Wrapping tech around one’s finger

Digital technology has made life easier and more convenient. — Filepic

Online shopping, digital wallets and food delivery platforms.

All three were alien terms to me until three years ago when the Covid-19 movement control order started putting great emphasis on cashless transactions.

Fortunately, as my sons were already seasoned users, I could turn to them for free on-the-spot tutorials.

It was an exasperating experience for my two boys as I didn’t know where the ‘space bar’ was or how to take a screenshot and I thought Zoom calls meant having short conversations over the phone. Nevertheless, they soldiered on.

The effort was well worth it for today, with just a few taps, they are able to make on-the-spot requests for mummy to pay for their mobile phone top-ups and ehailing rides.

Before this, all monetary requests could only be entertained in the evenings after I came home from work.

Digital technology has certainly made life easier and having experienced first-hand the convenience it affords, it makes me wonder why people are still choosing to reject it.

“I am not good at this” is one excuse I’ve heard.

“I’ll get scammed” is another.

While scams are a threat, there are already ample warnings issued on safeguarding one’s security in the cyber realm.

Digital illiteracy and lack of access aside, it has been observed that some people who refrain from welcoming these conveniences are active on social media, play online games and visit streaming sites regularly.

So, logically, if you already have the skills to go on YouTube, search for videos, post your comments and images of what you are wearing or eating on a day to day basis on social media, you can apply for a passport online as well.

In the end, the willingness to embrace digitalisation simply boils down to a couple of things – necessity and desire to learn.

Syahimi Unchut, 41, a Temuan living in Kampung Donglai Baru, an Orang Asli village in Hulu Langat, told me how in his eagerness to find out about the candidates for Dusun Tua seat in the recent Selangor state polls, he travelled about a kilometre from his house to an unmarked roadside location to get Internet access.

All this trouble just so he could catch up on the candidates’ latest TikTok videos.

Walter Yeoh, 68, a retired accountant, recalled he first laid hands on a computer while working in Singapore 30 years ago.

“I had to learn everything from scratch,” he said.

Yeoh said those who refused to embrace the digital way of doing things had a mental block.

“Once they cross that initial barrier, learning will be easier,” he added.

Today, as a core volunteer for Medical Awareness Camp Outreach (Maco), a non-governmental organisation that provides free medical services to the poor, Yeoh has helped to start a computer programme for underprivileged children.

In a recent programme involving eight schools in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Perak, Maco arranged an online workshop between the students and an American teenager to talk about artificial intelligence (AI), the Silicon Valley and life in the United States.

According to Maco spokesperson Datin Dr Pixie Low Pek See, 64, the pupils of a school in Batu Gajah were especially excited to meet and speak with the American teenager online.

In spite of the encouraging benefits, it is also not right to depend too much on the Internet, especially where AI is concerned.

One example is how dependent I am on navigation apps.

I have come to rely on them so much that should my mobile phone run out of battery power, I’d be completely lost, even if I’ve been to the place before.

But even at such times, one can still seek help from technology.

Just approach and tell a good Samaritan about your predicament and very likely, he will engage some form of navigation tool on his smartphone to lend a hand.