It seems like everywhere you look these days, there’s a new piece of tech that is taking over a chore that we used to have to complete or a part of our life. Now, this started fairly basically way back with the invention of the washing machine in 1851. But since then it seems like every job that we complete is being replaced by a clever piece of tech. Taking vacuuming as an example. In the past, you would have to take out the vacuum and clean the floor yourself. Now, you might have a rather friendly circular device that can travel along the floor, cleaning it for you. Cool, but it is taking away a job that used to get us off the sofa. And it’s certainly not the only tech that’s stopping us getting off our backsides. Do you want a cup of joe? Don’t get up, log in to an app and connect with your coffee maker to get it started for you. It’s quite scary really because with every piece of tech that takes a job away from us it’s another thing that we don’t have to think about.

You might not think that’s a bad thing, but research strongly suggests that an idle mind could easily lead to dementia. In fact, many experts suggest that we should be keeping our minds as active as possible early on in life all the way into retirement. And to be honest, there is evidence that we won’t need to think all that much anymore, particularly when it’s been predicted AI will be smart than man by 2029. And even if you don’t think that’s a realistic possibility there are other issues with letting tech take over our roles. Let’s look at an example of driving.

Robot Take The Wheel

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Of course, it’s not literally a robot driving your autonomous car but a clever piece of software. Now, if a driver crashes into your car tomorrow and it’s their fault, you know what you have to do. You need to speak to someone like Gary Greenberg accident lawyer and get things moving to make sure you get the compensation you deserve. It might be a difficult fight, but with a strong legal mind by your side, you know that the law will work in your favor.

What about if tomorrow a car crashes into you and it’s not being driven by a human at all. What if it was being driven by a piece of software. Now, you might think, wait, an autonomous car wouldn’t crash, but don’t be so sure. There have been numerous cases of this happening so it is interesting to ask what would happen in that situation. The person in the car isn’t at fault, he wasn’t driving. Arguably it’s the company behind the tech that should pay up, but major corporations never want to part with large sums of money. Suddenly you’re facing a far larger uphill battle.

What About The Workforce?

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By 2030 Elon Musk believes that we will have no need for the majority of people in the world to work. Teachers? Don’t need them, the software can run a lesson. Writers? No need, the software can produce articles. We certainly won’t need drivers because vehicles will drive themselves and the list goes on. Now this means we’re going to need a universal income and many people just won’t need to work at all.

It’s certainly going to be a brave new world, and perhaps we shouldn’t be so keen for it to arrive.

For an elderly person, the world can often be a daunting and confusing place. In the blink of an eye, modern living has changed by a huge amount, making it hard for those used to a different way of life. Of course, you probably aren’t in this position just yet, as you were able to find and read this blog. But, this doesn’t mean that you’re left completely unaffected by it. Most people have older relatives, have experienced the call to arms which often comes when they’re struggling with a piece of technology, and understand the difficulty their loved ones have. But, solving this issue isn’t just a matter of doing things for them, as this takes away their independence. Instead, you should be looking for tools and resources to make this whole area easier for your elderly family members. To help with this, this post will be going through some of the best options you have to make their techy life nice and easy.

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– Communications

When you can’t go out and do the things you used to, being social and talking to others can often be one of the greatest gifts out there. Being unable to communicate into old age can be a horrible curse, and it will make a lot of people get sad. Of course, you don’t want this for your loved ones and will need to work hard to make sure that they have access to phones which they know how to use. Phones for hard of hearing or people with bad eyesight can be found all over the web, with some options being incredibly easy to use. Along with this tool, though, you should also give some lessons to help them use it.

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– Information

Over the last few years, the Internet has blessed much of the world with the ability to find a seemingly endless source of information, surrounding almost any subject. The largest demographic to still be avoiding this technology is the elderly, and this makes sense. Modern computers aren’t easy to use unless you’ve grown up with them or use them in other parts of your life. Thankfully, to solve this issue, companies like Google have been working hard to create computers which are very simple to use. A Chromebook is very cheap, fast, and easy to control, making it perfect for someone struggling with tech. Having access to a tool like this could change the life of your loved one, making things much easier for you.

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– Entertainment

Finally, it’s time to think about entertainment. This is one of the areas elderly people struggle with the most, often being stuck to sit in a chair or lie in a bed for much of their time. Over the last few years, smart TVs have come a very long way. Through the use of voice commands, all of your entertainment can be handled with ease, creating a great system to use with people confused about technology. Along with having easy ways to control them, smart TVs often include features like the ability to record and watch shows without a physical media device, like a DVD or VHS. This sort of gift would be perfect for your parents, in-laws, or other older loved ones, as it will take all of the work out of their hands.

Hopefully, this post will inspire you to start working harder on the technology you put into the hands of older people you know. In most cases, patience and time are all it will take for elderly folks to pick up the skills they need to use these devices. But, of course, choosing the right device to help them makes a huge difference, too.