One of the more unfortunate aspects of getting older is that you start getting email product pieces for what I’d call Old People Tech. This is basically some piece of tech gear that has been dumbed down for its target audience. (The fact that it targets the audience by dumbing down the technology is something I’d really, really rather not think about.)

Example: The AARP (yes, I am an AARP member — shaddup) sends me regular pitches for its RealPad, a tablet that “makes it easy to connect, share and learn!” It has preloaded apps, larger graphics and icons (OK, even I admit that’s a good idea). There’s a video that pitches the product, although I think it’s a stretch to think that people who are this digitally challenged are going to watch a YouTube video:

“It was all so easy to do and something we could finally afford!” the announcer tells us all (and, OK, at $189 for a tablet with a reasonable amount of power, it actually is a decent buy).

I might — might — understand this if you were in your mid-60s and up, but if you’re younger than that and a tablet terrifies you, then you don’t need a dumbed-down tablet; you need a little educating.

There’s no such thing as a “digital society” any more. It’s just society now, and you’re in it or you’re out. So while there is some appeal to a product like this if you’re on the outside, the reality is that you’re better off getting some instruction so that you’re at least a little bit on the inside.