really? cashing cheques is probably the only thing I still use my chequebook for.
Just find it makes it easier for me to plan / budget my month. If I know I've a party or something coming up in a couple of weeks, I'll make sure I spend less leading up to it, or if I've a big month leading up (like my birthday / kids birthday), I know I have to have a cheap one the month before to generate some excess. Can't do that so easier if regularly drawing out / putting things on your card. You must have to check your balance every week.
I work in a bank and we hate people like you. There is so much money being used to make it easier for you to use your money, and you are using the most old fashioned shit that's still available.
You have contactless debit cards, machines with touchscreens that can dispense exact amounts of cash in whatever denomination you want, technology in phones and watches so you don't even need to remove your card, just tap your phone to the machine and scan your thumb/type a password. You can pay by sending a text, check your balance in an app and then adjust a bill/move money between your accounts in 3 seconds, and instead you choose to queue up with a piece of paper with a scribble on it, wasting your time, my time, the guy behind you who's trying to take out his Dong, the other guy who needs £2000 of £1 coins for the pub you'll be in when the trains break down again, I could go on!
really? cashing cheques is probably the only thing I still use my chequebook for.
Just find it makes it easier for me to plan / budget my month. If I know I've a party or something coming up in a couple of weeks, I'll make sure I spend less leading up to it, or if I've a big month leading up (like my birthday / kids birthday), I know I have to have a cheap one the month before to generate some excess. Can't do that so easier if regularly drawing out / putting things on your card. You must have to check your balance every week.
I work in a bank and we hate people like you. There is so much money being used to make it easier for you to use your money, and you are using the most old fashioned shit that's still available.
You have contactless debit cards, machines with touchscreens that can dispense exact amounts of cash in whatever denomination you want, technology in phones and watches so you don't even need to remove your card, just tap your phone to the machine and scan your thumb/type a password. You can pay by sending a text, check your balance in an app and then adjust a bill/move money between your accounts in 3 seconds, and instead you choose to queue up with a piece of paper with a scribble on it, wasting your time, my time, the guy behind you who's trying to take out his Dong, the other guy who needs £2000 of £1 coins for the pub you'll be in when the trains break down again, I could go on!
really? cashing cheques is probably the only thing I still use my chequebook for.
Just find it makes it easier for me to plan / budget my month. If I know I've a party or something coming up in a couple of weeks, I'll make sure I spend less leading up to it, or if I've a big month leading up (like my birthday / kids birthday), I know I have to have a cheap one the month before to generate some excess. Can't do that so easier if regularly drawing out / putting things on your card. You must have to check your balance every week.
I work in a bank and we hate people like you. There is so much money being used to make it easier for you to use your money, and you are using the most old fashioned shit that's still available.
You have contactless debit cards, machines with touchscreens that can dispense exact amounts of cash in whatever denomination you want, technology in phones and watches so you don't even need to remove your card, just tap your phone to the machine and scan your thumb/type a password. You can pay by sending a text, check your balance in an app and then adjust a bill/move money between your accounts in 3 seconds, and instead you choose to queue up with a piece of paper with a scribble on it, wasting your time, my time, the guy behind you who's trying to take out his Dong, the other guy who needs £2000 of £1 coins for the pub you'll be in when the trains break down again, I could go on!
Surely without people like him you wouldn't have a job? we wouldn't need high street branches surely? also when the solar flare comes money will have no use
Last time I rang First Direct they signed me up for voice recognition. Next time I am going to try a variety of accents, low amplitude, stumbling and stuttering, singing my answers, changing pitch and so on, to test the system out.
I work in voice surveillance and nothing you can do will trick it.
Seriously? I know a persons voice is a bit like their fingerprint in terms of vibrations and so on, but it can't be fooled? Years ago I tried voice recognition on the computer but it was useless and I gave up, if it is now foolproof (and it would have to be with me) then I might try again. Last time I had to read out loud a whole load of stuff to get it going and it was very poor to the extent that hunt and peck typing is quicker. Incidentally, am I the only person left who can only type with two fingers?
really? cashing cheques is probably the only thing I still use my chequebook for.
