How middle-aged technophobes become internet explorers

For the middle-aged technophobe, exploring new technology sounds about as appealing as kissing a great white shark.

In fact, the introduction of new computers or hi-tech machinery in the workplace can be a major contributory factor to a midlife crisis. Suddenly we’re stressed and unable to cope – we’ve been turned overnight into stupid old fossils who should make way for the younger generation.

We use mobile phones but we never figured out how to download those app thingies off the internet, and we don’t know what all those buttons on the TV remote control are for (does anyone?) We have DVD players but, to be honest, we preferred videos.

We may be the last generation of technophobes, but we will become the first generation of computer-savvy oldies. Sure, we may not be able to explain the difference between an iPod and a Blackberry (or an iPod and the cardboard box it came in) but we’re getting to grips with the new technology, once our kids have set it up for us.