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Learn how to install Atlas, the new browser with ChatGPT built in. Now for macOS on desktop.

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New NHS Scotland My Care App to launch in April 2026

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New NHS Scotland My Care App to launch in April 2026

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New NHS Scotland My Care App to launch in April 2026

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MyCare.scot - Our Digital Front Door - Digital Healthcare Scotland

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Read about the Digital Front Door, our planned single point of access for health and care support

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Join our free webinar with our expert Digital Skills trainer Steve Mersereau, who will outline the benefits of and things to remember about artificial intelligence (AI).

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Some research suggests older adults may experience benefits from gaming, though effects depend on the type of game. Composite: Guardian/Getty Images

Michelle Statham's preferred game is Call of Duty. It's fast and frenetic, involving military and espionage campaigns inspired by real history. She typically spends six hours a day livestreaming to Twitch, chatting to her more than 110,000 followers from her home in Washington state. She boasts about how she'll beat opponents, and says "bless your heart" while hurtling over rooftops to avoid clusterstrikes of enemy fire. When she's hit, she "respawns" - or comes back to life at a checkpoint - and jumps right back into the fray.

The military shooter game has a predominantly young male user base, but Statham's Twitch handle is TacticalGramma - a nod to the 60-year-old's two grandkids. Her lifelong gaming hobby has become an income stream (she prefers to keep her earnings private, but says she has raised "thousands" for charity), as well as a way to have fun, stay sharp and connect socially.

"A lot of people are surprised that someone my age is playing video games," Statham admits. She finds the gameplay exhilarating. "When I get really good long sniper shots in, or down someone out of a helicopter, that's pretty fun," she says.

Statham juggles in-game multitasking with live-chatting to her multigenerational streaming audience. Younger followers have taught her slang, like the gen Z shibboleth " skibidi". "I've learned some things I don't want to learn," she says, laughing. When she tires, she plays privately off-stream to unwind. She also exercises daily, going to the gym with her daughter as part of the 75 Hard fitness challenge, to ensure gaming doesn't displace physical activity.

Statham is one of the 57 million Americans over 50 who game, a cohort that represents 28% of roughly 205 million total US gamers, shows recent data from the Entertainment Software Association. According to the ESA, nearly half of Americans in their 60s and 70s play some form of PC, mobile or console video game every week, as do 36% of people in their 80s. And as more gamers like Statham enter their golden years, older adults are becoming more visible in the gamer mainstream - sometimes to the confusion of their peers on multiplayer platforms.

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"Age is like having a sign around your neck saying: 'I'm old and I can't do this,'" says Will, 72, a Missouri-based retired navy veteran who prefers to keep his last name private, but streams his favorite games, like hunting simulator theHunter: Call of the Wild and air combat game Metalstorm, to 1.4 million YouTube subscribers under the username GrndpaGaming.

"That's not the case with me and other up-and-coming older gamers that are out there," says Will. "Someone my age can keep up with technology."

Some research suggests older adults may experience benefits from gaming, though effects depend on the type of game.

There are games created to help boost memory and attention, such as those by the science-based company BrainHQ, which developed a game called Double Decision often used by researchers to test and improve people's visual processing, and the Lumosity mobile gaming app, which features a popular brain training game called Train of Thought.

'Nearly half of Americans in their 60s and 70s play some form of video game every week.' Photograph: Michelle Statham

More generally, puzzle games like Tetris and Monument Valley, which require players to remember patterns, sequences and spatial layouts, have been shown to help players of any age improve visual memory and cognitive processing. Fitness games that incorporate physical movement, like Ring Fit Adventure or Hot Squat, may improve balance better than conventional rehabilitation in MS patients.

But what about first-person shooter games?

Dr Gregory West, an associate professor in psychology at the University of Montreal, ran a study on participants of all ages in 2018. He found those tasked with hours of playing first-person shooters like Call of Duty experienced a reduction in grey matter in the hippocampal region of the brain. Those who played games involving the exploration of 3D open worlds, like Super Mario 64 or The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, showed improvement in the same area.

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"A reduced volume in the hippocampus is associated with a risk for neuropsychiatric illness across the lifespan," explains West. "During ageing, older adults with less activity and grey matter in the hippocampus are at increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease."

But that doesn't mean older gamers should necessarily stop playing first-person shooters. "It really is a mixed bag when we consider the impact of these games on the ageing brain," admits West.

