Technically Challenged

By Margaret Liberi

I decided to write a regular (Substack) newsletter simply because I enjoy writing and wanted to share my reflections on life as I experience it in my later years. Sometimes I reflect on the challenges of navigating life as I get older, but also on the joys and benefits of aging, as well as memories of past years.

Occasionally my reminiscences about the past are nostalgic, when I miss life as it used to be, but many of the comparisons between the present and past are positive. While very aware of some of the critical challenges which need to be resolved in Irish life and society, I still think the Ireland I live in now is a better place than the country of my childhood in the sixties and seventies, or the Ireland I emigrated from in the eighties.

Some have asked me what Substack is and how it works. Essentially it is a platform where people can upload the output of their creative endeavours – writing, photography or video. The technical details of how it works are still a bit opaque to me. It took me several attempts to publish my first Substack newsletter.

It was pure stubborn determination to succeed that got me there in the end. Stubborn determination is now my default response when I am faced with a new technology challenge. There is an assumption that older people are more likely to be on the wrong side of the digital divide and find it difficult to manage or engage with new technology. No doubt there is some evidence base to this but I really want to resist the stereotype and overcome whatever tech challenges I am presented with.

I am, fundamentally, a fan of technology and the myriad ways it makes my life easier. While I like a browse in a proper shop I don’t at all miss traipsing around supermarkets and hauling heavy shopping home. Much easier to click, select my purchases and choose a delivery slot. The last couple of days, taking heed of an orange weather warning, I’ve remained cosily at home while ordering Christmas presents from three different retailers.

It is true that I am less adept with technology than my younger counterparts, but my advanced years also mean I have a track record in adapting to change and learning new skills. My knees may be dodgy but my brain hasn’t atrophied. Yes, it can take some time and effort but the problem- solving area of said brain still works and, with a little help from Google and AI, I can usually troubleshoot my way to a solution. I also find younger relatives are a good source of support. This is a mutually beneficial interaction – I learn something new and they feel good and virtuous when they help their aged auntie.

I used to think that when I couldn’t get a tech system or application to do what I expected it was always my fault, that I was doing something wrong. Not so, not 100 % of the time. Tech systems and applications, if poorly designed, can be as maddening and temperamental as the toddler who won’t eat her toast because you buttered the ‘wrong’ side. There’s a flaw in the logic.

It’s a fairly safe bet that all of us have been frustrated by technology glitches at some point. The ticket booking that won’t go through, the purchase that won’t complete, the website that takes you round and round the same steps?

Some tech failures are high- profile and have widespread consequences. One of the biggest (so far) was a faulty update rolled out by Crowdstrike, an American cybersecurity firm, which caused Microsoft Windows applications to malfunction. The faulty coding affected over 8 million systems across airlines, finance systems and government services. Closer to home a fault in Bank of Ireland programming allowed customers to withdraw more money than they had (so not all failures are bad).

More recently the Irish Revenue portal was overwhelmed by people trying to meet the deadline to complete their property evaluations. Honest citizens, trying to comply with tax regulations, were locked out. I’m pretty sure everyone who met this obstacle was frustrated and no doubt at least some people thought the problem was with their technical competence, when the fault actually lay with designing and rolling out a system that couldn’t cope with the number of people expected to use it.

It is easy to assume, especially if you are older, that problems we experience with technology are always about user competence and confidence. But it is not just complex IT systems that are stymied by faulty coding, inadequate testing, or poor design. We are routinely notified of software/ App updates for our phones, IPads or PCs which herald great improvements but which are also swiftly followed by slightly newer updates to fix a known ‘bug’. This implies a coding error or omission which probably came to light after millions of users complained or vented their frustration on an online forum. That is why I’ve stopped assuming all my tech problems and challenges stem from my lack of skill and knowledge. Sometimes, Big Tech, it’s not me, it’s you.

Finally, keeping with the theme of tech challenges I have been reminded by Ryanair that they now only accept electronic boarding passes. I’m not clear what the reason for this change is. A Ryanair spokesperson apparently suggested that it makes no sense to have us all printing out our boarding passes. It’s true that printing adds to our carbon footprint but – forgive my cynicism- I don’t think Ryanair is intent on saving the planet. There’s something else in it for them. Electronic passes and tickets have been around for a while. What is new is making them mandatory rather than optional, a change that has been highlighted as potentially more difficult for older people. To be honest I think the bigger difficulty will be the number of people who lose their phones en-route through airport terminals.

I want to assure Ryanair that I’m up to speed on this one. I’ve even practiced! Although I usually travel with a paper boarding pass tucked into my passport on the ID/photo page, I recently flew using just an electronic pass. I downloaded it without a problem to my Apple Wallet and all seemed easy until I got to the gate. I have nerve damage in my fingers which means I’m not very nimble with my hands. I also use a walking stick. To show my boarding pass at the gate I put down my stick and the passport I was holding, as I needed both hands free to hold my phone and tap to wake my onscreen boarding pass.

I then retrieved my stick, and my passport for scanning. This was definitely more fiddly and slower than having my carefully organised passport/boarding passes to hand. To be fair Ryanair staff were very patient as I juggled my way through this process, as were the people in the long queue behind me. I’m sure they will continue to be patient as I adapt to this new, improved system. And don’t worry about sharing the rationale for change – always happy to embrace change just for the sake of change, and for Ryanair’s convenience.

Last Updated on January 14, 2026 by Editorial Staff