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Having access to technology can enhance almost every aspect of our lives. Being included
is very much about being connected. Whether it's for online shopping, Internet banking,
or simply staying in touch with friends or family, technology plays a pivotal role in
everyone's lives. It's very, very simple to get started with
technology. You can learn bit by bit and day by day. So in this short series of videos
we've broken down all of the popular topics and questions around technology and we've
made it really simple and user friendly and we hope that you find it to be a very valuable
resource. Hi, I'm Robin Spinks, I'm 39 years old and
I'm partially sighted. Online shopping has become the default means of purchasing goods
and services for me. Hi, I'm Ellie Southwood, I'm 30. I don't have
any useful sight and online shopping has really enabled me to have some proper choice about
what I buy, what I pay and keeps me much more in control of my money.
I'm Sheila Armstrong, I'm 57 and I'm a very enthusiastic online shopper to the annoyance
of my husband. Robin Spinks: Amidst a whole host of tasks
that you can do online, Internet shopping tops the list for many. There are no queues,
you can get better deals, and best of all, you can do it from the comfort of your own
home. So Sheila, tell us about internet shopping.
Do you do a lot of internet shopping? Sheila Armstrong:I do. It started with groceries.
My husband and I are both registered blind so we obviously don't have a car... and I
realised that the delivery charge wasn't any worse than say getting a taxi to get all your
stuff back. But the big thing was, when I realised that I could actually choose the
products myself! It was just such a breakthrough.
Robin Spinks: Is there anything else that we should be thinking about in relation to
internet shopping? Sheila Armstrong: I always look at the reviews
on the shopping sites for items. Also you can compare prices to see if you can get it
cheaper anywhere else. Ellie Southwood: Which is much easier isn't
it than traipsing round stores for an afternoon? Sheila Armstrong: Yeah, you couldn't do it
really could you? Ellie Southwood: I think, a key one is security,
so obviously if you're using a credit or debit card, you need to make sure you do so in a
way with which you feel comfortable, so you're not giving your details to a site you don't
trust and making sure that you keep your passwords really well protected.
Robin Spinks: So summing up, if you haven't tried Internet shopping it's something that
would be well worth having a look at. Spend some time with someone who has used an Internet
shop with a screen reader, or with a screen magnifier, and you can compare your individual
journey and your learning and you can give each other tips.
Be careful about your security, Use a personal and unique password (that you
don’t share with other people). And of course when you purchase something
it’s a really good idea to keep the confirmation page, to save it, maybe file it in a place
and look at it for future reference. Now... if you have a difficulty getting out
and about and traveling to your local bank, one of the things you might want to think
about is online banking. You can move money around between accounts,
you can even set up payments to pay other individuals, or companies to pay your bills.
And in many ways you can have more control over your finances.
So for someone who hasn't yet ventured into the world of Internet banking and the many
advantages that it can bring, what kind of things should people be thinking about first
off, Ellie? Ellie Southwood: I guess, have a real explore
of the website that your bank uses because not all of them are as accessible as one might
like. So maybe speaking to your bank and just seeking a little bit of support from them
so that you can manage it so that you don't get locked out of your account if you make
a mistake or if the site does something unexpected. Robin Spinks: Sheila, tell me why Internet
banking is important to you. Sheila Armstrong: Well I work full time and
the bank seems to have a habit of being closed when I'm available to be out and what I really
like is being able to set up payments and also just to check on the balance.
Robin Spinks: So once you're up and running Internet banking can save you lots of time
and it can give you more of a feeling of confidence in terms of being in control of your money.
Ellie, have you got a top tip? Ellie Southwood: Just be careful about where
it is you're accessing your accounts or if you're using a public computer at the library
for example, or you're on a bus using voiceover, make sure your headphones are in.
Robin Spinks: Thank you both for your contributions and if you want to find out more information
you can do so by getting in touch with us via our helpline.