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Video of the Day: Webcam 101 For Seniors

Kristy Korcz — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 09:40:29 PDT

If you've ever wondered what your grandparents might look like if they tried to figure out how to use their new webcam without you, look no further. This video of two adorable seniors, who just want to take a few pics of themselves, will definitely put a smile on your face this Friday.

Website of the Day: TeachParentsTech

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 07:30:26 PST

Heading home for the holidays can be stressful for a number of reasons, but when you've been designated as your family's tech support person, it can feel like you never really left work at all. Thankfully, you can cut off tech questions at the pass with Google's new fun and informative website. Called TeachParentsTech, it lets you send email "care packages" to your computer illiterate family members. Just select a how-to video from a number of subjects like "how to transfer files between computers," and "how to tell if an email is fake," then personalize your message with names and salutations.

This way, you can let a smarty-pants from Google walk them through how to resize and/or upload photos before you even arrive, so you can relax after Christmas dinner for once.

"My Mom Doesn't Understand WiFi"

Geek Community — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 12:15:27 PDT

Reader Akasha recently posted this story in the Funny Tech Stories group:

A while back I purchased a new laptop for myself and gave my mother the old one. Since this is the first laptop she's had I went home and hooked up a wireless router so that she could use it all over the house and not be tethered to the living room. Our first hiccup came when she called me concerned that the cable company hadn't charged her for the increase in the service and she didn't want to all of a sudden get a bill with multiple months worth of this additional wireless service. I explained the wireless was just the box that I bought her and there would be no charges other than the cable Internet fees she was already paying.

For the rest of Akasha's story, keep reading.

Funny Family Tech Stories: It's Mom

GeekSugar — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 09:30:25 PDT

Reader colbie posted this humorous story in the Funny Tech Stories group:

My mom can use her computer, surf the Internet, and type on her iPhone. But iChat is not her strong suit, and no matter how many times I tell her I know it is her, I get the same message "It's mom." I have tried to use the similarity between contacts in her iPhone when they call, so she knows who it is each time. It doesn't matter, every IM starts with her classic introduction.

Are your parents, grandparents, sisters, or friends as tech-savvy as you? Do you have a funny story to share? Then tell us about it by posting to our Funny Tech Stories group! You (and your fam) could end up on GeekSugar.

Funny Tech Story: Grandpa Thinks Wii Tennis Is a Contact Sport

Geek Community — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 09:30:10 PDT

Reader HannahNicole recently shared one of her funny family tech stories with our Community:

Many of my recent trips home have centered on family game night, and while that used to mean board games, lately, and usually at my mom's urging, we end up playing a few Wii sports tournaments. Bowling is a favorite in the house, but since my Grandfather is an avid tennis player, we decided to switch it up and host a Wii tennis tournament when he came to dinner.

He stepped up, after we gave a brief how-to, and set out to take on my brother. He had his game face on, totally ready to bring on the competition. However, in prepping Grandpa to play, apparently, we missed one crucial instruction: you don't need to, nor should you make contact with your Wii controller and the television. My Dad jumped off his seat in a panic, when, on my Grandpa's first attempt to return, he approached the TV screen and whacked the Wii mote right against it. Apparently he thought there was some kind of motion censor that needed to make actual contact with the screen in order to work properly, but after inspecting the television for scratches and convincing him that this was not the case, the game continued - and dad ordered Grandpa to stay at least three feet back from the TV at all times.

Are your parents or grandparents as tech-savvy as you? Do you have a funny story to share? Then tell us about it by posting to our Funny Tech Stories group! You (and your fam) could end up on GeekSugar.

Share Your Funny Family Tech Stories!

GeekSugar — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 10:00:34 PDT

Does your grandma have you on speed dial as "tech support"? Did your mom recently discover Facebook, while your dad shows no discretion when tagging unflattering family photos of you? Share your hilarious and sweet stories of family members who are clueless, or just as tech savvy as you in our Funny Family Tech Stories Group! We can all use a good laugh every once in awhile. Want to learn how? Then read on!

Create a PopSugar Account or log in to your account. Then join the Funny Tech Stories group, and spill! You never know, it could be featured on GeekSugar! Here's a detailed guide to posting questions or posts to groups if you are new to the PopSugar Community.

Funny Family Tech Stories: I'm Grandma's Tech Support

Geek Community — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 09:30:26 PST

Reader DestinyA recently shared one of her funny family tech stories:

My grandmother is 82 and I have her set up with a laptop and wireless Internet so she can "do the email." God forbid her Internet connection goes down - I get panicky phone calls anytime she can't access her email. I have her set up with remote connection so I can fix any problems, real or perceived.

Sometimes I regret being such accessible tech support because some weeks she is constantly accidentally changing settings that freak her out and need to be fixed, but reading her emails makes it worth it. Her typing is horrendous with lack of punctuation, bad spelling and constant switches between upper case and lower case letters - and it cracks me up. If she makes a mistake, she doesn't backspace, she just hits the space bar a dozen times and continues on as if she was on a type writer. I'm very proud of her for being brave enough to try something that scares people 20 years her junior.

Funny Tech Stories: Mom Emails to Say She's Going to Call

GeekSugar — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 01:47:47 PST

A friend of mine IM'd me the following:

"You have got to be kidding me. My mother just emailed me the following message: Hi honey, I'm going to call you later. Love, Mom"

I've written about my family's technical blunders before, from a niece who learned the Wii as fast as my sometimes tech-unsavvy Grandma. And my friend's experience is no different. My mother has definitely sent me short emails during the day to remind me that she'll be calling later. When you think about it, it is a little funny, but it's also kind of industrious. After all, mom knows that I'm more apt to check my email (or, in my dad's case, my Facebook wall) than catch a missed call on my phone. The only irony: if I emailed my mother to tell her I'd be calling later, the chances of her receiving the email before the phone rang later that night are pretty low.

Funny Family Tech Stories: A Sweet Message From Grandma

GeekSugar — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 10:00:18 PST

My family is relatively tech-savvy, but as you know, we definitely have our share of funny family tech stories. My latest installment, a card from my grandmother, telling me she missed me. And under her sweet message was this gem. It reads, "I'm hoping to learn to do email so I can talk with you more."

Of course, reading that made me feel a little guilty for not calling as often as I should, so I'm keeping the card propped up on my desk as a reminder. And don't worry, if grandma actually does learn how to use email, I'm sure there will be an epic funny family tech story to follow. Though if history is a predictor of future success, she might turn into an email maven; This is, after all, the same grandmother who mastered the Nintendo Wii in no time.

My Dad Learns How to Tag Photos, Shows No Discretion

GeekSugar — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 13:00:45 PST

While he may have suffered from an initial technological learning curve, my dad has developed a remarkable aptitude for Facebook. A few months ago I helped him set up his own profile, mainly to connect with old high school and college friends, but also to easily share family photos. Well, Dad has now taken "sharing" into "overshare" territory after learning how to tag Facebook photos.

I'm not anti-tag, though I do support using the feature judiciously. My rule of thumb: if you don't think it's a flattering photo, chances are the person you're tagging won't think it's flattering either. I've even started leaving photos mostly untagged, allowing friends to tag themselves. I also like a friend's approach: asking if it's OK to add a tag to a photo.

My father practices no such restraint. Yesterday, I woke up to a flurry of Facebook emails stating I'd been tagged by Dad in some photos taken over the holiday. Some? Try 20, and about two of them were close to being flattering photos. Perhaps it's a little vain of me, but seriously Dad? Can you at least try to uphold my online rep? Untag this photo!