Member Article

Brits turned off by technology

Over half of Britons feel that modern technology has now become too complicated and could turn their back on technology, according to the latest report from PayPal, the online payments provider. PayPal is worried that Britain will become the “tech illiterate of the world”, and has launched a new website, www.whatisyourtq.com, designed to test and improve the UK’s tech knowledge or ‘TQ’.

Whilst Brits are in some cases using some of the new technological advances, the research indicates that many have no more than a basic understanding of them. The age-old problem of setting a video recorder still exists for one in three Brits. DVDs offer a more complex challenge with almost four in five (77 per cent) not feeling confident to set one to record. Mobile phones are now ubiquitous, yet many remain baffled by their features. The majority, almost two thirds (61 per cent), use only four features on their mobile phone - calls, text messages, alarm clock and camera.

Neil Edwards, PayPal’s technology expert comments: “It’s a worrying sign for Britain that so many of us are baffled and therefore turned off by technology. There’s no hiding from technology so burying your head in the sand won’t make it go away. We all must embrace technology or risk becoming the tech illiterates of the world. “The success of new technologies depends on adoption, which means that people must be comfortable using them.

“PayPal recognises that the unknown can be daunting and has therefore launched www.whatisyourtq.com to encourage as much learning as possible whilst allowing users to test and compare how their existing knowledge stands. Some people may be shocked!”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .