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Help your family and friends to help you…

Yesterday I was in my garden… over the fence, Arthur (my neighbour) said, “Bal… you’re good technology. Can you help me set up Skype?”

“Off course I can Arthur… but what would be better is, if we keep our distance… and I share with you how to do it… “

And that is how I helped Arthur set up Skype on his Samsung tablet (other makes are available). I did it in a very process orientated way…

First – download the app.

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Second – when downloaded, install. Then when installed, open. When opened…

Third – put in your telephone number. You’ll get a code on your mobile phone… put that code into the skype app when it asks you to.

Fourth – fill in the details such as your name, etc…

Fifth – When all completed you should see the Skype User Interface (Display!)

Sixth… then I shared some basics on how to use Skype… and off Arthur went to make some video calls with his family!

Then I helped download WhatsApp…. and he was truly up and running! And it’s with this process step by step thinking and sharing, that we can enable our elderly and vulnerable people to stay connected to friends and family.

Stay connected…. and as they know you are there, they are also helping you, by not coming close to you… keeping their distance.

Now, there’s various other apps… and software that is available. Apple (iPhones, iPads, etc..) you can use Facetime which is built in (that’s if all members have Apple devices).

Other good tools to stay connected… Google Hangouts, Zoom, etc…

In fact, Zoom is a good one – we’re using that on Tuesday night for Football Training! We even tested it out yesterday with the other coaches… I’ll have the ‘spotlight’ on me, explain the exercise and then let the participants do the exercise… then I’ll watch, and ask how they’re getting on. There’s another local grassroots football team that are doing this and it worked for them!

I’ll let you know how we get on…..

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Uncategorized

Stay Connected with the Elderly… Easily

Tomorrow (Friday) Morning… I’ll be on BBC Radio Nottingham, sharing my thoughts how best to stay connected especially with our elderly relatives and friends.

Technology can be daunting for most of us – imagine what it’s like for those who haven’t grown up with it. Even then… All these new ways to stay connected and in touch can easily confuse people.

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Then there’s the fear… fear of pressing the wrong button. Fear of accidentally downloading something that you have to pay for, fear of not knowing what to download and how, fear that the battery might run out… there’s so many fears!

For the majority of us, it’s fairly easy. Those on iPhones (iOS) can make facetime calls to each other. But what happens when friends, relatives, elderly are on other operating platforms… such as Android and you want to facetime someone on an iPhone?

  1. Find a common platform – As simple as this sounds, it can be more difficult! I would suggest go for a common and simple approach – such as Whatsapp. Via Whatsapp, you can make calls, video calls, send messages, send videos, etc… available on all platforms…. AND you can have it on your tablet and your computer. There’s a lot of flexibility.
  2. Let the elderly know – they can’t break anything – remove that fear from them. Whatsapp is fairly easy and simple to install – just follow the instructions on the screen and you’re set up in no time. ALSO – let them know, they don’t have to pay for the app…. if they’re trying to download something that’s asking for payment – then it’s a NO NO!!!
  3. There’s other options…. there’s Google Hangouts… Zoom…. Skype…. so many more, so whatever you use on a regular basis and are comfortable with, recommend that. Make sure it’s easy to navigate.
Telecommunication Technology Togetherness Concept

To the last point – there’s various YouTube videos on how to use the above tools – might be an idea to share a video first, so they know what to do, how to install and use it… then they can go ahead and use it!

If they are a total novice – no problemo!… why not talk them through it. Most elderly folk will have a land-line (for the younger generation wondering what that is… I’ll share with you next time). So call them on the landline and talk them through what they have to do.

If this is difficult… then you can watch the YouTube video with subtitles and read the subtitles to them! Genius… I know.

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More than anything – please make sure you have patience. We’re living in a fast world…. where a tik tok video of a few seconds is the norm… stories on Insta are what we can take in…. many of us are used to the amount of content being thrown at us….. don’t think it’s the same for the elderly.

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Bal's Friday Thought

Bal’s Friday Thought…

Well… this week has been a bit of a rollercoaster of emotions.

