Relationships aren't maintained by letters anymore, but by texts, Skype, and facetime. So if seniors want to build a relationship with their grandchildren or great grandchildren, they need to understand how tablets and smartphones work.

The Morden Activity Centre (MAC) held a technology training session for its members Wednesday morning to give seniors basic tools.

"All this technology is so new to us, and we don't know how to use it. "It's so strange," said Carman Allen, one of the participants who said she was attending because she wanted to better interact with her grandchildren.

The strangeness of touch screens and cloud storage, live feeds and wifi requires seniors to start at the bare basics, while it's a second-language to anyone born after 1980.

"Jumping in part-way is just confusing," said Donna Lumgair another student attending the session on Wednesday.

"I'm lost trying to start in the middle."

Members of the MAC arranged for the event themselves, understanding that if they don't stay current, they'll lose an opportunity to stay connected with family and friends.

"It's about maintaining relationships," said MAC executive director, Dale Ready.

He added that the training session wasn't at all about the product, but why the seniors in attendance want to use it.

 

Carman Allen (left) Donna Lumgair (right)