At times, life can be a right old slog, with goals reduced to simply getting by day by day. That’s why when even the most insignificant of tasks is made a little bit easier, it can have a tremendous positive effect.
When times are hard, all it can take to fall down a black hole of despair is for one little thing to go wrong. Anyone who has been there fully understands how little a straw it can take to break the camel’s back. Thankfully, advancement in technology and the considerate nature of others has meant that many tasks have been made easier with time.
Writing
As the owner of a blog, one of the most notable tasks that have been made easier is writing. Without technology, I wouldn’t have written this blog – and neither would you be reading it. This means that many who live with degenerative diseases that simply cannot handwrite for a prolonged period of time (or at all) can now express themselves in written form.
It has also given a voice to those who cannot otherwise communicate. Perhaps Professor Stephen Hawking was the best example of this, having suffered from motor neurone disease, meaning that he eventually lost the ability to walk and talk. Hawking was provided with a computer that allowed the scientist to type words which were then turned into spoken words.
Giving to Charity
Technology has certainly made the act of giving that little bit easier. Whereas before donations could only be made by physically giving money and/or unwanted items, now we can give any amount of money with just a couple of clicks of a mouse. For example, when we settle down to watch telethons such as Children in Need and
In many cultures, giving to charity is as much of an obligation as simply being nice to one and other. For example, charity makes up one of the five pillars of Islam and it is customary for Muslims to make a donation based on their expendable income, called zakat. This can be difficult to work out for some, which is why many websites incorporate a zakat calculator to help Muslims donate the correct amount.
Paying the Bills
Do you remember having to make the trip to the post office in order to pay your bills? Waiting in line behind someone who seems to take longer than seems necessary every single time was an absolute pain and waste of time. We did it, though, because we had to.
Step forward technology, meaning that we can make sure all of the bills are paid without having to actually do a thing. Direct debits and standing orders ensure that bills are taken care of automatically. Those nasty reminders through the post are a thing of the past when you have forgotten to pay your bills.
Ordering In
Finally, and arguably most importantly, it has been made so much easier to order in your Saturday night Chinese! Having to go out to the takeaway is a thing of the past thanks websites such as Just Eat and Hungry House that compile all of your favourite local takeaways, allowing you to make your order for delivery and pay online, meaning that all you have to do is answer the door!
Thankfully, it isn’t just unhealthy restaurants that have signed up to such initiatives with healthier alternatives also available, meaning you can enjoy having a salad, healthy sandwich and light bites delivered to your door.
There are, of course, many other things that have also been made easier over the years, but if we were to list them all this would be more of a book than a blog post.