I won’t go into the reasons why… just a variety of things going on. A lot which, I’ve been slightly disappointed with…but you know what, it’s me who’s in control of my destiny.

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Fly Bye Bye

Flybe has collapsed. All future flights on the Exeter-based airline have been cancelled – leaving more than 2,300 staff facing an uncertain future, and wrecking the travel plans of hundreds of thousands of passengers.

The official announcement was made just after 3am​. But it had been clear from late on Wednesday that the airline was going out of business

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The Exeter-based airline was bought a year ago by a consortium headed by Virgin Atlantic, and involving Stobart Group and the US hedge fund Cyrus Capital.

The owners put in at least £100m to keep Flybe afloat, but it was making such heavy losses that the money soon ran out.

While the coronavirus crisis will be blamed for hastening the demise of Flybe, the airline has been struggling for a while.

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Why has it been struggling Bal?

Number of reasons – there’s alot of competition… alternative transport methods/routes, the digital world and not being prepared for headwinds (no pun intended)… such as this CoronaVirus. Many companies are prepared… well prepared, for such issues and problems. But take a look at Monarch… Thomas Cook…. Fly BMI…. all who have gone out of business. You have to look at their business models… how they operated and why they went out of business.

Some were late to the Digital way of thinking – especially Thomas Cook, whom I wrote about a while back.

You could argue… if coronavirus didn’t happen, would FlyBe still be operational… yes. But for how long?

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Car Technology

Are you Car Tech Savvy?

In a recent survey, 71 percent of those surveyed said that they didn’t feel they received enough information about in-car tech when they took delivery, while a quarter said that they didn’t get enough information at all.

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Admittedly – over the past few years, there’s been alot of tech… and I mean alot… appearing in our cars!

From Self-driving features… to the Sat Nav letting you know a route that is either the quickest, most fuel efficient or cheapest (avoiding tolls).

In addition, the survey said – one fifth of drivers (20 percent) of drivers said they use less than half of the features in their cars, while a further 10% said they understood only some of the features and just drive their cars.

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So what should you do?

Well, firstly… when you take delivery of your car (new) or purchase it (second-hand)… ask!

Ask about the main features, what the car has and what it can do. YouTube is always a good source of information about your car and it’s technology.

Go to the Dealer! – that’s another option. They now have experts who help individuals to understand their cars… this could include downloading an app (that controls features on your car), or other certain features your car may have.

Whilst the features grow… the screens get bigger…

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… keeping up can be a task! So refer to the handbook, ask the dealership or phone a friend.

Don’t be afraid of the technology – it’s their to help and support you, to provide you with a better driving experience. And let’s be honest… it’s only going to get more technologically advanced when the cars can fully drive themselves!

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Smart Homes & Electric Cars on the Radio

On Friday – I was invited to BBC Radio Nottingham, to talk about Smart Homes and Electric Cars… (and all things Tech!)

As the local tech expert – I share my views on Electric cars… and I think everyone should consider at least a hybrid, as their next car… and then slowly edging closer to a full electric vehicle.

Image result for bbc radio nottingham bal bansal

In addition – how to make your home Smart! It’s starts with the heart (a device), that connects to everything around your house and controls what needs to be done (like – turning on and off lights).

2 Things…

  1. I’m going to be setting up a consultancy with my friend, to advise people how to make their home smart… and more importantly, save money!
  2. You can listen to me talking on the radio via the link below..

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0822ylh

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Bal's Friday Thought

Bal’s Friday Thought…

We should always be in ‘learning’ mode. Learning new things, developing new habits and ways of working, bettering ourselves and our communities.

Why? – Because the world is changing. Rapidly, due to technology, advancing… due to issues we are facing – we need to make changes to our lifestyles.

This applies both – in our personal life. And work life.

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Social Media

Be kind…

I’m always talking about how great Social Media is… how it’s fab to connect with people and build communities. How good it is to share stories, and the ability to join groups of folk who have similar interests.

There is also a ‘dark’ side. There’s some individuals who sit behind a computer or phone, and think it’s fine to criticize, to say ‘not nice’ things and continue to poke fun, ridicule and harass people.

