Cell phones for dummies

Each button on a cell phone makes something happen. We type a phrase or word into a search engine and automatically have access to more information than any encyclopedia could provide. The sensation of our fingertips on the screen of our iPod touch or Blackberry Storm orchestrates music, phone calls and Internet use.

Technology is amazing, but our generation is difficult to amaze.

My grandparents, however, got a real kick out of putting my name and number in the phonebook of their cell phone. They were delighted to learn that they had a variety of options when choosing a ringtone. They spent the rest of the afternoon conducting experiments, testing the functions of their phone.

It reminded me of what 8-year-old kids look like when they watch a magician perform. Their wide eyes dodged back and forth hoping to catch on to the new gadget’s tricks.

Having lived through the Great Depression, my grandparents were astounded by their basic Motorola flip phone. A cell phone must seem impossibly advanced because they remember a time when they kept their milk in an ice box. They spent decades wondering if humans would ever take that giant leap onto the moon and, believe it or not, as children some of them were transported by a horse and buggy.

The inventions, discoveries and improvements that have been brought to the world since my grandparents were my age are remarkable. It makes me anxious to find out what advances the future has in store for our generation.

But how much more technologically advanced can we get? It’s overwhelming to imagine the possibilities and to consider how well we’ll adapt to the developments.
In 1987, more than 1 million people used cellular telephones. Now, 203 million people own cell phones in the United States, and 2 billion cell phones exist worldwide, according to AccuConference.com. I guess adapting isn’t so hard.

In the meantime, however, there are still those, my grandparents included, who are having a hard time adjusting to the technological revolution we’ve been experiencing during the past few decades. They complain the world is progressing without them. When I sat in their kitchen in Florida, presenting them with my best CliffsNotes version of “How to Use a Cell Phone for Dummies (and senior citizens),” I wondered if they were right. 

Operating a cell phone has become a part of life for most members of our generation. It’s second nature to us, and we have trouble believing that others struggle to work gadgets.

I tried to be patient with my grandparents, the way I hope my grandchildren will be with me when I don’t know how to use the hypothetical devices yet to be invented. I lovingly outlined the consumer’s manual and gauged their comprehension by observing them. When I realized they were getting stressed out about entering words into the phone, I thought it would be wise to skip the chapter on text messaging.

Perhaps by the time we’re the ones being taught, there will be virtual teachers – or virtual grandchildren.