Just find it makes it easier for me to plan / budget my month. If I know I've a party or something coming up in a couple of weeks, I'll make sure I spend less leading up to it, or if I've a big month leading up (like my birthday / kids birthday), I know I have to have a cheap one the month before to generate some excess. Can't do that so easier if regularly drawing out / putting things on your card. You must have to check your balance every week.
I work in a bank and we hate people like you. There is so much money being used to make it easier for you to use your money, and you are using the most old fashioned shit that's still available.
You have contactless debit cards, machines with touchscreens that can dispense exact amounts of cash in whatever denomination you want, technology in phones and watches so you don't even need to remove your card, just tap your phone to the machine and scan your thumb/type a password. You can pay by sending a text, check your balance in an app and then adjust a bill/move money between your accounts in 3 seconds, and instead you choose to queue up with a piece of paper with a scribble on it, wasting your time, my time, the guy behind you who's trying to take out his Dong, the other guy who needs £2000 of £1 coins for the pub you'll be in when the trains break down again, I could go on!
Last time I rang First Direct they signed me up for voice recognition. Next time I am going to try a variety of accents, low amplitude, stumbling and stuttering, singing my answers, changing pitch and so on, to test the system out.
I work in voice surveillance and nothing you can do will trick it.
Seriously? I know a persons voice is a bit like their fingerprint in terms of vibrations and so on, but it can't be fooled? Years ago I tried voice recognition on the computer but it was useless and I gave up, if it is now foolproof (and it would have to be with me) then I might try again. Last time I had to read out loud a whole load of stuff to get it going and it was very poor to the extent that hunt and peck typing is quicker. Incidentally, am I the only person left who can only type with two fingers?
Recognising what you are saying and recognising who is saying it are two very different things, Seth.
Last time I rang First Direct they signed me up for voice recognition. Next time I am going to try a variety of accents, low amplitude, stumbling and stuttering, singing my answers, changing pitch and so on, to test the system out.
I work in voice surveillance and nothing you can do will trick it.
Seriously? I know a persons voice is a bit like their fingerprint in terms of vibrations and so on, but it can't be fooled? Years ago I tried voice recognition on the computer but it was useless and I gave up, if it is now foolproof (and it would have to be with me) then I might try again. Last time I had to read out loud a whole load of stuff to get it going and it was very poor to the extent that hunt and peck typing is quicker. Incidentally, am I the only person left who can only type with two fingers?
Seriously, the tech is so advanced now, it doesn't use tones and things, we each have a digital fingerprint, the more you talk the more data is collected and the more accurate the results. they say 3 minuets of audio is enough.
I installed a system at AXA they had a guy who has called up over 300 times in the last 10 years claiming under different names and addresses, they only caught him when they ran the analytics on the historical calls and it matched them all as the same person, he even used different accents and voice changers.
I now work in banking putting in voice surveillance to help prevent insider trading. It isn't the voice surveillance people need to worry about - it is that 90% of peoples retinas are now on the government DB and Google are being given access to that data soon. i think they have just been given access to London eye hospital data so that they can make the algorithm for the tech. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-36713308)
It is all under the guise of better for the world, but one day it could be used against us all.
I thought id done it the other month, using the new fangle passport control at Heathrow and had lens replacement surgery, I thought I'd thats it theres going to be assorts of alarms going off as I stared at the machine in order to have my eyes recognised. Nope, straight through no problem. Very clever piece of kit.
really? cashing cheques is probably the only thing I still use my chequebook for.
Just find it makes it easier for me to plan / budget my month. If I know I've a party or something coming up in a couple of weeks, I'll make sure I spend less leading up to it, or if I've a big month leading up (like my birthday / kids birthday), I know I have to have a cheap one the month before to generate some excess. Can't do that so easier if regularly drawing out / putting things on your card. You must have to check your balance every week.
I work in a bank and we hate people like you. There is so much money being used to make it easier for you to use your money, and you are using the most old fashioned shit that's still available.
