Brits are now more reluctant to adopt new technology (Image: Getty)
Four in 10 people say they’re fatigued by technology and reluctant to learn anything new.
Research found 37% feel technology — whether apps, devices or other services — is developing faster than they can keep up. As a result, adults are now more likely to feel overwhelmed than excited by the pace of change.
In a poll of 2,000 adults, 35% said they sometimes feel so disconnected from the online world that they avoid interacting with it altogether.
That reluctance can have real-world consequences. Some 12% said they have struggled to contact their GP because the process is online, while 6% reported losing access to their bank account at a critical moment. A further 5% said they have incurred a penalty after missing a deadline for completing something online.
The study commissioned by healthcare company Abbott found when using a new app, device, or piece of technology for the first time, 41% are likely to feel confused or worried about getting something wrong.
Out of the 43% of the population who have some kind of medical or wellbeing need that could be managed by apps or devices, like diabetes or asthma, only 19% are currently using them. A quarter of those who aren’t said this is becayse they don’t believe it will make a difference.
Meanwhile, 13% admit they lack confidence to start using apps or devices that could help manage conditions. As a result, 18% said they have felt more anxious or uncertain about their health, according to the OnePoll.com figures.
The global healthcare company has partnered with Strictly star Shirley Ballas and her mother Audrey Rich in this video, to encourage the nation to get curious about technology designed to help us live better.
Shirley Ballas said: “In dance, you’re always learning new steps, and it can feel overwhelming at times. But you don’t stop, you keep going. It’s the same with technology.
“I’ve spent my whole career telling people not to be afraid of learning something new. It turns out that applies just as much to technology as it does to the dancefloor.
“Staying open and taking small steps can make all the difference, especially when it comes to your health.”
On the flip side, those who currently use apps to help manage health needs expressed a range of benefits from doing so, including feeling more in control of their condition, finding it easier to track symptoms, medication, or appointments and improved confidence in managing their condition. A fifth wish they had started using it sooner.
Jenny Boulton, who lives with Type 2 diabetes, said: “When I first considered using a device to track my glucose levels, I was worried I wouldn’t understand the technology.
“But I was surprised by how easy it was to use and how quickly it helped me see how food and daily routines affect my glucose levels.
“Having that real-time insight has given me much more confidence and control.”
Shirley Ballas has teamed up with Abbott to raise awareness of how technology can be helpful (Image: Abbott)
Suki Bangar, diabetes specialist nurse and medical educator from Abbott, which manufactures Libre CGM systems that help people living with diabetes monitor their glucose levels, said: “The technology available to support the four million people living with Type 2 diabetes in the UK has advanced significantly, particularly with tools like continuous glucose monitors.
“When people are empowered to use them, it can help them better understand how their bodies respond to things that affect glucose levels in real time.
“I’ve seen firsthand how impactful that knowledge can be in supporting more informed decisions and helping people feel more in control of their condition.”
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
