Closing tech gap

Teens and technology are a ubiquitous combination. Seniors and technology, well, not so much.

Despite being intimidated and sometimes confused by the workings of the internet, computers and Smart phones, however, many in the non-digital-native generations understand that technology is a fact of contemporary life. That is, if they want to communicate with their children or grandchildren, stay connected across the miles, or perform even simple tasks such as looking up an address or phone number, they need to have a basic grasp of technology.

Thankfully, folks at both the Groton Public Library and Groton Senior Center understand this. They deserve praise for a program called Teen Tech Support, which regularly pairs teen volunteers one-on-one with seniors seeking help with connecting to the internet, operating Smart phone apps or any other technology-related function.

The program, which this week completed its weekly summer schedule, but will continue operating once a month during the school year, has been a resounding success for both groups, say those who oversee it. There’s been no shortage of seniors wanting tech assistance, and a small group of loyal teen volunteers has been eager to provide the tech support.

These lessons also go far beyond simple manipulation of technology. The teens, who often doubt their tech knowledge at first, gain a healthy dose of confidence and learn about responsible and ethical technology use from seniors. The seniors learn how to unlock a whole new world and appreciate the patience with which the teens deal with the seniors’ tech challenges.

Mario Cardosa, a 65-year-old who took advantage of the program this summer, said he likes technology, but before he retired didn’t have time to learn how to use it.

“You either use it or you end up falling behind,” he said. “But I haven’t had the time to have someone take me by the hand and teach me how to use it.”

In a contemporary society where generations often live lives separated by both physical distance and very different daily lifestyles, any measure that brings the ages together is valuable. What better way to bridge this gap than via the technology upon which we all depend?

We applaud the program for bringing the generations together. There’s plenty of opportunities to expand such programs to other subjects and other communities.