Something Old, Something New: How Technology Can Unlock Old Pastimes
Technology has impacted almost every aspect of our lives. From online dating to the fact we can virtually monitor our pets, the way we interact with the world – and others in it – has changed dramatically over the last decade.
Many people lament our modern reliance on technology, blaming it for a rise in mental health issues and a decrease in human connection. But these people are overlooking an undeniable fact: our smart phones, social networks and online sites are helping to unlock old pastimes – some of which were once dying out – for a new generation.
Thanks to technology, we’ve seen a resurgence of interest in old-fashioned entertainment. Card games, craft activities, crosswords – the internet is making it easier than ever for us to enjoy the same pastimes as our grandparents. (Just as long as we’ve got Wi-Fi).
It makes old pastimes instantly accessible
It’s a simple question. Why struggle to organise a games evening with all of your busy friends, when mansioncasino.com offers the famous Baccarat game LIVE wherever and whenever you fancy a quick flutter?
Most of us are rarely without our phones, and online casinos, forums and streaming services allow us to indulge in pastimes as soon as the mood strikes us. Whether you’re on your morning commute, your lunch break, or a remote holiday abroad, technology means we can virtually access a huge variety of hobbies and games.
This accessibility means we are no longer limited by our location, nor that of other people. When group games can be arranged against virtual opponents online, with none of the cost or effort of organising a physical meeting, it means people are more likely to play – and play more often – than they did in the past.
It creates a community
Technology means we are now better connected than ever before. With an estimated 26.3 billion devices expected to be connected to the internet by the end of 2020, according to the technology company Cisco, the number of sub-communities and groups which are popping up online is only going to increase.
It’s often said that whatever your interest is, you’ll find someone who shares it on the internet. The freedom which technology gives us to connect with people on the other side of the world, in different time zones, means that once-niche pastimes can amass a huge online following.
By massively increasing the pool of people with whom we can share interests – and then using even our most idle searches to advertise new hobby kits and pastime services – technology has ensured that the leisure sector is booming.
It enables people to teach themselves
Gone are the days when your grandmother would have to teach you how to knit. Today, millennials inspired by the sudden global knitting boom can turn to platforms such as YouTube, WikiHow and online blogs to learn skills which previous generations would have learnt from their friends and relatives.
Technology enables us to be more independent, pursuing the pastimes which we’re interested in as opposed to those which are already enjoyed by the people we know. Although many pastimes have a valuable social aspect, the fact that it’s given us the ability to teach ourselves, on our own devices and in our own time, has ensured that many hobbies have thrived despite our increasingly antisocial work schedules.