Things you can explain to your grandma with diagrams

By Edmund Adu Asamoah August 28 2025 • 4 min read

Simple drawings on paper — Good diagrams beat long speeches. If you can draw it, you can explain it.

Tech feels scary until someone sketches it with boxes and arrows. This is a set of tiny diagrams you can use to explain modern stuff to anyone - especially grandma. The goal is not perfect accuracy. The goal is a clear picture that sticks.

Use these as napkin drawings for dinner table questions. I kept the language simple and the shapes friendly so you can share this with family, friends, and teammates who are new to tech.

Legend: You Service Helper

1) The internet as a postal system

Websites have addresses, your device writes letters called requests, and routers act like post offices. The reply is a letter back.

You
phone or laptop

Post office
router

Website
server address

Arrow out is request. Arrow back is response.

2) The cloud as a shared building

Think of the cloud like a building with many apartments. You rent a room instead of building a house. Lights, security, and plumbing are handled for everyone.

You

Your app

Cloud building

Shared utilities

You focus on furniture. The building handles fire alarms and elevators.

3) Website cookies are claim tickets

A cookie is a small paper slip your browser holds. It helps the site remember who you are so you do not need to introduce yourself again.

You

Cookie slip

Website desk

Lose the slip and the desk will ask for your name again.

4) Two factor sign in is two locks

The first lock is your password. The second is a code or tap on your phone. A thief would need both to enter.

Lock 1
password

Lock 2
code on phone

You

Two locks. Much safer.

5) QR codes are shortcuts

A QR code is a printed shortcut. Your camera reads it and jumps to the exact address on the web.

You

QR square

Website page

No typing. Just point and go.

6) Feeds are librarians with guesses

A feed picks stories for you based on what you seemed to like before. It is a librarian who keeps handing you similar books until you say otherwise.

You

Feed picker

New stories

You can teach it by liking, saving, or hiding items.

How to teach with quick diagrams

Use 3 boxes and 2 arrows. Keep names friendly.
Pick a concrete metaphor - post office, apartment building, library.
End with one action they can try today.

If you try one of these and it lands, tell me. I would love to add more diagrams that help families learn together.

Teach one concept this week

Pick one idea from above and draw it for someone you love. Keep it to three boxes and two arrows. If they smile and explain it back to you, that is a win.

Choose a metaphor they already know.
Draw big, write small. Pictures first, labels second.
End with a simple action they can try on their phone or laptop.

Share what worked Want a simple slide I can send?

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