Eveywhere we go today there are machines that have taken the place of a human being. A few years ago it was petrol stations expecting us to fill our own tanks, even though we are paying for it. Supermarkets are using machines more and more, which can drive the individual mad. The person has to scan his or her goods and call someone over if alcohol is required. I try to avoid these, if possible, because of the hassle.
Banks don't have as many staff as they used to. Machines are there for us to put in as well as draw out. Some banks look like an amusement arcade. Libraries have gone the same way, the user having to scan their returned books. Cinemas have also jumped on the machine bandwagon, though tickets (for now) can still be obtained from the pay box.
Car parks have got rid of the friendly attendant and replaced him with pay and display or a ticket that opens a barrier on exit, which you hope works. Many railway stations now have machines to issue your ticket. Although I applaud the computer age, there is a downside. In the office environment, people have been made redundant, one person doing the job of three.
What gets up my nose is finding it difficult to communicate with a human being when ringing a bank or others I may need to talk to over an issue. We are passed around by a computerised voice from place to place. What seems unfair is that some things are cheaper if you do it on line than through other methods. This seems to penalise the non-computer users. Some people don't wish to get involved with computers, so end up paying a heavier price. When we think we have got through to the right department of a company, we are passed again, or worse cut off so we have to start all over again. While we are put on hold, being constantly reminded we are in a queue, we are entertained or should that be driven to despair by music that keeps repeating itself during the sometimes long wait.
Then there is the computerised machine with voice recognition that often says 'I didn't get that, could yo say it again.' Young people are being brought up to understand all this technology but some older people find it hard to get to grips with. I should imagine in time there will be more things done using machines. The trouble is you can't get a friendly 'Good morning, how are you,' from a machine.
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