In what seems to have been a relatively short space of time, much of our everyday way of life is becoming digitalised. I don't mind progress and some of the changes over the years have made life easier (no more queueing in the bank just to cash a cheque to get money - what a palaver that used to be until "the hole in the wall" appeared), but I can't help feeling that these days, progress for the sake of progress is going too far.
The changes lean very much in favour of manufacturers of hardware and internet providers / mobile phone industry than it does for people who use them. It took me a long time to get broadband mainly because financially I couldn't afford it (nor afford to buy a pc or laptop to use at home) It would be true to say that as time has gone by, the price of laptops (or tablets) have gone down and I have replaced the original (after the blue screen of death) at least twice, but the original broadband I got still works perfectly fine for what I do. However, the monthly charge to use the service keeps going up despite no improvement in the service (or speed) while at the same offering the much more expensive (3x what I currently pay) "improved" broadband services instead and threats that the system I'm using is now "obsolete".
Considering I use the computer a lot at work, upgrading to new operating systems has generally been seamless (okay, we have IT people who do all the hard work to set it up). Mobile phone technology on the other hand, is changing so fast. I look at apps with suspicion and never sure whether they are safe to use or not, and what about security? And then it's out with 3G and in with 5G so tough luck if you are still using 3G equipment because it won't work. So much for a "greener" future of reducing, re-using and recycling (not to mention the rare metals needed and the damage to the environment to extract them) when forced to purchase the latest up to date model just to keep up with ever changing systems.
In the meantime, the shift to using digital technology is gathering momentum. I don't want to do my banking using a smartphone or use my smartphone for purchasing - I'm quite happy going online and using a credit or debit card (even the contactless payments or plain old cash) for shopping. I don't consider myself to be totally inept but I feel as though I am rapidly becoming a technology dinosaur. Does anyone else feel the same?

I don't mind becoming a tech dinosaur. I'm quite proud of it actually. I recently had to inform the TV licensing people that I still don't need a licence, they contact me by letter every two years. It says go onto their web site to update their records. I decided I didn't want to do that, so I posted two reminder letters back to them to the return address on the back. Added in big letters, no, I don't need a licence. They ignored that and sent me another letter threatening to come to my house.
I rang the 03000 number to speak to them. Press this, press that, you can do this on our website. No thanks, I want to speak to a person. Eventually a human answered.
When I look at web sites they are of my choosing, nobody tells me to go there. The reason I don't make charitable donations by signing up for direct debits is because I don't want to give away my bank details.
I use cash for just about everything. I don't buy off the internet. I demand freedom of choice.
ilona

I struggle with anything new in the techie field. Fortunately one of my sons works in IT, and helps me out.
I was horrified to read in our local magazine that we need a photo and an ID form to vote. I have taken the easy way out and sent for a postal vote.
How are the older generation going to handle getting a photo and filling an ID form in?
I understand some of the reason behind all this red tape, but anyone can falsify a form In our tiny village the counting officers know the majority of people by their first names.

lancashire lass wrote: ↑ 15 Mar 2023, 12:18 In the meantime, the shift to using digital technology is gathering momentum. I don't want to do my banking using a smartphone or use my smartphone for purchasing - I'm quite happy going online and using a credit or debit card (even the contactless payments or plain old cash) for shopping. I don't consider myself to be totally inept but I feel as though I am rapidly becoming a technology dinosaur. Does anyone else feel the same?

I am a technology dinosaur but more importantly I do not like where the digital world is leading.
My phone is an old Nokia that can only be used to make or receive phone calls/text messages, we deal in cash or barter where possible, we pay all our utilities/property taxes in cash, the only transactions on our bank statements are cash withdrawals. I don't even know how to use a Hi Fi/TV remote (our TV is only used for dvd's and the CD player has two buttons I use..in/out and Volume!).
The WHO are pushing for a Digital Vaccination Passport, The WEF are pushing for a Global Digital ID (you can look up the latest report from the Tony Bliar Institute to confirm he and his peers are also pushing for this). Estonia already has a basic version of this system in place. The Indian government has implemented the Aadhaar Project. The current UK PM has made a video that pushes the idea of a digital currency (available on the internet unless it has been taken down).
A digital future should concern everyone or should I say the abuse of control that the digital future will bring should be of concern to everyone?
PS I am not a conspiracy theorist.

