From “Cool” to “Useful”: How My View of Technology Evolved—and Why It Matters for People Over 55

There was a time when I’d see a new Apple feature or device and think, “Wow, that’s cool!” or “This is awesome!”—as if technology itself was a kind of entertainment. But as the years have gone by (and as I’ve spent more time helping clients over 55), that excitement has evolved. I don’t see technology as “cool” anymore. I see it as either useful or useless.

That shift has completely transformed the way I serve my clients at Michael Coury Tech.

The Shift From Enthusiast to Empath

When you’re younger—or just deep in the tech world—it’s easy to get wrapped up in the newness of things. You chase specs, updates, features, and futuristic ideas. But when you’re helping real people integrate technology into their everyday lives, something changes.

You start asking different questions:

• Does this actually make life easier?

• Can this save time or reduce frustration?

• Will this confuse or empower the user?

When I look at tech now, I see it through the eyes of my clients—many of whom grew up in a time when phones were on the wall, not in your pocket. To them, tech is not a hobby or a status symbol. It’s a tool. It either works for them, or it doesn’t.

Useful vs. Useless

A “cool” feature might get applause at an Apple event, but if it’s buried three menus deep or requires remembering five gestures, it’s useless to most people.

“Useful,” on the other hand, is the simple stuff that actually improves life:

• Being able to see all your photos on every device.

• Answering a FaceTime call hands-free.

• Getting reminders to take medication.

• Having your entire music library follow you into the car.

These things aren’t flashy, but they work.

Why This Matters for People Over 55

When I stopped viewing technology through a tech-enthusiast lens, I started speaking the same language as my clients. The excitement comes not from the latest thing, but from the right thing—the one that fits seamlessly into their lives.

My service is now built around clarity, simplicity, and real-world results. Because at this stage of life, “cool” doesn’t matter. Useful does.

A Final Thought

If technology feels overwhelming, it’s not you—it’s the design. My job is to filter out the noise and bring you what’s truly useful in the Apple ecosystem, so your devices become tools that serve your life, not distractions that complicate it.

At Michael Coury Tech, that’s the heart of what I do: make technology useful again.