A Senior’s Guide to the Modern World: Navigating a Changing World
Our world never stops changing. Try to compare the world 50 years ago to today, and you’ll realize the truth of that statement. For one, the world is much faster today thanks to technological advancements in communication, transportation, and information dissemination. The limits of what’s possible have advanced so much that if someone in the early 20th century (Charlie Chaplain, for example) were to suddenly come alive today and witness the wonder of, say, streaming services, they would marvel and possibly tag it as a sorcery.
So, it is understandable if all these novelties feel strange and a little hard to manage for senior citizens. After all, the world was vastly different when they were younger.
If you are an older person, you might feel disoriented and left behind by today’s fast-paced world. But there’s no need to fret. This article will teach you some things you need to know to navigate the modern world successfully.
Money is Revolutionized: The Way of Crypto
One thing about the modern world that is markedly different from the world of, say, 50 years ago is the concept of money. It’s not simply that currencies have been progressively devalued or the economy is in shambles but that what is considered money has been significantly revolutionized. We now have the concept of cryptocurrency, a digital currency protected by blockchain technology.
Blockchain technology encrypts your cryptocurrency with cryptographic techniques, making it secure for transactions. Unlike traditional money issued and managed by governments, crypto operates independently on a decentralized blockchain network, making it possible to make payments without intermediaries like banks.
Imagine playing poker at a casino, for example. In the past, you could not play without being physically present at a poker table in a physical casino, as in movies like Casino. Also, you had to bet with physical money. Today, however, the story has changed, as people would now rather gamble online on platforms like www.ignitioncasino.eu/crypto, leading to a rise in crypto gambling.
The anonymity and security that crypto provides because of blockchain technology are mostly responsible for this development. Coupled with these is the fact that the online factor of crypto gambling allows you to connect with anyone from anywhere in the world.
Crypto also comes with less regulation than traditional money because it is generally decentralized. As a result of these benefits, the crypto-gambling market keeps growing, rising to $4.6 billion in 2022.
The Rise of AI
These days, everyone is talking about artificial intelligence. Many movies have explored the theme of AI, like Ex Machina and I, Robot. But AI goes beyond robots taking over the world.
When we mention AI, we mean computers’ ability to perform tasks previously possible only by human intelligence. So, for example, there are AI tools for writing, like ChatGPT and Claude, and for painting and drawing, like NightCafe and Jasper Art. You are probably already familiar with AI voice assistants like Siri and Alexa, which can understand spoken commands.
Virtual Reality
You might have encountered certain young people wearing big goggles-like apparatus and making weird noises and movements. If this encounter bewildered you, virtual reality (VR) is the simple explanation. So, what is VR?
Think of it as being in a completely different world generated by computer programs. You will be projected as an animated figure in that world. What is mind-blowing is that you forget yourself and believe you are the animated figure in the virtual world. Thus, when the animated figure experiences something, you experience it too, as though it happened to you.
The phenomenon of VR has significantly transformed the gaming and entertainment industries. It is also used in other fields, such as in the military for combat training, in medicine for medical rehabilitation, and in treating psychological conditions like anxiety and PTSD.
The Phenomenon of Remote Work
Finally, there is remote work, which can be especially mindblowing for senior citizens who understand work only in terms of an appointment at a physical location. These days, that’s quickly becoming a thing of the past. The COVID-19 pandemic can be thanked for this since it brought with it the need to work without going to the office.
Technologies like videoconferencing and cloud-based collaboration tools like Slack allowed people to work from home throughout the lockdown period. But though initially intended as an emergency measure, the convenience and efficiency it provides have ensured its continuity, such that working from home is here to stay.
Conclusion
None of the new developments in the modern world are beyond understanding for an older person with adequate knowledge and constant practice. This article can be a first step in navigating a changing world. We have examined four novelties you might have found difficult to wrap your head around, from cryptocurrency to virtual reality.