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For one, West's study didn't focus on how gaming affects older brains specifically, and he notes that older folks who are successful competitive gamers likely have "pretty good cognitive abilities" to begin with.

Then, there are also social benefits that come with gaming on multiplayer platforms, where first-person shooters are popular. "Older adults, through playing video games online with other people and communicating through microphones, are receiving real social stimulation, and I think that positive benefit cannot be ignored even in the face of a possible risk for Alzheimer's disease," he says.

"As long as you keep your brain active and functioning, you're not going to sit there and just deteriorate away," says Will.

Someone my age can keep up with technology

Even amid percussive gunfire, the chats of combat games can be genuinely sweet. "People always say: 'I love you, Gramps. Keep on doing what you're doing'... things like that, that really tug at your heart," says Will.

Gaming can help people with a variety of ailments, says Dr Kris Alexander, a leading authority in video game design and associate professor of media production at Toronto Metropolitan University who helped launch GameRx, an online resource hub for information about wellness and gaming. One 2017 study found that "if you play Tetris within 48 hours of a traumatic experience, you can reduce PTSD", he tells me. "There are studies that show that if you place burn victims in virtual reality in spaces where they're surrounded by cold elements, you can reduce their pain."

Alexander believes gaming can be good for seniors; over a video call, he shows me the custom arcade cabinet he's built to house every game he's ever owned. "For my retirement," he tells me. "Absolutely, when I get older, I'm going to be playing video games."

However, common conditions like joint pain and vision decline can hinder senior gamers. As that demographic grows, so may demand for accessibility tools. And because the senior player base is relatively small, Alexander acknowledges that the high-budget gaming companies behind blockbuster titles like Call of Duty and Skyrim are unlikely to account for such needs.

In 2010, Will required surgery implanting a steel plate in his skull; since then, if he sits in a chair "for more than 20 or 30 minutes, everything from the shoulders down to the fingertips goes numb", he says. Now, he uses a hand-shaped gaming keypad called the Azeron Cyborg II, which allows users with limited hand mobility or strength to position PC keys so they're easy and comfortable to reach. Other adaptive controllers, including voice-control technology, pedals designed for control by foot or mouth, and 3D printable controller modifications for consoles like the Xbox and Playstation, are all making gaming increasingly accessible across playing formats.

Will hopes that other seniors who see him stream will be inspired to get into gaming. "If I can do it at my age with this handicap, you can, too," he says. After all, you're never too old to respawn.

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'People always say, "I love you, Gramps"': why these seniors love video games

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Adults in their 60s, 70s and 80s represent nearly 28% of roughly 205 million US gamers and are becoming more visible in the mainstream

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Alexa trial continues in Glasgow Health Care

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Alexa trial continues in Glasgow Health Care

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Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership's (HSCP) Older People and South Planning Team is thrilled to share the remarkable outcomes of our Connected Care and Wellbeing Community Alexa Trial, which has significantly improved the lives of our service users. This innovative initiative, which began in April 2024, has not only met but exceeded our expectations, leading to additional funding for a second phase.

As part of the 5G Innovation Region Programme funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), we have had the opportunity to trial the use of Alexa within our telecare service. In the first phase we deployed 75 devices to service users in the community with an aim of tackling digital exclusion, increasing digital skills and reducing social isolation.

Service users' experiences

The heart of our trial lies in the real-life experiences of our participants. Here are some inspiring stories (all names have been anonymised):

Mrs McLeod: Living with memory problems Mrs McLeod uses Alexa for medication reminders every day. She loves having Alexa and can't speak highly enough about it. She used Alexa to help her in the kitchen with advice on storing food properly and ideas for recipes.

Mr. Rogers: Living with diabetes and facing challenges like limited dexterity and significant pain, Mr. Rogers found a new companion in Alexa. He uses the device to get quick information, set reminders for cooking and control his lamp with a smart plug, which helps him avoid painful movements. Mr. Rogers said, "I haven't burnt a meal in months," thanks to Alexa's timely reminders. He also feels less lonely, comparing Alexa to talking to his dogs, which helps with his depression.

