Sometime ago, I was in a bank. I normally don't go to the physical branches of banks unless I needed to withdraw some cash, which was the case this time. I needed some cash as I was heading for a trip where it was advisable to carry some cash. In any case, I headed to the bank, and noticed a very long queue. I thought that was a bad thing, but then I realised that the queue was not for the ATM, but for the computer terminals. And I also noticed that most of the people queueing up were elderly. That was peculiar.
I observed them, and noticed that they were essentially doing bank transfers. They were there bringing all their paperwork, typing in the IBAN and desired amount, in order to pay their bills. I don't remember when was the last time I did such a bank transfer. I remember paying my rent that way in my first flat here in Berlin, but eventually online banking became a thing, and nowadays, I just log into my bank online and perform the same transactions, albeit paperless.
There's a part of me that felt pity, for these people who seem to not really know how the Internet works. Paper is so old school, yet there are still people who use these paper forms in banks in order to move their money around. Banks have been constantly decreasing their physical presence since more and more people are moving towards online banking, yet there are still people who don't know how to work with this concept.
I am glad that I know how to do so, yet at the same time I am afraid that there would be a technology in the future that even I would find hard to get. Perhaps that would be the time when I am left behind.