I totally agree with you Trev. We are heading towards the end game. This is what it's all been about. Everything that has happened has been about control. Glenn Beck talks about the collapse of banking, the crypto industry just lost two of it's banks. Is this a plan to get rid of crypto to make way for CBDigital Currency? It looks like it.
They have been printing money for a long time, it is now worthless. They are talking about Bail In rather than previously Bail Out. That means all the money that we have deposited in the bank, they get to keep. Watch videos from Gerald Celente of Trends Journal. He tells it like it is, but beware he uses very strong language.
The whole world is being pushed towards digital, it's called the Fourth Industrial Revolution, or The Great Reset. We all need to be aware. Our bank accounts will be stripped and we will be given an allowance, and it will be programmable, meaning they will be able to control everything we do. Hang onto cash, stop using plastic.
ilona
PS I am not a conspiracy theorist either. It's all happening and it's true.

Ah, but what is cash? Just an 'I promise to pay the bearer the sum of...' Can we trust that promise when the value of our cash in terms real things like beans and coal is also subject to manipulation by the politicians.
If I want to save and 'they' want me to spend tweak tweak and my savings are worthless. I remember the inflation of the 70s.
You both claim not to be conspiracy theorists, but I can't help thinking that those in power now have their own interests at heart.

Mo wrote: ↑ 17 Mar 2023, 10:06 but I can't help thinking that those in power now have their own interests at heart.

Has that not always been the case?

Those in power have always put their own interests above everybody else's. The trouble is politicians are following orders handed down to them from above. All the western world countries are going in the same direction. They will push digital currency on to us because it will give them more control, and sadly people will go along with it.
ilona

Meanqueen wrote: ↑ 17 Mar 2023, 23:18 Those in power have always put their own interests above everybody else's. The trouble is politicians are following orders handed down to them from above. All the western world countries are going in the same direction. They will push digital currency on to us because it will give them more control, and sadly people will go along with it.
ilona

I would agree with your post especially concerning the digital currency. All Western political leaders are using the same catch phrases, many of them originated from the leaders of the WEF but the question that needs answering is who are the actual people pulling the strings?

Hello Trev. If you go to my blog, I have a page called Linkys, it's under the header. Click on that and you will find a lot of links to articles and videos that I have collected, covering most of what is going on. In answer to your question scroll down to 11th February. Link to an interview from Richard the Bald Explorer, talking to Justin Walker.
Go to 3rd January. Catherine Austin Fitts is a financial expert, she knows everything. Watch her interview.
Go to 27th December 22. There is a list of people I follow. Google their names.
It's difficult to put actual names to who is pulling their strings. Bill Gates is one, George Sorros is another, and Rockerfeller another. Basically it's the corrupt banking system. Federal reserve are missing 16 trillion dollars due to dodgy dealing and theft. They are in a mess, and to get themselves out of it they have to get everyone onto digital currency. If they don't they will fail, that's why we need to hang on to cash. The world is heading for a massive financial meltdown. It's looking like the banks will crash. It happened before and they were bailed out. They may not get another chance.
Read up about it, it's quite interesting and has kept me busy for the last three years following it. If you can join the dots it all makes sense.
ilona

PS. I have been relentlessly trolled on my blog because I don't believe the official narrative which is spun on main stream media. I knew there was something dodgy about it all quite early on. I never wore a mask, have not been tested, was not locked down, and decided not to get jabbed. Something told me that this was the start of something much worse to come. I am sorry to say I was right. It's all about control.
ilona

Meanqueen wrote: ↑ 18 Mar 2023, 21:16 PS. I have been relentlessly trolled on my blog because I don't believe the official narrative which is spun on main stream media. I knew there was something dodgy about it all quite early on. I never wore a mask, have not been tested, was not locked down, and decided not to get jabbed. Something told me that this was the start of something much worse to come. I am sorry to say I was right. It's all about control.
ilona

We said and took the same position here but most Bulgarians had the same view and had no faith or trust in what was being said either so life went on (virtually) as normal.

Hi Trev. The trouble is that millions of people from all over the world fell for it. It is an orchestrated destruction of civilisation as we know it. The Swedes didn't do too badly because they never locked down. Their economy survived. The Amish have done ok, they live by their own rules. People might get through this by forming their own close knit communities, and turning their back on technology. Never has there been such a strong case for self sufficiently. We need Richard back to pull everyone together.
ilona

Meanqueen wrote: ↑ 20 Mar 2023, 20:30 Never has there been such a strong case for self sufficiently.
ilona

Where we live most of the people within these small dying villages are still virtually self sufficient. That is our aim, we have learnt and are still learning, next up for me is welding and expanding my limited knowledge of solar power.
I understand that self sufficiency groups have been formed in the UK but many of the sites used to coordinate them went off line for obvious reasons during the Covid period.
People have to rely on themselves not others to get organized though that is easier said than done.
I have had quick look at your blog and will delve into it a bit more in the coming days but I could add a couple of names to your list.

Meanqueen wrote: ↑ 18 Mar 2023, 21:16 I never wore a mask, have not been tested, was not locked down, and decided not to get jabbed.
ilona

Interesting article