You have contactless debit cards, machines with touchscreens that can dispense exact amounts of cash in whatever denomination you want, technology in phones and watches so you don't even need to remove your card, just tap your phone to the machine and scan your thumb/type a password. You can pay by sending a text, check your balance in an app and then adjust a bill/move money between your accounts in 3 seconds, and instead you choose to queue up with a piece of paper with a scribble on it, wasting your time, my time, the guy behind you who's trying to take out his Dong, the other guy who needs £2000 of £1 coins for the pub you'll be in when the trains break down again, I could go on!
I hope you're happy you work in what used to be a respected institution and is now a glorified adult day care.
really? cashing cheques is probably the only thing I still use my chequebook for.
Just find it makes it easier for me to plan / budget my month. If I know I've a party or something coming up in a couple of weeks, I'll make sure I spend less leading up to it, or if I've a big month leading up (like my birthday / kids birthday), I know I have to have a cheap one the month before to generate some excess. Can't do that so easier if regularly drawing out / putting things on your card. You must have to check your balance every week.
I work in a bank and we hate people like you. There is so much money being used to make it easier for you to use your money, and you are using the most old fashioned shit that's still available.
You have contactless debit cards, machines with touchscreens that can dispense exact amounts of cash in whatever denomination you want, technology in phones and watches so you don't even need to remove your card, just tap your phone to the machine and scan your thumb/type a password. You can pay by sending a text, check your balance in an app and then adjust a bill/move money between your accounts in 3 seconds, and instead you choose to queue up with a piece of paper with a scribble on it, wasting your time, my time, the guy behind you who's trying to take out his Dong, the other guy who needs £2000 of £1 coins for the pub you'll be in when the trains break down again, I could go on!
The Uber thread has got me thinking about what a philistine I am in terms of the progression in technology.
I've got an iPhone but it's the first one I've had and I only probably scratch the surface on its potential. I don't have any music on it, use Siri or anything like that.
I try as well, I download all the Apps and never remember what they are for.
Attempt Siri from time to time but we never seem to be on the same wavelength. I wanted the nearest BP garage yesterday (need the Nectar points) and Google maps opened up directing me to Houston Texas.
really? cashing cheques is probably the only thing I still use my chequebook for.
Just find it makes it easier for me to plan / budget my month. If I know I've a party or something coming up in a couple of weeks, I'll make sure I spend less leading up to it, or if I've a big month leading up (like my birthday / kids birthday), I know I have to have a cheap one the month before to generate some excess. Can't do that so easier if regularly drawing out / putting things on your card. You must have to check your balance every week.
I work in a bank and we hate people like you. There is so much money being used to make it easier for you to use your money, and you are using the most old fashioned shit that's still available.
You have contactless debit cards, machines with touchscreens that can dispense exact amounts of cash in whatever denomination you want, technology in phones and watches so you don't even need to remove your card, just tap your phone to the machine and scan your thumb/type a password. You can pay by sending a text, check your balance in an app and then adjust a bill/move money between your accounts in 3 seconds, and instead you choose to queue up with a piece of paper with a scribble on it, wasting your time, my time, the guy behind you who's trying to take out his Dong, the other guy who needs £2000 of £1 coins for the pub you'll be in when the trains break down again, I could go on!
All good points Sam but when AFKA and others like him stop queuing in your bank you will be out of a job.
No we won't, machines can't do everything (yet) and there's still a tonne of other bank related things we can do, but cheque encashments is single handedly the most outdated way to bank, and the most easy to forge as well. A forged signature on a cheque is a million times easier than forging notes, duplicating cards or hacking online banking details.
We should follow the Netherlands' lead and get rid of them altogether.
BTW @AFKABartram, is your TV black and white, your music collection can play on a gramophone and your phones all have cords on them? Because that's how you currently back in my eyes.
(That may sound harsh, not picking on you entirely, just that way of banking in general)
Last time I rang First Direct they signed me up for voice recognition. Next time I am going to try a variety of accents, low amplitude, stumbling and stuttering, singing my answers, changing pitch and so on, to test the system out.
