.)
