Blog

Digitalization, as we know it today, has become an inseparable part of our daily lives. A lot of people like to say that everything was better in the past – well, when it comes to digitalization, I can at least say that things are only getting better. I’m definitely glad to have grown up as a digital native and to have witnessed its development, especially when it comes to the internet, right from the start. Let’s rewind back to the beginning.

As a kid, I had quite a bit of freedom when it came to gaming consoles, cell phones, computers, and internet access. By the time I was eight, I had my first cell phone, and at eleven, I was already exploring chat rooms. Looking back now, it was a pretty reckless and dangerous thing to do, considering some of the people lurking around back then. But security on the internet wasn’t exactly top priority back in the day. Luckily, I instinctively stayed away from the sketchy types and didn’t let myself get influenced.

By the way, do you want to know which phones, computers, consoles, and games I’ve owned over the years? I’ve listed them here: Gadgets and Gear 

And so I grew up with the internet – downloading cheat codes for games, searching for funny images, and signing up on forums that discussed topics I was interested in. I often ended up learning more from those forums than from the books I had to read in school. The biggest issue back then was the slow download speeds, and there was no such thing as unlimited data. Not to mention, the router made these strange beeping noises for a whole minute before finally connecting – and during that time, no one could use the landline phone. But over time, all these things improved.

Since I’ve always enjoyed web design, profile customization, and blogging, I created my first website in 2006, when I was 15. Back then, I had to rely on a free service with very limited customization options, and I had to use their domain. But that was the foundation for what I’m doing today. And as technology progressed, more and more options became available.

One of the best examples of digital progress is the smartphone. Today, it’s unimaginable not to have constant internet access – anywhere and anytime. Checking emails, playing games, sending pictures – all done in a matter of seconds. When the first cell phones with internet access came out, people were terrified of accidentally hitting the internet button and racking up a massive bill. And if you go even further back, you might remember those bulky phones, or even rotary dial phones, which I still remember from my childhood.

But the smartphone is just one part of the story. Many other areas have seen huge advancements thanks to digitalization. We went from VHS tapes to DVDs, then to Blu-Rays, and now we stream everything online. The same goes for music cassettes – if anyone still remembers those. Online banking has also made things so much easier – no more tedious trips to the bank. And online shopping has replaced catalog orders, so you don’t even need to go into town to buy what you need. All of this makes life a lot more convenient than it used to be.

And all of these developments happened in less than 30 years. When you think about that, you can’t help but wonder what the next 30 years will bring. 

Closing Words

Personally, I’m excited for the future and will do my best to stay up to date with new developments. Because one thing is clear: if you don’t keep up with the times, you end up holding back progress.