From Static to Smart
How my passion for technology shaped Understand Tech—and why I’m here to help
In May, I faced a life-changing moment—a heart attack while camping with my family. In the weeks that followed, during recovery, I had something I hadn’t had in years: time to think deeply about what matters most. Technology wasn’t on that list initially. But neither was stepping away from it.
Instead, I realized something: my entire life has been shaped by technology—not in a dystopian way, but as a genuine source of curiosity, connection, and meaning. And if I’ve learned anything, it’s that technology isn’t the enemy. Misunderstanding it is.
My Tech Journey
Childhood
The Tube Years
My earliest memory is sitting in my bedroom watching a black and white television—mesmerized by the light, the sound, the window into other worlds. Technology wasn’t complicated then; it was pure magic. A glowing box that brought the world into your home.
Teenage Years
The Stack System & LANs
As a teenager, I became obsessed with my dad’s JVC stack system—separate components, wires, buttons, dials. It taught me how systems work together. Then came gaming PCs. I spent countless hours building LANs for multiplayer gaming, learning that technology wasn’t just about consumption—it was about connection and creativity.
Early Career
From Curiosity to Expertise
What started as curiosity became expertise. Dial-up internet, first gaming consoles, the birth of online multiplayer—I was there for all of it. I learned that technology moves fast, but the human need for connection and understanding moves faster. I specialized in digital forensics and cybercrime, which taught me how technology can be misused and how to protect against it.
Now
Smart Homes, Smarter Questions
Today, I’m as obsessed as ever. Smart cameras, drones, AI, the latest consoles, audio tech—I keep learning because technology keeps changing. But I’ve also discovered something: most people aren’t afraid of technology. They’re afraid of not understanding it.
The Wake-Up Call
My health scare forced me to ask: “What am I actually contributing?” The answer was clear—I could help families feel less confused and more confident about the technology shaping their lives. Not by selling fear or pushing the latest gadget, but by translating what I’ve learned into plain English.
Why Understand Tech Exists
I created this website because I saw a gap. Parents want to understand their children’s digital lives but don’t know where to start. They read scary headlines about screen time but never see the nuance. They hear about AI and feel left behind. They want to set boundaries but don’t know how without creating conflict.
Everything on this site is free. Everything is based on my actual experience and knowledge, never paid reviews or sponsored content. My goal is simple: help UK families feel informed, confident, and ready to embrace technology together—not in fear, but with understanding.
What I Believe
I care more about your family’s privacy than about traffic metrics or affiliate revenue. That shapes every recommendation I make.
Surveillance and draconian rules create resentment. Real safety comes from understanding, conversation, and trust.
Not all screen time is equal. A child watching BBC documentaries is different from one doom-scrolling TikTok at midnight. I explain the difference.
Technology isn’t inherently good or bad. It’s what we do with it that matters. My job is helping families use it wisely.
What I’m Working On
As technology evolves—AI, augmented reality, new social platforms, emerging privacy risks—I’m committed to staying ahead and helping families understand it all. My heart attack was a reminder that time is finite. So I’m focused on what matters: creating guides that genuinely help, building a community of parents who support each other, and proving that tech education doesn’t have to be complicated.
Get In Touch
Have a question about tech? Want to suggest a topic? Disagree with something I’ve written?
I read and respond to every email.
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Thank you for being part of this journey. I’m here to help.
Last updated: December 2025 · Richard Saunders, Founder of Understand Tech