In my case? Yes, absolutely. Automatic speech to text is now cheap or free, ubiquitous across most platforms (even Linux!), and generally very effective. Total game changer to my ability to participate in meetings at work and in society generally.
For example, for me:
- My current MB Air (M2 I think) might be best product I have ever owned. I have zero daily use complaints about the product, it's fantastic. I remember vividly how obviously shitty aspects of any of the previous laptops I owned were (screens, fans, heat). At the same time, that Framework can exist and what they do is absolutely amazing.
- Absolutely everyone has a access to a really good smart phone, because bad smart phones don't exist anymore
- I find it intolerable to leave the house without a good set of headphones with good ANC. The idea that I ever tolerated that level of noise and the negative health effects that it has feels silly.
- Similarly, electric cars have made care noise bearable and car exhaust actively offensive to me
- You can reasonably cover your electricity needs with solar panels (and a battery, which also exists) at home
Idk. Just off the of my head. I feel fairly confident I could take branches down the tree and just keep going.
Why can't you just use that then?
Unless you're prepared to go full off-grid hermit, you cannot opt out of technological progress even if you want to. That irks me, but what can I do?
We still have the ability to opt-out of these things, and (sometimes) loudly let businesses know why, but the window is closing fast. If we want to have any hope for a world that doesn't require smartphones and apps, we need to take action now.
I sometimes wonder if we do have the ability, because for every one person that has some sense, luxury, or energy to opt-out, there are a hundred that go with the flow. For every person who walks out of a restaurant with a QR-code menu, there are a dozen hungry people that walk in. How can we then take action within this system that is closing up around us?
One can only hope that there will always be at least one bank, at least one restaurant, or at least one doctor that addresses the shrinking market of those of us who care.
In other cases, one has to use newer technology because it is what is provided at work. Mainly because older technology doesn't get security updates. Now my iPhone SE original, which works perfectly fine, no longer is updated and I don't know what to do. I DON'T want a newer phone. I hate phones.
Still, some other technology isn't even made any more and if you need to use something at all, it has to be newer because it's harder and harder to find older stuff.