Things we learn with smart phones

If you have been avoiding getting a smart phone because you were afraid you couldn't learn to use it, I can tell you from firsthand experience not to be afraid. From my experience let me list the things I learned that you need.

A magnifying glass so that you can read all of the many pages of instructions in the manual.

A personality that will take instructions and criticism well, especially with family members who have half learned to use theirs, and feels pretty good about it.

A very smart friend or relative who can figure out how your particular instrument works and then explain it to you in simple terms and also demonstrates what he is telling you.

A second person to listen to the instructions so she can tell you what he said.

The patience to wait for a call so you can test your knowledge.

OK, we have the knowledge. We have the little pointer so that my uncertain fingers punch what I intended to punch. So now it's time to think of all the things we did learn.

1. You can play Scrabble on your smart phone either with some of your friends or a supplied opponent.

2. But when you play Scrabble, once you play a letter the board shrinks to show just the few blocks just around the letters you've played.

3. Therefore I was told to broaden what's showing on the screen by putting your hand on the phone and separating your fingers.

4. That helped me know why 3-year-old Carter was using that technique on a picture in a magazine, but it didn't work for him there.

5. It's OK to swipe the screen across the legs of your jeans to get all the smears and smudges off.

6. There's a lot of information in there that I have no idea how to get to, or to get it out so I can use it.

7. I can load all of my usually used phone numbers on the phone so that no matter where I want to call Jane, I have her number in my hand

8. But it doesn't do me much good since I don't know how to get to the list of names and numbers.

If anyone wants to join me in my new knowledge and play Scrabble with me, or just write me a note, I'll be very happy to have you be a player or a close friend. It's lots of fun and all I ask is that you know all the things I can't figure out yet.