I work in voice surveillance and nothing you can do will trick it.
Seriously? I know a persons voice is a bit like their fingerprint in terms of vibrations and so on, but it can't be fooled? Years ago I tried voice recognition on the computer but it was useless and I gave up, if it is now foolproof (and it would have to be with me) then I might try again. Last time I had to read out loud a whole load of stuff to get it going and it was very poor to the extent that hunt and peck typing is quicker. Incidentally, am I the only person left who can only type with two fingers?
Seriously, the tech is so advanced now, it doesn't use tones and things, we each have a digital fingerprint, the more you talk the more data is collected and the more accurate the results. they say 3 minuets of audio is enough.
I installed a system at AXA they had a guy who has called up over 300 times in the last 10 years claiming under different names and addresses, they only caught him when they ran the analytics on the historical calls and it matched them all as the same person, he even used different accents and voice changers.
I now work in banking putting in voice surveillance to help prevent insider trading. It isn't the voice surveillance people need to worry about - it is that 90% of peoples retinas are now on the government DB and Google are being given access to that data soon. i think they have just been given access to London eye hospital data so that they can make the algorithm for the tech. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-36713308)
It is all under the guise of better for the world, but one day it could be used against us all.
Try faking your eyes
If this is true, and on the basis that I use Siri a lot, why can it nor tell the difference between "Call my Mum" and "Call my home"?
Last time I rang First Direct they signed me up for voice recognition. Next time I am going to try a variety of accents, low amplitude, stumbling and stuttering, singing my answers, changing pitch and so on, to test the system out.
I work in voice surveillance and nothing you can do will trick it.
Seriously? I know a persons voice is a bit like their fingerprint in terms of vibrations and so on, but it can't be fooled? Years ago I tried voice recognition on the computer but it was useless and I gave up, if it is now foolproof (and it would have to be with me) then I might try again. Last time I had to read out loud a whole load of stuff to get it going and it was very poor to the extent that hunt and peck typing is quicker. Incidentally, am I the only person left who can only type with two fingers?
Seriously, the tech is so advanced now, it doesn't use tones and things, we each have a digital fingerprint, the more you talk the more data is collected and the more accurate the results. they say 3 minuets of audio is enough.
I installed a system at AXA they had a guy who has called up over 300 times in the last 10 years claiming under different names and addresses, they only caught him when they ran the analytics on the historical calls and it matched them all as the same person, he even used different accents and voice changers.
I now work in banking putting in voice surveillance to help prevent insider trading. It isn't the voice surveillance people need to worry about - it is that 90% of peoples retinas are now on the government DB and Google are being given access to that data soon. i think they have just been given access to London eye hospital data so that they can make the algorithm for the tech. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-36713308)
It is all under the guise of better for the world, but one day it could be used against us all.
Try faking your eyes
If this is true, and on the basis that I use Siri a lot, why can it nor tell the difference between "Call my Mum" and "Call my home"?
Last time I rang First Direct they signed me up for voice recognition. Next time I am going to try a variety of accents, low amplitude, stumbling and stuttering, singing my answers, changing pitch and so on, to test the system out.
I work in voice surveillance and nothing you can do will trick it.
Seriously? I know a persons voice is a bit like their fingerprint in terms of vibrations and so on, but it can't be fooled? Years ago I tried voice recognition on the computer but it was useless and I gave up, if it is now foolproof (and it would have to be with me) then I might try again. Last time I had to read out loud a whole load of stuff to get it going and it was very poor to the extent that hunt and peck typing is quicker. Incidentally, am I the only person left who can only type with two fingers?
Seriously, the tech is so advanced now, it doesn't use tones and things, we each have a digital fingerprint, the more you talk the more data is collected and the more accurate the results. they say 3 minuets of audio is enough.
I installed a system at AXA they had a guy who has called up over 300 times in the last 10 years claiming under different names and addresses, they only caught him when they ran the analytics on the historical calls and it matched them all as the same person, he even used different accents and voice changers.
