*edit* Remote fun
So when it comes to technology, my mom is a complete klutz; she just can't wrap her mind around simple concepts. For example, we have shaw digital at home. To watch tv, you'd have to turn on the tv and then the cable box. However, there's the tv remote and shaw cable box remote. The tv remote can only control the tv and the shaw remote can control both the tv and cable remote (There are buttons on the remote that switch you from tv to cable box controls). For some odd reason, if you turn off the cable box, both the tv and cable box turn off. Ok, this sorta makes sense, but personally, I find it only creates confusion (hey, when I lived with my aunt, I was confused as hell at first). I personally prefer bell express vu's system (the tv and cable box controls are completely separated).
The main things that confuse my mom:
- The tv has to be on channel 3 in order to watch what's on the cable box (otherwise you get "tv snow").
- With the shaw remote, if a control is selected, you will be unable to manipulate the controls of the other unit. Therefore, if you have selected TV control, you can’t make cable box changes. Unfortunately, there’s no on-screen prompt telling you when you have switched, so usually my mom accidentally changes to tv channel XX instead of cable box channel XX. Then my mom starts button mashing because she can’t manipulate the cable box controls (she’s stuck on tv controls).
Then when I show my mom how to do it, she usually complains that I go too fast (which usually leads to my mom disowning me for a couple of hours).
But here’s the main problem: my mom looks for the magical button that will solve all of her problems rather than analyzing the situation and acting accordingly. For example, to select a particular chapter from a DVD, you use the arrow keys to select the chapters link and then after hitting the selection button on the remote, you select the chapter with the arrows keys and selection button. My mom will just mash OK like a newbie without looking up at the screen. And when I show my mom how to do it, she gets hung on a certain key and begins mashing that button afterwards.
To add insult to injury, my mom has no thumb, finger and eye coordination.
Ok, my mom is sorta learning to read both the remote and tv screen, but it’s definitely a work in progress. Did I ever mention that I think my mom would bomb an IQ test?
Music: Pixies – I’ve been Tired
posted by Edward @ 12:23 AM
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