I don't like this new fangled way of doing things!

[clifffaith]

Just rousted Cliff from the garden so he could take a pre-arranged (and temporarily forgotten) phone call with a doctor Aetna wanted him to do a wellness check with. I started chuckling over my coffee because I heard Cliff at the back of the house telling the doctor he don't know nothin' 'bout birthin' no video chat. Now the doctor has called Cliff back on his cellphone, and shortly both will be ready to pull their hair out. How lame is that? A doctor Cliff will never see in person and didn't want or need to talk to in the first place -- why not ask a few questions and leave it at that?

When it hit the fan in March and I had another 8 sessions of PT on my back left, the therapist called all ready to watch my exercises and comment on my form. Sorry lady, I have no clue as to how you are supposed to see that -- we have no cameras on our computers.

And we saw on TV last night some hotel having the room TVs operated by the guests' smartphone so they didn't have to touch a remote. Good luck with that! They'll need a dedicated employee to show people how to figure that out. I guarantee we couldn't do it. Cliff can't operate a timeshare DVD player; some little bit of memory will kick in for me about half the time, and if the guy has to come to show me, I'm good for maybe the rest of our stay.

Yes, I am a geezerette, as well as a curmudgeonette.

Twenty minutes later and Cliff is still working with doctor trying to get connected.

 

[stmartinfan]

I do agree that some of the new tech stuff can be frustrating but we have done a few that have worked well.

My regular doctor's office called and scheduled one of the annual check ins that Medicare covers and we did the conversation on a video chat app his clinic is using. I have never bothered to do one of those appointments before because it's not really a physical and if I'm going to drive the half hour to his office I want to actually have him check me out. I'm assuming they wanted to schedule because their business is way down and they want to collect as much insurance money as they can. The app worked fine, we had a nice chat (actually better than in office because he didn't seem so rushed) and we agreed on a timing for a couple of tests and my next visit.

My daughter has been doing her regular visits with her psychologist via a different video app and It seems to be working fine, despite her somewhat limited tech skills. It's been nice to avoid the drive to her office and back and they seem to be able to talk as well remotely.

 

[DaveNV]

Faith, you are not alone in your feelings. It's definitely a generational thing, and it's understandable. Younger people live with a smartphone in their hand, and intuitively know how to do things online. They're surrounded by it, their friends teach them how to do this or that, and it's just how they live. Mention "look it up in the phone book" and they'll ask you which app to use for that.

I worked in the industry for a very long time, and learned new equipment all the time, but I still have to stop and think of what I'm doing. Covid-19 has changed how things are done, certainly, but once figured out, it's fairly easy to keep the momentum going.

Go with what you know, and don't worry about what you can't figure out. As soon as you learn one way to do things, there will be a different way to do it, or another piece of equipment to learn. It never ends.

if you want a real chuckle about the reverse effect of technology, watch the old Kevin Cline movie "In and Out." There is a scene where Matt Dillon's supermodel girlfriend is stranded in a motel room, and can't figure out how to use a dial telephone. It's pretty funny.

Dave

 

[Luanne]

if you want a real chuckle about the reverse effect of technology, watch the old Kevin Cline movie "In and Out." There is a scene where Matt Dillon's supermodel girlfriend is stranded in a motel room, and can't figure out how to use a dial telephone. It's pretty funny.

Dave

This.

Great movie.

 

[bbodb1]

Just rousted Cliff from the garden so he could take a pre-arranged (and temporarily forgotten) phone call with a doctor Aetna wanted him to do a wellness check with. I started chuckling over my coffee because I heard Cliff at the back of the house telling the doctor he don't know nothin' 'bout birthin' no video chat. Now the doctor has called Cliff back on his cellphone, and shortly both will be ready to pull their hair out. How lame is that? A doctor Cliff will never see in person and didn't want or need to talk to in the first place -- why not ask a few questions and leave it at that?