I now work in banking putting in voice surveillance to help prevent insider trading. It isn't the voice surveillance people need to worry about - it is that 90% of peoples retinas are now on the government DB and Google are being given access to that data soon. i think they have just been given access to London eye hospital data so that they can make the algorithm for the tech. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-36713308)
It is all under the guise of better for the world, but one day it could be used against us all.
Try faking your eyes
If this is true, and on the basis that I use Siri a lot, why can it nor tell the difference between "Call my Mum" and "Call my home"?
Because Siri works on word recognition not voice recognition. voice recognition uses phonetics. words just do a match. the dictionary is massive for phonetics and wouldn't fit on a smart phone.
I recently returned from Disney World. Before I went I set up a Disney account and added the details of the other members of my party. When the park tickets arrived I linked them to the individuals in my party. I was then able to make dining reservations and FastPass selections.
When we got to Florida we purchased MagicBands (wrist bands) that the cashier then linked to our park tickets and therefore the Disney account. To enter the parks we just touched in and also registered a fingerprint.
If during a ride a photo was taken there was no need to queue up to view and make an instant decision on whether to purchase. Instead, as the photo was taken, the wristband was recognised and the photo instantly uploaded to the Disney account. These could then be viewed via the Disney app via the park wifi which was excellent. The app could also view and change FastPasses, make reservations and display queuing times.
Also, if you had photos taken by the roaming photographers then by touching the MagicBand against their black box the photo was instantly uploaded to the account. So, rather than avoiding the photographers we actively used them to take group photos etc. they usually took a number of photos and again, no instant decisions to make.
Had we stayed at the Disney resort hotels then the MagicBands would have acted as the room keys and any hotel or park payments could be sent to our account with a simple touch-in.
Once home the photos can be selected and downloaded. In our case, the MemoryMaker facility was included for free with our tickets which means w can download all of the Disney photos for free.
The technology worked really well and as technology should be, was easy to use and was an unexpected standout of our trip.
Had my toaster for five years, still won't pop up when I want it to.
Should have bought a Dualit. They don't pop up, there's a lever you actually have to operate. Still the best toaster in the world though (once you get used to the fact that the timer is clockwork and doesn't care whether you turn the power on or not - its a bummer when the toast is still just bread after a couple of minutes).
Within the last year or so, the local branch of my bank has gone from having 7 cashier Windows and 2 business account Windows to having 5 automated machines an 1 cashier. Doing most of my banking by the Internet etc the only time I need to go to the bank is to pay bags of change in. You would've thought that the automated machines would have a bucket you could tip your change into like supermarkets have had for years. But no PBS. You sort out all your change into bags and go and queue behind all the AFKAs of the world so that the coins can be weighed by an actual person.
What this thread has done is illustrate just how terrifyingly computer illiterate some people are. Little do they know the government owns a huge data collecting centre that they have no need for and nowhere near enough resources or technology to be able to process the information for the aims they say (to keep us safe). Basically these institutions are being set up for mass surveillance on the population, not on criminals.
Just to illustrate I can't believe David Cameron said he wanted to ban encryption and got away Scot free from the press about it. In technological terms it's even more laughable than trump saying he wants to build a wall on the border with Mexico.
Within the last year or so, the local branch of my bank has gone from having 7 cashier Windows and 2 business account Windows to having 5 automated machines an 1 cashier. Doing most of my banking by the Internet etc the only time I need to go to the bank is to pay bags of change in. You would've thought that the automated machines would have a bucket you could tip your change into like supermarkets have had for years. But no PBS. You sort out all your change into bags and go and queue behind all the AFKAs of the world so that the coins can be weighed by an actual person.
What bank?
Barclays used to have them in some branches but they are a bugger to unload and would constantly get jammed by foreign coins/buttons/plastic trolley coins etc so they've got rid of them.
Somebody mentioned passwords. Nightmare in every sense. Every single thing you deal with expects you to know your password, or to have one in the first place. Plug sockets.
