One in ten Brits don't know how to send a text
Published Mar 15 2012, 10:41 GMT | By Andrew Laughlin
© Rex Features
Despite the worldwide attention expected for the launch of Apple's new iPad tablet tomorrow, research by the Geek Squad - the tech support team at Carphone Warehouse stores - revealed that many people are clueless about technology.
The report found that that 10% of the public do not know how to send an SMS text message, with 35-years-old revealed to be the 'tipping point' after which knowledge of texting starts to decline.
Other tasks proving challenging included downloading apps, which puzzled 20% of respondents, while 33% had trouble using voice activation. Some 30% of women and 22% of men confessed to being frustrated at not knowing how to use their gadgets.
It was also found that technical terminology and jargon is leaving many people befuddled. The most confusing term for people was iCloud, Apple's cloud-based remote storage solution, which baffled 30% of people, followed by Retweet, in which users re-distribute a message on Twitter to their followers, at 28%.
Other confusing words included search term Algorithim (28%), mobile web format WAP (22%), and Google's Android mobile operating system (18%).
Most worryingly, almost a quarter (24%) of those surveyed said that they did not know how to set up a PIN or password for their devices, leaving their personal data potentially vulnerable if the products are lost or stolen.
"While sending a text message is second nature to many of us, there are still some who have fallen behind the digital revolution," said Geek Squad agent Sam Lawton.
"The gap is continually growing between the technology enthusiasts who are up to speed with the latest technology and all its functions, compared with those who impulse buy the latest technology, but struggle to understand the basic tech functions.
"You'd be surprised at the number of people who walk through our door on a daily basis with the latest phone or tablet seeking advice on how to send a text, download an app or even set up their voicemail."
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What's a text?
March 15th 2012 at 1:28pm
Im sorry but this article is a load of crap. It expects everyone to be tech buffs, own an iPhone 4s or give a damn about Twitter. I suspect the actual numbers are a LOT higher than 1 in 10 for the text thing.
March 15th 2012 at 12:11pm
So what? They clearly don't need it. To be honest I think that's a pretty good number when you think about the number of OAPs there are. I should think most of them couldn't give a stuff about the cloud etc....nor can I for that matter, I'll keep MY data on MY drives thank you very much.
March 15th 2012 at 12:07pm
I still don't understand iCloud myself.
March 15th 2012 at 11:09am
So.............. still not as bad as back in the 80's when an even higher proportion couldn't even set the timer on their video!
March 15th 2012 at 10:47am