When it hit the fan in March and I had another 8 sessions of PT on my back left, the therapist called all ready to watch my exercises and comment on my form. Sorry lady, I have no clue as to how you are supposed to see that -- we have no cameras on our computers.

And we saw on TV last night some hotel having the room TVs operated by the guests' smartphone so they didn't have to touch a remote. Good luck with that! They'll need a dedicated employee to show people how to figure that out. I guarantee we couldn't do it. Cliff can't operate a timeshare DVD player; some little bit of memory will kick in for me about half the time, and if the guy has to come to show me, I'm good for maybe the rest of our stay.

Yes, I am a geezerette, as well as a curmudgeonette.

Twenty minutes later and Cliff is still working with doctor trying to get connected.

I think we just found our must see T.V.!

 

[bbodb1]

And to this point:

Faith, you are not alone in your feelings. It's definitely a generational thing, and it's understandable. Younger people live with a smartphone in their hand, and intuitively know how to do things online. They're surrounded by it, their friends teach them how to do this or that, and it's just how they live. Mention "look it up in the phone book" and they'll ask you which app to use for that...

...take their phone away from most young folks and watch them implode!
More must see T.V.!

 

[easyrider]

I can still figure things out regarding tech. Some of my younger relatives have a problem with low or no tech devices. We went rock picking for my retaining wall and took the 92 Dodge Ram 2500 diesel out. No air conditioner and only the stock radio. Kind of loud and smells like a diesel truck. It was hot out so I told my nephew to open the lower vent and wing window. Now he knows what a manual vent and wing window is, lol.

Had my first zoom doctors appointment and I like it.

Bill

 

[bbodb1]

I can still figure things out regarding tech. Some of my younger relatives have a problem with low or no tech devices. We went rock picking for my retaining wall and took the 92 Dodge Ram 2500 diesel out. No air conditioner and only the stock radio. Kind of loud and smells like a diesel truck. It was hot out so I told my nephew to open the lower vent and wing window. Now he knows what a manual vent and wing window is, lol.

If you're brave, and have a manual transmission - oh! the fun!

 

[clifffaith]

The doctor could finally see Cliff through his laptop (Cliff couldn't explain how), but couldn't hear him. So they chatted on the phone while the doctor looked at the screen until the lap top screen went blank. Then it was just a cell phone call. I could hear Cliff answering what were obviously questions about how old his parents were when they died (early 90s) and what they died of. Later Cliff told me he was impressed to be asked if he had lost any height (yes, 2" so he's only 5'10" now) -- I was also impressed because I know I asked after his last in person physical if they measured his height, and his regular doctor had not. Not sure what the insurance company is going to do with the gathered info (doubt they'll pass any info to his primary), but their doctor seemed to ask the right questions of an 82 year old.

 

[PigsDad]

@clifffaith, you might be in for a shock when/if you go out to a restaurant again. Many restaurants now no longer hand you a menu; you just scan a QR code on your phone to bring up the menu. Eliminates the fear many have of a reusable menu, and is more environmentally friendly than single-use printed menus.

Kurt

 

[Country Roads]

"Yes, leonine times are a-changin'"

 

[amycurl]

No air conditioner and only the stock radio.

For one year and a summer in college, my now-spouse, then-boyfriend, owned an old early-80s Honda coupe (this was in the early 90s.) The AC was broken and, like your truck, only a got a few channels on the radio. The one that came in best was the classic rock station. He and his friends (I was luckily out of the country for most of this era) referred to that time period of driving around in that car as "sweatin' to the oldies!"

 

[bbodb1]

@amycurl - I feel confident the heat was confronted with several large (and chilled) adult beverages....

 

[moonstone]

@clifffaith, you might be in for a shock when/if you go out to a restaurant again. Many restaurants now no longer hand you a menu; you just scan a QR code on your phone to bring up the menu. Eliminates the fear many have of a reusable menu, and is more environmentally friendly than single-use printed menus.