Only downside is charging appliances and passwords. We even have USB sockets on our plugs. Forgot to mention the best thing ever ever invented is onenote!
I like my gadgets but I don't use them. I bought one of the first smartwatches when I worked for Sony.. Within a week I was wearing my Timex Weekender again.
I bought an iPad nearly 2 years ago, and it's primarily a kindle as far as I'm concerned.. Although it's rarely charged and I lose it for months on end.
I've definitely embarrassed the idea of a cashless society though, Berlin this weekend really stunned me as to how much I rely on contactless payments. I perhaps have cash in my pocket twice a month now?
I'm a 20-something who works in tech, and I genuinely find it frustrating to see people glued to their phones - swiping through the same social media nonsense whenever they get a chance. Truthfully speaking, it's one of my concerns if I break up with my girlfriend: at my age who on earth will I find that isn't addicted to Facebook/Twitter/Instagram?
Personally I have a few apps on my phone that I use:
- Duolingo: One of the most addictive ways to learn a language, the Swedish course was great.
- Uber: Discussed in another thread.
- Twitter: I rarely post, but get current affairs and Charlton views through it.
- Banking ones: Metro bank, Santander
- Work ones: Google Authenticator, Duo Mobile
Other than that just WhatsApp, Google Chrome and apps that I never use.
I like my gadgets but I don't use them. I bought one of the first smartwatches when I worked for Sony.. Within a week I was wearing my Timex Weekender again.
I bought an iPad nearly 2 years ago, and it's primarily a kindle as far as I'm concerned.. Although it's rarely charged and I lose it for months on end.
I've definitely embarrassed the idea of a cashless society though, Berlin this weekend really stunned me as to how much I rely on contactless payments. I perhaps have cash in my pocket twice a month now?
I'm a 20-something who works in tech, and I genuinely find it frustrating to see people glued to their phones - swiping through the same social media nonsense whenever they get a chance. Truthfully speaking, it's one of my concerns if I break up with my girlfriend: at my age who on earth will I find that isn't addicted to Facebook/Twitter/Instagram?
Personally I have a few apps on my phone that I use:
- Duolingo: One of the most addictive ways to learn a language, the Swedish course was great.
- Uber: Discussed in another thread.
- Twitter: I rarely post, but get current affairs and Charlton views through it.
- Banking ones: Metro bank, Santander
- Work ones: Google Authenticator, Duo Mobile
Other than that just WhatsApp, Google Chrome and apps that I never use.
A lot of similarities here actually, except I'm 30 (fuck you for being younger than me, and also for learning a foreign language and "bettering yourself.")
The apps I use the most are Facebook and Hangouts. 90% of my computing is done on a laptop, because even though it was partially a joke, mobile apps and devices can really bother me.
I also really enjoy doing all my banking and bill paying online and being paperless. I cannot handle paper mail, for some reason (despite having 2+ bookshelves full of paper books because I struggle to switch to an eReader), my brain just does not compute.
Comments
Oh and a print out from the 14th of April. There's a good lad :-)
I know a persons voice is a bit like their fingerprint in terms of vibrations and so on, but it can't be fooled?
Years ago I tried voice recognition on the computer but it was useless and I gave up, if it is now foolproof (and it would have to be with me) then I might try again.
Last time I had to read out loud a whole load of stuff to get it going and it was very poor to the extent that hunt and peck typing is quicker.
Incidentally, am I the only person left who can only type with two fingers?
I installed a system at AXA they had a guy who has called up over 300 times in the last 10 years claiming under different names and addresses, they only caught him when they ran the analytics on the historical calls and it matched them all as the same person, he even used different accents and voice changers.
I now work in banking putting in voice surveillance to help prevent insider trading. It isn't the voice surveillance people need to worry about - it is that 90% of peoples retinas are now on the government DB and Google are being given access to that data soon. i think they have just been given access to London eye hospital data so that they can make the algorithm for the tech. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-36713308)
It is all under the guise of better for the world, but one day it could be used against us all.
