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Gosh, is it just me? Am I the only one who wishes that the pace of tech “Progress” would just slow down? I mean, I just updated to the latest IOS version, and I just read that there its another one coming soon and I have yet to use a single new feature from the last one. All these tech changes make it harder to deal with life including ones money. Do you have your ID.ME credentials set up yet? Without this or some other new government wide PW scheme, you can’t get into the IRS, the VA or perhaps Treasury Direct.
And, what about Passkeys? I haven’t got a clue. I use a PW manager which works on both Win devices and Apple devices. I understand how it works and syncs. Someone told me that these Passkeys are safer and stored in a device keychain. Don’t know what that is either. I don’t allow any browser to retain login info. I’m happy without using passkeys…..whatever they are. My personal info has been stolen many times via big companies failing to protect my data that I trusted them to keep safe.
My sons think I am behind the times because I don’t use my phone to control my thermostat and house lights remotely. I don’t have or want a Ring doorbell camera either.
I know that I could show my Costco card on my smart phone, but I don’t see that as easier than getting the Costco card out of my wallet. Ditto Apple pay. Most places I shop are not compatible.
Some of this tech is good. I like the smartphone link in a car that enables hands-free phone usage. My Apple Watch has been very helpful in dealing with medical issues and tracking some fitness activities.
I was 8 years old before Mom and Dad could afford to buy a TV. (black and white) I think this tv could receive maybe 6 or 7 channels over the antenna on the roof. These days, it is very hard to figure out how to watch some new show you see advertised. I have to go to the IMDB app to see on which streaming service it is running. Mostly, I can’t watch them because I don’t want to pay another $10 a month for just one show. PLUS, the interface to get logged into a service via a “smart” TV is more painful than hitting your thumb with a hammer. I am very grateful for the public library…..
Some people are eager for the development of AI. I worry about what will happen to the 3.5 million commercial truck drivers if true self-driving vehicles became available. The same thing could happen to software engineers, doctors, and other knowledge workers. For our economy to work there have to be consumers with $$ to buy things. This seems like a disconnect in the concept.
Finally, I dread every “improvement” to the look and feel of things like Gmail or any other communication/software. I no more than get used to one version when a new one is released. All of the time needed to deal with tech changes is a blow to my productivity. Constantly having to update the programing in operating systems, hardware, and software is such a PITA!
New technology can be disabling. My mom simply can’t figure out the new apps and software with minimal icons. Recent gmail changes have been difficult for her. She calls me to complain that that her computer is broken. I go there to fix the problem and find that an update rearranged the icons, an icon has a new color, or something else I think is simple has changed. New features with no explanations are the worst.
Figuring out how to use the online portal to reach her doctor has been a moving target of web updates and URL changes as ownership changes and young designers streamline the design of new pages with uninformative icons and areas to click which are not clearly marked.
And every doc, med center, and hospital has their own portal meaning you need different credentials for each one. Plus, often the docs don’t read the messages you send. They are too busy and often have a clerk/assistant who is supposed to do this. One of our medical providers wants you to do an on-line check in before you come, but the entire check-in still has to be done in person when you actually go to your appointment.
Since WindowsNT (and maybe earlier), the menus were in a button in the lower left corner. Windows11 moved the button near the middle of the screen, but it moves depending how many items are in the bottom menu. 30 years of muscle memory cursor positioning with the mouse have been erased in a single update.
Zeiss did something similar to us when they upgraded from their Zen Black to Zen Blue software. They promised things would stay the same but be better because we could integrate Python, but a lot of changes in basic functionality had been made. I wouldn’t have recommended purchasing the systems if I knew these changes were made. I felt they pulled a bait and switch on us. I still do; this plus many of the functions not being addressed in subsequent updates means I’m not interested in their products except for a few very specific technical corners of their market.
Gmail’s new search function is terrible. I don’t want AI guesses; I want precisely the term I’m searching for.
Schwab’s updates to their online pages put too much white space around text so that it doesn’t all fit on the screen in a way that can be scanned quickly. I want pa ked tables, not a ton of designy white space.
Other examples? I could give a plethora. But after years of Outlook changes which reduced productivity, The 365 one enforced at work a few weeks ago is a clear improvement.
Cammer Michael, Re: “Windows11 moved the button near the middle of the screen, but it moves depending how many items are in the bottom menu. 30 years of muscle memory cursor positioning with t