Kurt

I guess I'll be in for a shock too as I don't have data on my cellphone, it is a pay-as-you go cheapest no plan service, but it is a smart phone so I can use any free internet around where I am. Hopefully the menus will also be on a board or sign in those restaurants as well for the technically challenged. I always assumed menus were dirty and always washed my hands after handling one.

~Diane

 

[rapmarks]

When I was in the hospital two weeks ago, I got a visit from the doctor. It was a robot and the doctors face was on the screen. It looked freaky

 

[clifffaith]

I guess I'll be in for a shock too as I don't have data on my cellphone, it is a pay-as-you go cheapest no plan service, but it is a smart phone so I can use any free internet around where I am. Hopefully the menus will also be on a board or sign in those restaurants as well for the technically challenged. I always assumed menus were dirty and always washed my hands after handling one.

~Diane

Olive Garden has little order gadgets on the table, I'm not sure why because we've always had our order taken by a live person. Once or twice a waitress may have ordered a dessert or an extra drink by picking up the gadget, and more than once we've told them to take the thing off the table if we needed more room. In the good old days my attitude would have been "your tip, or lack there of is going to be based on how much work you make me do". I'd be more flexible right now, but I think that will be short lived on my part. My birthday is coming up on the last day of the month -- I've requested Denny's pancakes as our first eat-in meal (depending on the covid situation then), followed or preceded by al fresco dining at the marina (can't do two meals out the same day, too much food even if we bring a doggie bag home).

 

[PigsDad]

Olive Garden has little order gadgets on the table...

I'm sure those are gone now. The few restaurants we have been to have had nothing on the table, to eliminate any cross contamination from the previous customer. No salt, pepper, condiments, napkin holder, etc. You need to ask for any of that now.

Kurt

 

[easyrider]

When I was in the hospital two weeks ago, I got a visit from the doctor. It was a robot and the doctors face was on the screen. It looked freaky

My Doctor for my zoom appointment was an attractive woman in her late 20's or early 30's. She looked pretty I guess.

Bill

 

[Cornell]

I'm sure those are gone now. The few restaurants we have been to have had nothing on the table, to eliminate any cross contamination from the previous customer. No salt, pepper, condiments, napkin holder, etc. You need to ask for any of that now.

Kurt

Where I live , everything in the dining out experience is disposable... plates , cutlery , glasses etc . Water glasses can’t get refilled from a pitcher . Not sure I understand the science behind that one ....

 

[PigsDad]

Where I live , everything in the dining out experience is disposable... plates , cutlery , glasses etc . Water glasses can’t get refilled from a pitcher . Not sure I understand the science behind that one ....

In my limited experience (have been to 6-7 since they reopened), I have seen a mix of disposable vs. normal service wear. And I don't get it either. Can someone explain how plastic utensils and paper plates somehow reduce the risk of spreading the virus? Since none of that is re-used w/o washing between patrons, how does that reduce the touch points in the typical service? All we are doing is increasing the amount of trash going to the landfills! My theory is that it just makes some people feel safer, just like wearing a mask while driving by yourself in a car (yes, I still see that often).

Kurt

 

[Cornell]

@PigsDad Yeah, I’ve kind of given up trying to understand most of the things regarding the pandemic. I’m just keeping my nose to the grindstone (mask on, of course) and proceeding with life.

 

[b2bailey]

I recently saw a man riding a bicycle wearing a mask. Seemed very odd. I can barely breath well enough to walk while wearing a mask.

 

[Beachclubmum]

I’ve said for a few years now, it’s best to travel with a teenager to have someone who can work the electronics for me. Somehow they intuitively know how to change the input on the TV screen.

 

[Snazzylass]

"open the lower vent and wing window"

I miss those! *sigh*

 

[Tia]

Interesting, had read the USVI were doing the same thing, disposable, and had wondered.

Where I'm at they are using real plates etc in places we have been.

Where I live , everything in the dining out experience is disposable... plates , cutlery , glasses etc . Water glasses can’t get refilled from a pitcher . Not sure I understand the science behind that one ....