Try faking your eyes
Attempt Siri from time to time but we never seem to be on the same wavelength. I wanted the nearest BP garage yesterday (need the Nectar points) and Google maps opened up directing me to Houston Texas.
We should follow the Netherlands' lead and get rid of them altogether.
BTW @AFKABartram, is your TV black and white, your music collection can play on a gramophone and your phones all have cords on them? Because that's how you currently back in my eyes.
(That may sound harsh, not picking on you entirely, just that way of banking in general)
When we got to Florida we purchased MagicBands (wrist bands) that the cashier then linked to our park tickets and therefore the Disney account. To enter the parks we just touched in and also registered a fingerprint.
If during a ride a photo was taken there was no need to queue up to view and make an instant decision on whether to purchase. Instead, as the photo was taken, the wristband was recognised and the photo instantly uploaded to the Disney account. These could then be viewed via the Disney app via the park wifi which was excellent. The app could also view and change FastPasses, make reservations and display queuing times.
Also, if you had photos taken by the roaming photographers then by touching the MagicBand against their black box the photo was instantly uploaded to the account. So, rather than avoiding the photographers we actively used them to take group photos etc. they usually took a number of photos and again, no instant decisions to make.
Had we stayed at the Disney resort hotels then the MagicBands would have acted as the room keys and any hotel or park payments could be sent to our account with a simple touch-in.
Once home the photos can be selected and downloaded. In our case, the MemoryMaker facility was included for free with our tickets which means w can download all of the Disney photos for free.
The technology worked really well and as technology should be, was easy to use and was an unexpected standout of our trip.
-SDAddick
Technology and Solution Architecture consultant
Doing most of my banking by the Internet etc the only time I need to go to the bank is to pay bags of change in. You would've thought that the automated machines would have a bucket you could tip your change into like supermarkets have had for years.
But no PBS. You sort out all your change into bags and go and queue behind all the AFKAs of the world so that the coins can be weighed by an actual person.
Just to illustrate I can't believe David Cameron said he wanted to ban encryption and got away Scot free from the press about it. In technological terms it's even more laughable than trump saying he wants to build a wall on the border with Mexico.
Barclays used to have them in some branches but they are a bugger to unload and would constantly get jammed by foreign coins/buttons/plastic trolley coins etc so they've got rid of them.
Only on Charlton Life can we discuss dishwashers and washing machines.
And discover our esteemed leader is the last man standing who still writes cheques!
I like my gadgets but I don't use them. I bought one of the first smartwatches when I worked for Sony.. Within a week I was wearing my Timex Weekender again.
I bought an iPad nearly 2 years ago, and it's primarily a kindle as far as I'm concerned.. Although it's rarely charged and I lose it for months on end.
I've definitely embarrassed the idea of a cashless society though, Berlin this weekend really stunned me as to how much I rely on contactless payments. I perhaps have cash in my pocket twice a month now?
I'm a 20-something who works in tech, and I genuinely find it frustrating to see people glued to their phones - swiping through the same social media nonsense whenever they get a chance. Truthfully speaking, it's one of my concerns if I break up with my girlfriend: at my age who on earth will I find that isn't addicted to Facebook/Twitter/Instagram?
Personally I have a few apps on my phone that I use:
- Duolingo: One of the most addictive ways to learn a language, the Swedish course was great.
- Uber: Discussed in another thread.
- Twitter: I rarely post, but get current affairs and Charlton views through it.
- Banking ones: Metro bank, Santander
- Work ones: Google Authenticator, Duo Mobile
Other than that just WhatsApp, Google Chrome and apps that I never use.
Yes, I'm going to be left to my own devices
The apps I use the most are Facebook and Hangouts. 90% of my computing is done on a laptop, because even though it was partially a joke, mobile apps and devices can really bother me.
I also really enjoy doing all my banking and bill paying online and being paperless. I cannot handle paper mail, for some reason (despite having 2+ bookshelves full of paper books because I struggle to switch to an eReader), my brain just does not compute.