Technology overwhelms most of us to some degree. A visual impairment and an aging brain can most certainly compound the problem. The endless stream of messages, notifications, alerts, sounds and haptics disrupt focus and elevate angst. But the upside, so far, still outweighs the downside, and life without technology presents many other difficulties. There are ways to meet it in the middle while maintaining a sense of control.
The truth is, technology can help us compensate for vision loss in many ways. Take charge, prioritize the apps and programs used on a daily basis. It’s impossible to know everything because it’s not always intuitive and it is always changing, sometimes for the better, sometimes not. It’s all about adjusting. And don’t forget, learning new things is good for the brain.
Giving up technology is never the best option, consider these steps to keep tech in check.
Accessibility Support by Phone.
This is the #1 tip, don’t hesitate to use it. Call for expert assistance to personalize vision settings and help resolve other issues, such as issues with changed interface and navigation. Here is OE’s coveted list:
Accessibility Support Phone Lines You Should Know.
Embrace Small Changes.
Inertia is the enemy of automation, there is no freezing it in place. This is why, allowing small, incremental updates will avert an eventual and painful total shutdown, resulting in changes that are never small. It’s not worth the risk: Don’t Avoid Software Updates.
Learn One Thing At A Time.
Practice is key to learning, the more we do the better we get. It’s important to be very selective about the tech that touches every day. Learning new skills is, in fact, essential exercise for the brain. Here’s how to approach the process of Learning At Any Age With Vision Loss.
Reduce Digital Clutter.
We tend to carry a lot of unnecessary data that will never be accessed again. It’s like keeping a storage locker filled with garbage. Yes, this too can become overwhelming. Cleaning it up is actually cathartic and it may also help everything run smoother. Clean Up Your Cluttered Phone.
Minimize Chronic Distractions.
Digital messages incessantly hijack our attention and break concentration. The very creators of this problem, Apple iOS and Android, now offer ways to take back control. Read this and Reclaim Your Digital Focus.
