DVDs and iPods a technical downer for dads
Older Australians who can’t get their heads around some new technology such as iPods while their children handle it easily, are just experiencing the normal ageing process of the brain, according to new Scottish research.
Dr Lauren Potter organised two groups of adults to undertake everyday tasks in new ways, such as holding a cup using a grip they did not normally use. The responses demonstrated that “people over 50 will have problems when forced to adopt a new way of doing things”, Dr Potter said.
The conclusions were that years of pre-programming of the brain, combined with the age-related death of cells in the regions used to learn new processes and over-ride old ones, means that adults can struggle with new tasks while youngsters have no such problems.
This includes the spectacle of intelligent adults having difficulties with their DVD recorders or iPod systems and often asking their children for some accomplished assistance.
