Technology For You

Music will bring people together. In a world of differences people like music. I have not met a person who does not like music.

In my first post of the year, I began with displaying the infinity symbol otherwise known as the lazy eight. The number eight means many things to people in terms of music it signifies the highest grading for the piano when I think of music. The piano is my go-to sound for starting musical influenced work.

The sound of the piano has lasted the test of time. Digital music has changed the world for disabled musicians. I recall requiring visual assistance to access the display on a digital keyboard however, apps have changed that requirement twenty years onwards.

Everyone has the ability to produce musical work when Covid was here I wrote a mindset course which had a musical theme. My focus was on the spoken word Removing visuals and replacing them with relatable sound for the listener to feel motivated, build confidence and discuss the topics of conversation which otherwise may not be easy.

Mental health, isolation, discrimination, acceptance, and equal opportunities were discussed with Mindset with Music. Topics of friendships, partners and disability were highlighted.

As a person living on my own throughout the pandemic approaching each day with the correct approach was never so important. Sight loss excludes you from some activities but a combination of technology, music, spoken word and engaging conversation helped and provided a platform to take a focused look at the way life can be tackled as we as individuals experienced barriers at home and at work.

Four years on from lock down one and people have asked if there will be a Mindset with Music two. The skills of Mindset with Music means that as I collect my thoughts their very well could be but music, spoken word and technology are three things that I discuss each week and have done before anyone had heard of Covid. I did not put up all the mindsets on my blog to complete the musical set, but I may do in the future once I get around to digitally remastering them all into one musical experience.

This is the final post of 2024. As the end of the year races towards us I personally will be pleased to see the beginning of 2025. The nights will get darker and longer before then with managing your thoughts, maximising your time to relax and staying productive really important.

If getting out is something that you do not want to do, try capturing your thoughts have a play with organising them and create spoken word and music with your phone or laptop.

You can do it alone or with friends the fun part is sharing thoughts and finding out new things about yourself, colleagues, family, and friends.

Mental health, autism, sight loss, physical disabilities and learning disabilities will impact each one of us different. The sense of isolation as people speed around getting on with their lives can leave the issues that are important to you and your lifestyle not discussed. Music can support with identifying emotions, recalling memory and creating the correct environment to express thoughts.

My final tip of 2024 is your technology will support you each day so make sure that the technology set up you have or the next gadget you will purchase will have the most impact in your life. A restricted year in temporary living space with limited mobility support and spending allot of time in the house with people some of which have deteriorating health has made me realise that an accessible iPhone with a good set of spatial audio compatible headphones was the best investment I made last Christmas.

I will end this year by leaving you four questions:

1 What technology will have the most impact for you over the next three months?

2 What can you do more of over the next three months to improve your wellbeing and productivity?

3 What did you want to achieve in 2024, and did it happen?

4 What will be different over 2025?

Thank you to everyone who has supported Holistic Technology this year and collaborated with me to remove barriers and levelling up the playing field through awareness, peer support and training.

The next twelve months have the potential to bring a combination of success and opportunity for some this may be sustainable employment, for others a new relationship, for others a holiday or home and not forgetting for many as the end of year approaches a new piece of technology. If your goal is one or all of these before moving forwards take time to stop and think about you and what makes you happy. Focus on that and 2025 will be a better year.