Want to get my mom an iPhone, how can she learn to use it?

[Blackjack200]

My mom is a bit of a technophobe. Part of that is my dad's fault because every time he runs into a bug or doesn't understand how something works he starts ranting about the assholes at apple or Microsoft or whatever tech company.

But my mom sees all these people on smartphones and I think she really does want to learn. Has anyone taken iPhone classes at the Apple Store? Are they any good? Would they be good for someone who's self conscious about their technical proficiency?

I haven't seen what YouTube videos are out there, so that might be a possibility too.

 

[manly]

I feel this way about my parents, but they've been using PCs since the 1980s (dad) or 1990s (mom) so they generally exceed my expectations. I can't say it works for everyone, but your mom will learn how to use iOS mostly by simply using it. You'll probably need to give her a half or full hour introduction to get started, and probably answer some questions for a while. YouTube videos sounds reasonable as well. No idea what Apple Store classes are like, I wouldn't bother finding out.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I feel this way about my parents, but they've been using PCs since the 1980s (dad) or 1990s (mom) so they generally exceed my expectations. I can't say it works for everyone, but your mom will learn how to use iOS mostly by simply using it. You'll probably need to give her a half or full hour introduction to get started, and probably answer some questions for a while. YouTube videos sounds reasonable as well. No idea what Apple Store classes are like, I wouldn't bother finding out.

This is probably not a good idea. You know everyone learns differently right? One of the fundamental differences in how people who grew up with cellphones and those who didn't is their approach to understanding new tech. People who grew up with cellphones learned by pushing buttons and internalizing the results. Older users who didn't grow up with cellphones look for general rules and often have a fear of permanently changing or damaging settings. It is a basic difference in perspective. I like to know what something does BEFORE I push the button.

 

[manly]

This is probably not a good idea. You know everyone learns differently right? One of the fundamental differences in how people who grew up with cellphones and those who didn't is their approach to understanding new tech. People who grew up with cellphones learned by pushing buttons and internalizing the results. Older users who didn't grow up with cellphones look for general rules and often have a fear of permanently changing or damaging settings. It is a basic difference in perspective. I like to know what something does BEFORE I push the button.

I disagree. Neither my parents nor I "grew up" with cell phones, and certainly not smart phones. I'm saying we tend to underrate old folks' ability to learn how to use newer technology. IMO the main thing about learning a mobile OS isn't inherent difficulty, but rather that it's different from the Windows desktop OS UX that adults are more used to. I'd argue that direct manipulation on a mobile OS is easier to learn (in a vacuum) than a desktop OS. User fear is a real thing, but what can a person really "break" on a mobile OS?

I did not say he should hand over a new iPhone to his mom and walk away. At least a basic introduction is necessary. But in general, people hardly ever read product manuals (of any kind) anymore. Most tech devices don't even come with a printed user's guide, and online manuals are generally ignored. I can't speculate on how much learning and help the OP's mom will actually need. What I am saying is she will learn from using the device, just like almost everybody else who uses a smartphone today. Unless you're 18 years old or younger, you did not grow up with an iPhone or Android device in your hands.

 

[Blackjack200]

I should clarify. My mom uses a tablet for work. She knows how to interact with a mobile device, but because my dad flies into a rage every time a smart phone does something he doesn't like, she's been conditioned to believe that phones are devious, cryptic devices, and prone to catistrophic failure if you make a slight mistake.

Despite all this, she sees other people using phones for everything and feels like she's missing out. She's very reluctant to experiment and anytime she's unsure of herself she'll throw her hands up and ask for help. I want to get her to a place where if she's not sure what to do, she can google it or look up the answer on YouTube. I'm hoping that the classes or "basics" YouTube videos can get her to a place of confidence where phones are not these mysteriously cursed devices, but simple tools that can be learned and used for lots of cool things.

 

[cmdrdredd]

My mom is a bit of a technophobe. Part of that is my dad's fault because every time he runs into a bug or doesn't understand how something works he starts ranting about the assholes at apple or Microsoft or whatever tech company.

But my mom sees all these people on smartphones and I think she really does want to learn. Has anyone taken iPhone classes at the Apple Store? Are they any good? Would they be good for someone who's self conscious about their technical proficiency?

I haven't seen what YouTube videos are out there, so that might be a possibility too.

The classes at apple stores are very friendly for newcomers. The only thing they assume is that you know how to touch the screen to click icons and type so it's a clean slate. They also don't have a large number of students usually so it's easy to follow along on your device to discover some of the built in apps and how they work. I'd recommend going with her to take a class so she feels comfortable in case she clicks wrong and gets lost which can happen to someone new to the OS. I've never sat in on one but I've overheard them and they are very easy to pick up the basics from. They also have classes on the camera and help you understand the features and how to best use them.

 

[manly]

I should clarify. My mom uses a tablet for work. She knows how to interact with a mobile device, but because my dad flies into a rage every time a smart phone does something he doesn't like, she's been conditioned to believe that phones are devious, cryptic devices, and prone to catistrophic failure if you make a slight mistake.

Despite all this, she sees other people using phones for everything and feels like she's missing out. She's very reluctant to experiment and anytime she's unsure of herself she'll throw her hands up and ask for help. I want to get her to a place where if she's not sure what to do, she can google it or look up the answer on YouTube. I'm hoping that the classes or "basics" YouTube videos can get her to a place of confidence where phones are not these mysteriously cursed devices, but simple tools that can be learned and used for lots of cool things.

Admittedly I don't understand married life, but is it really this bad?

When most people say tablet, they mean iPad. If she's using an iPad at work, she already knows how to use an iPhone. If she's somehow using an Android tablet for work, well she's also halfway there IMO. Are we supposed to suggest that your dad takes the iPhone classes so that he doesn't fly into a rage, and thus your mom can more comfortably use the device?

 

[Blackjack200]

Admittedly I don't understand married life, but is it really this bad?

It really is.

When most people say tablet, they mean iPad. If she's using an iPad at work, she already knows how to use an iPhone. If she's somehow using an Android tablet for work, well she's also halfway there IMO.

It's a Samsung tablet with an enterprise app that she uses for documenting her cases (she's a nurse) so she's been trained to use that one app, and I think she does use email on it too. She has an old iPad 2 that she doesn't really use any more but did at one time. I'm not sure if anyone here agrees with me, but it doesn't seem to me like iOS devices are as intuitive and straightforward to use as they were in the past.

Are we supposed to suggest that your dad takes the iPhone classes so that he doesn't fly into a rage, and thus your mom can more comfortably use the device?

You know what, if only he'd be willing to...