Photos by Alvin Toh
From communicating with family and friends via Whatsapp to mobile banking, getting acquainted with the new SingPass mobile app as well as tips on being safe online, technology was the main highlight at the ninth edition of NTUC’s U Live Symposium 2018.
Held at the Lifelong Learning Institute on 3 November 2018, the day-long event offered a curated lineup of talks and workshops targeted at equipping seniors with functional technological skills they could apply at work, life and even play.
Learning Together
To help the participating seniors overcome the fears of using their smartphones and mobile apps, volunteer cyber guides like 59-year-old Zahrah Abdul Wahab were also present to demonstrate and guide them through difficulties they encountered.
“I wanted to give back to society but do so differently by getting involved with IT and helping seniors make use of apps like Whatsapp to communicate with their friends and family.
“Pioneers particularly seem to be afraid of high-tech gadgets, but if we can share with them the advantages, such as how convenient, efficient and how these can help them save money, they will slowly be able to catch on. There are so many things we can do with an app like Whatsapp and I will show them the different functions so that they can enjoy using it,” shared Zahrah.
In addition to peer-to-peer mentoring, workshops that shared tips on how seniors can tap mobiles apps to shop for their groceries online, take better photos with their smartphones and stay connected through social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram proved to be popular with the participants.
“Technology is not something to be feared. Instead, it can and should be embraced and tapped on to make the most out of our silver years, enabling us to pursue and focus on the things that matter as we get older.
“No matter how young we are, or how old we are, let’s keep ourselves updated with the necessary adaptive skills, technology skills and, for those of us still working, the technical skills to make sure that we are ready for whatever changes that may come, stay relevant in the workplace and society, and be resilient through any changes,” said NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng, who was guest of honour.
The U Live Symposium 2018 may have just ended, but there are still numerous learning opportunities, outdoor activities and even travel opportunities you can tell your senior friends and family all about. Click here to find out more.