My advise is – block them. Stay away from them. And don’t let the negativity get to you. Easier said than done. But have a network that can support you. And if you are experiencing such comments, make sure you highlight it, make sure you report it and make sure you stay away from them.

We often don’t know what people are going through.

On the weekend, Caroline Flack, 40, took her own life. She was a presenter, actor, dancer and much more. Unfortunately, a series of events took place recently in her life… put her in a ‘dark’ place.

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Caroline Flack

Media didn’t help. Social Media didn’t help.

I can’t tell you what to do… what I can say is, please be kind to everyone because you don’t know where they are mentally.

Build communities. Build friendships.

Collaborate on ideas. Speak on the same topics of interest.

I know most people who read my blogs are educated enough to use social media in the right essence and how it gives the best results.

Please take care of yourself – and those around you. Be Kind.

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Car Technology

Drive Yourself!

A few weeks ago, I wrote about self driving cars – and how GM have invested heavily into them (in the US) and how they reminded me of the pods they have at Terminal 5 Heathrow parking.

I honestly do think – self driving cars will be the norm and will be coming very soon. What does that mean for you and me….?

Well… for the congested towns and city centres – it’ll be great. I don’t think they’ll be everywhere, because those who live in villages and outside the main cities… they’ll need their cars to get them places. But even then… most of those cars, will be able to self drive… through their connectivity (which I spoke about on Monday) and through the number of sensors they’ll have!

Waymo is a self driving car that’s currently being tested…

Do we need self driving cars, Bal?

Technically, no. But like everything – there’s so many positives to having this technology.

  1. Safety. All the self driving cars that have been tested to date have been safer and less likely to be involved in an incident compared to a human behind the wheel. This is because, of the number of sensors that are able to pick up things and predict what could happen. Rather than having 2 eyes on the road… you have many many more!
  2. Cost. This does depend on the amount you use a car – but honestly, if it’s able to take you somewhere you want to go without you being behind the wheel (and they’re self driving), it’ll find the most economical way to get you there – that’s both, using the maps/sat nav but also speed/efficiency driving behaviours!

Tesla have the self driving feature.

Many other manufacturers have various forms of technology to aid the driver… but remember, no matter what feature you have, until we have the true self driving car – please do not attempt to read a book at the wheel…

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Car Technology

Connected Car

Last week it was super cold! – but it’s ok… my car was nice and warm when I got to it…

How’s that, Bal?

Well… my car is connected. And through this connection, and via the app – I could select an option that heats the car! How. Awesome. Is. That?

More and more cars are becoming connected. Allowing options like heating, etc… a norm. I remember a few years ago, when I was in Atlanta, with my friend Wes… we jumped into his car (it is a mahoosive one!) and he pressed a button, went to a call centre… Wes then said he wanted to go somewhere… and the information (directions) were sent to his sat nav in the car and off we went!

Cars are clever. And becoming even more clever. There’s so much data that your car produces – and there’s so much your car learns about you… which will then give you the experience you’ll love!

Whilst cars become more clever… they’ll also be talking. Talking to dealerships. Talking to the manufacturers. Talking to those who sign up to get their hands on the data!… (insurance companies?)

We are living in a connected world. Look around you, everything is connected and there’s vast amounts of data being sent back and forth. Don’t forget, Data is the new Oil!…. and whilst I said this on stage at an event in Toronto last July…. it was non other than Sir Tim Berners Lee (inventor of the World Wide Web) who approached me afterwards and said… whilst data is the new oil, just remember… oil can’t be re-used, whilst data can.

This did get me thinking… wow! This means data is even more valuable than oil!

Back to connected cars – so this data, that your car is collecting about you, your driving, your destinations, your habits… will be stored by someone (manufacture maybe) and then sold to various companies…. now, the optimistic in me will say… being sold so my experience can be much better… the pessimistic will say… being sold so companies can make more money.

Either way… this is stage 1 of connected car. The next stage will be the self driving cars… with more data being transmitted…. through the connected car.