When talking to older people, who grew up without the benefit of having computers as a part of everyday life, it is important to keep in mind that they may not be familiar with common computer terms and jargon. Rattling off your latest computing experience or offering your support with a computer related problem may come out sounding like you're speaking in tongues or some other foreign language.
In order to help ensure that you are communicating on the same level, slow down and take time to consider whether what you're saying would mean something to a person who knows nothing about computers. In the same way that medical terminology may be off-putting to the layman, so too can computer jargon confuse a person not familiar with the inner parts and complex workings of these high tech devices. Here are a few steps to take to help older people to understand computer jargon.
1. Gauge your audience's level of expertise.
Just because someone is older it doesn't necessarily mean that they are oblivious to technical computer terminology and jargon. Treating someone who has a moderate level of understanding like they have none is insulting and will likely cause your audience to lose their patience, or worse - their interest. If you are in Sales of functioning in some type of Support role, this could ruin your sales pitch or result in your customer feeling offended, which may cause them to file a complaint.
2. Make sure you are on the same level when using technical terms.
There are times when people may use the same terms but mean two entirely different things. This is not uncommon when dealing with computer jargon. Sometimes it can be a simple misunderstanding and an instruction such as "Plug in your LCD." can be interpreted as "Put in the CD." To someone not familiar with computer jargon and terms, the mistake might not be quite as far-fetched as you might think. Therein lies one of the most common issues when helping old people or those unfamiliar with computers understand computer jargon. To someone with more computer experience, the two examples are completely different and the notion of such a silly mistake seems almost unthinkable.
3. Speak clearly and allow your audience to ask for clarification for words they don't understand or didn't hear.
Let's face it, as we get older our hearing ends up not being quite as good as it could be. Now, there's no need to speak deliberately loud and slow as if you are trying to explain to Squanto that you and your buddies are starving. Acting like an idiot doesn't often help to get your point across, it merely makes you look like an idiot. Gauge your audience's needs and adjust your tone of voice to accommodate the clear communication of your point. Don't confuse raising your tone of voice with talking down to people. If someone doesn't hear what you said, don't get offended, simply restate or summarize your point and don't be afraid to ask if your efforts were an improvement. Often times people don't want to be a burden and may remain silent rather than asking for clarification repeatedly. It is important that you bridge this gap and make it known that you are personally invested in the conversation.
4. Use terms and definitions your audience may relate to when explaining computer jargon.
Referring to a motherboard as a mini-city or a school might be confusing to some people, so find a term that might work for them. The easiest way to do this is to ask them for a little background into their hobbies or what they do for a job. A doctor would be familiar with medical references, such as the motherboard being like the spine and nervous system, where other parts of the body such as the eyes (scanner, optical drives), brain (CPU), mouth (sound card) are plugged into. With a little creativity, you can come up with analogies for just about any background. Don't worry if you don't hit the nail on the head with the first swing, if your examples don't make sense you can always just try to explain it on the most basic level.
When it comes down to it, helping old people to understand computer jargon is no different than dealing with any other type of inexperienced user. Be polite, considerate, and use terms that your audience can understand. If they can't hear you, speak up. If you feel like you're talking to a wall, don't be afraid to ask if what you said made sense. Demonstrating that you care is a big step in communicating effectively and will go a long way towards bridging any gap of understanding. Even if you begin to feel impatient and perturbed, never allow it to show.