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How Technology has Impacted Our Daily Lives

When we think of the ways smartphones changed our lives, we think of the convenience of texting, emails, social media and ordering takeout. Our phones are really small, powerful computers and we are all almost always online. Wi-Fi is often cheap or free and available mostly everywhere, and internet access is considered a basic human need on par with heat and electricity. We are more online than we notice because we see smart phones as ‘phones’ and not as computers. It is very convenient to have a computer most of the time in your pocket. Therefore, our lives are lived (partly) online because of easiness of information at hand. Search online to an industrial platform for equipment during the meeting, or in lunch break get some social media entertainment. We cannot live without it anymore (maybe we could but we do not like it). Not having information doesn’t make it fun - being online makes the daily things easier. Sharing to friends online, or telling people who are interested in what you do is a good thing. It is also good to know how other people see your online presence. You can check it yourself: 1 - Go to Duck Duck Go. (The benefit of Duck Duck that it blocks trackers. For those looking to stay anonymous when they venture off the search engines, Duck Duck Go is a good option to use.) 2 - enter your name with quotation marks as this: “name”. The results will give you a sense of what a stranger Googling you would see. Would you hire this person? Sell this individual a house? Go on a date with them?

We are using your phone a lot it is handy sometimes to erase history and website data. It is quick an easy to do. 1 - Go to settings and on the top is a search engine, 2 - type in: Safari > tap on it > 3 - then scroll down and remove history and website data. All the cookies and also other browse history will be deleted. We are all online a lot, the good thing is to be easily stay connected with your family, friends and colleagues through phone call, text messages, and social media apps. Face Time and Zoom to see and talk to your family and friends in real time, no matter where you are in the world. With a smartphone you have access to information at your fingertips. You can type in ‘Ballycatter.com’ and easily find equipment and make the phone call to the supplier. Also, smart phones provide a range of entertainment options, including music, movies and games. Or even read books on your phone. It can help you stay productive by providing access to tools like calendars, sport apps, or even manage your finances. It already is a lot but don’t forget the GPS technology, your smart phone helps you navigate to new places, whether you’re driving or walking. Also, Siri, the voice assistant - no wonder that the computer ‘smart phones’ are a part of our live. Overall, smartphones can be incredibly useful tools that help us stay connected, informed, entertained, productive, and more. Just remember to be aware of your digital footprints.