IT Fluency Interview

The world of technology is rapidly progressing, and those of us who use it on a daily basis don't think about how difficult it is to become IT literate. With the hope of better understanding the Information Technology (IT) fluency of others, I decided to interview an individual that only recently began using technology so that I could better understand the information gap.  To further prove this point, I am posting my interview for others to reflect upon.

USER PROFILE INTERVIEW

General Information

Gender: Male

Age: 72

How long have you been using technology? I have been using technology for a few years now as far as a cellphone goes, but I just recently purchased a home computer. Honestly, if it weren't because of my nieces and nephews, I wouldn't be using it now... but they insist that this is the best way to keep track of one another.

What was your first interaction with technology? Well, I would have to say my first interaction would be my cellphone. Unless a CB radio counts. There's not much use for technology as a truck driver because we ran our routes in training back in the day so that we would be familiar with them. Of course, I had a map if I needed it, but it was paper.

IT SKILLS

Do you know how to create a word document on a computer? I don't. Honestly, the only thing I use the computer for is Facebook so that I can keep track of everyone in the family. Well, I also use it to look up the upcoming car shows, but that's about it.

Have you ever sent a text message? I have sent a text message.

If so, do you know how to send images? Insert GIFs? I know you can send images, but I don't know how to do it. What's a GIF?

Insert a brief pause in the interview as I explain and introduce my Uncle to the wonderful world of GIFs and Memes.

If you needed to print out a document, would you be comfortable doing so? I wouldn't know how to do it, and I don't have a printer to try and figure it out.

IT CONCEPTS

Have you ever sent an email? No, I have not. I only have an email address for the purpose of getting Facebook.

Have you ever used an online database to access information? No, I have not. Well, I've looked for car parts on a computer catalog, but someone did all of the work for me.

Did you find the information you needed or was the whole process confusing? We found the information I needed, but I wouldn't have been able to navigate that myself. It was just too many steps. I prefer having a book to look up parts.

INTELLECTUAL CAPABILITIES

If your power went out and you needed to locate a candle and lighter, how would you use your phone to find it? I would just keep the screen lit up; and when it started to go dark, I would tap on it to make it bright again.

If you needed to conduct a meeting with people across the United States, how would you do this? I mean, I guess I would call them. I wouldn't know how to do a multi-person call, but I am sure someone would know how to do it.

If you were at the store and forgot your grocery list, would you be able to pull up your recipe to find out what ingredients you needed? I wouldn't. I would call my wife and have her tell me what ingredients we needed for the recipe. 

How would you prevent people from stealing your personal information online? I wouldn't buy things online or let them use my computer.

END OF INTERVIEW

Needless to say, everyone's IT fluency isn't the same. From this interview, I learned that my Uncle has a lot to learn to become IT fluent. While it may be frustrating that people don't understand certain concepts, this interview made me realize that we have to cater things to the lowest common denominator so that everyone can obtain the information they desire.