Idea sharing - Barrier 4

You can't physically break a computer UNLESS you spill something on it. Mostly anything you do can be undone on a computer, there's always an option to click yes or no or cancel or undo etc...
Building up a persons confidence and using some humor along the way will help.

Reassure them the computers and phones are hard to break. They are built to withstand everyday use.

Assure them. Explain that computers a fairly tough and that you would need to be very rough to break it, maybe suggest they don't throw it across the room and they will be right.
As for accidentally deleting something, as long as they go slow and don't just continually clicking without reading the pop-ups they will be fine as they computer prompts and asks, are you sure before it completes the task.

Reassure them that computers are hard to break, unless you are planning to use a hammer on it. Most damage can be undone or fixed.

Let them know that it is important to be patient with their device, often people change things unwittingly by pressing random buttons when the device is taking processing time. But also reassure that devices don't break so easily these days and that there are always double checks on whether one wants to delete something.

Reassure the person that modern devices are very self-protective, unlike the older ones that they may have heard bad stories about. Perhaps show them what would happen when you try to do something like delete an app or a document, etc, so they can see the pop-up that checks that they meant to do it, and how you can back out of an accidental error.
(Perhaps tell them about the use of Ctrl-Z on a pc to undo most errors immediately, if they are up to that stage of learning.)

Reassure them that technology is not as fragile as they think, and that it is very difficult to damage it or delete all the information off. Try to be light hearted and reassuring, and remind them of the safe guards such as anti-virus software

Reassure them that it requires quite a bit of effort to break them and unless they take a hammer to it, pretty much all damage can be undone or fixed.

Reassure them that the devices are tougher then they look and not as easy to break as they might thing.

Use humour to reassure.
Computers/programs/apps have a failsafe to check whenever their human is about to do something that concerns them, like a self preservation button, they wont let you break them.
Provide a demonstration to show examples and some common sense advice on things like looking after them, backing info up, updating, virus protection etc.

Reassurance that they'll be fine, and perhabs having a sense of humour while doing so

Turn the computer off and start by walking the customer through each step from the beginning (turn on the computer etc). Repeat the process and move forward a little at a time. Remind the person that so far, the computer is "still in one piece". Again, without minimising the person's fears, remain professional and respect with a touch of light humour.

Reassuring them

Would make light of it, and reassure them computers are tough workhorses

Reassure them, computer's are pretty tough.

I agree with Tracie that we should try and reassure their concerns but offer suggestions on how to avoid any mishaps (backing up data etc).

Reassure them each time with a positive response.

Make a joke you cannot break it.

Reassure them

If I haven't now one can.
Computers are very though

Reassure the customer they can't break a computer, when first using a computer everyone feels the same.

I usually use humour to reassure my clients and reitierate that what they were told eg, "not to fiddle you will break it" by their parents is not true in this case.

Reassure the customer that we will support them and that this is a common feeling when learning something new.

Advise the customer that there is always a solution, if they are still distressed maybe show them how to back up all their data up and reset.

Explain it would be pretty hard to break a computer.

I would respond with humour - such as I haven't damaged one yet - so I am sure you will be fine! Computers are very resilient!

Most people feel that way when they begin, but soon see their device is tough and very user friendly. (Very hard to break)

Let the customer know that they can't really break the computer and it is a great opportunity to play around and build their confidence and ask questions.

Most issues can be fixed, explain basic functions

The library computers are a great option for practising and gaining confidence. There's very little you can do to permanently damage them. Even if you somehow manage to wipe Windows, they have a special program that will reinstate it when we reboot the PC.
If it's your own PC, you can take it to a computer repair tech and they will rescue your files.

I would reassure them that it would be hard to break (unless dropped), and that there is a back button to help remove mistakes.

Like mentioned above, humour can be used which will also relieve some of their anxiety on the issue.

Reassurance

Provide reassurance that computers are hard to break...work on their confidence

This is where good humour can come into play - there is not much you can do that can not be undone. Apart from physically throwing it out the window when it doesn't work :)

Respond in a happy bubbly way and let them know your there to support and it is very hard to break it :-)

Let them know that the devices are built tough and unless they are related to the Hulk, they should be fine.

humour the reassurance is it the way to go

definitely a humourous response to this question 'you think you can break it' Id like to see that!

I too had this same response when I first used a computer, but the more I explored the more confidant I became and no you can't break it.

This is a pretty common response. Technology is more robust than we give it credit for. I have said to some customers that we have to approach technology with the same lack of fear that the younger generation have. Finding the confidence to play with and explore these devices is really quite liberating. The feedback we get from people who have attended our classes is that they now have the confidence to try things themselves.

I agree that humour is a great disarming tool for this particular fear. I've used the question, "Are you planning on hitting it with a hammer?"

I would, as Tammy mentioned up top, use some humour and let them know that they can't break it.

Let them know that nobody can really break a computer or device just by using it because it's meant to be used.
Various boxes may pop up or the screen may go black for a moment etc. but you can almost always fix it by turning it off and back on again after a few moments.
Only way to actually break a computer or device is if you dropped it from a height or spilt some kind of liquid all over it.

Let participants know the device is made to be used, even if it appears to stop working you can always turn it off or re-start again etc.

Reassure them that the devices are tough and cannot be easily broken and that once they start using the device they will soon gain confidence.

I would explain there is very little you can do to a device to break it. Nearly everything can be undone bar spilling something on it or dropping it.

Make a joke of you can't break it

We all started thinking we were going to break something. Just confidence in the useage of digital devices will help with this issue

Reassure them that items are built tougher then they think and jokingly with them say something like, "unless you plan on throwing it like a Frisbee I think you're pretty safe."

You can't break it. I tell people if the pop up says are you sure you want to delete and you are not sure then click no. Explain that computers are very tough and nearly unbreakable.

I would use good humour and reassurance for this response. Build up the client's confidence.