Mrs. Lennon: Recently widowed and diagnosed with diabetes, Mrs. Lennon was initially wary of technology. However, Alexa has become her reliable assistant, reminding her to take her medication and attend medical appointments. She also uses Alexa to manage her diet by checking the sugar content of foods. Mrs. Lennon feels more in control of her health and is reassured by the support Alexa provides.

Mrs. O'Neill: With physical and mental health challenges, Mrs. O'Neill has found Alexa to be a lifeline. She uses it to set medication reminders, listen to the radio, and even get jokes, which brighten her day. Mrs. O'Neill feels more confident with technology and believes Alexa has helped her stay out of the hospital by ensuring she takes her medication regularly.

Our team have also witnessed first-hand the benefits that this trial has brought to service users, here's what they had to say:

Eilidh Connolly, Senior Officer said: "The success of this trial is a testament to the power of technology in transforming lives. We're excited to continue this journey and see even more positive outcomes in Phase 2."

Debbie Reilly, Telecare Resource Worker said: "Supporting the older participants to use new technology has been interesting. I wasn't sure when introducing Alexa to some, as not everyone had internet, which was a clear barrier. Once the ease of use was explained, voice activated, some service users were immediately intrigued as to what they could use Alexa for. Adding Smart Plugs has helped improve confidence and enabled some to see a more practical relevance. The service users who are using Alexa for practical support, for example, medication prompts, cooking times and appointment reminders, are now relying on this. This has made a tremendous improvement for their day-to-day lives. Personally, I've been heartened and impressed as to how much support this type of technology has given some service users which is exciting. Alexa has also provided some entertainment with music and general knowledge."

Paul Molloy, Telecare Resource Worker: "It's been great to have been part of this project. To see the participants become more comfortable with technology as well as making Alexa part of their daily routine. I'm excited to see the further progress our journey with Alexa will bring."

Amazon Alexa Smart Properties Devices

During this project we've had the opportunity to partner with Amazon and Censis to deploy Amazon Alexa Smart Property devices. These devices differ from standard consumer Alexa devices.
Amazon Alexa Smart Properties service allows fleet management of devices, which crucially means these devices can be deployed and managed at scale without the need for individual user accounts.
Another key feature of these smart property Alexa devices is that the devices don't store or share data, and don't require the service user to input any personal data.

Phase 1 of the trial has been a resounding success, with 89% of participants finding the device easy to use by the end of the trial. The voice activation feature was particularly beneficial, making technology accessible even to those with limited digital skills. The trial demonstrated significant positive impacts, including:

improved quality of life: 64% of participants reported that Alexa improved their quality of life by providing access to entertainment.

increased engagement: 59% found it easier to stay engaged with information they were interested in.

enhanced daily organisation: 52% felt more in control of their daily lives with Alexa's help.

greater connectedness: 34% felt more connected to their community and the world.

These impressive results have secured additional funding for Phase 2, allowing us to expand the trial and explore even more ways Alexa can support our service users.

As we move into Phase 2, we aim to enhance the functionality of the devices, addressing feedback from participants about accessing more music, radio stations and other resources. We also plan to explore the potential of using Alexa for accessing a wider range of health and social care services, ensuring interoperability with other technology with one combined interface for the future.

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Success of our community Alexa trial leads to additional funding for a second phase

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Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership's (HSCP) Older People and South Planning Team is thrilled to share the remarkable outcomes of our Connected Care and Wellbeing Community Alexa Trial, which has significantly improved the lives of our service users.

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Find out about the Show Garden sponsored by Avanade at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025

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Gartner predicts tech trends in the future, from neurological enhancement to agentic AI and how these advanced techs will be relied on worldwide

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Recycle Your Electricals - WEEE Recycling - Material Focus

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Recycle Your Electricals. Anything with a plug, battery or cable can be recycled. Use our recycling locator to find your nearest recycling point.

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Could this little robot help rehabilitate stroke patients?

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Robotic “coaches” programmed to guide stroke patients through rehabilitation exercises could soon be tested in Scotland.

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Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Driverless Machiney

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Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Driverless Machiney

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A four-seater Aurrigo Auto-Pod has been offered to passengers on a 750m-long route between Inverness Airport and nearby Dalcross railway station.

A larger, 10-seater Aurrigo Auto-Shuttle is to be used to offer transport around the University of the Highlands and Islands' campus in Inverness.

An autonomous bus - nicknamed Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Driverless Machiney - was previously tested on a two-mile (3km) route at the campus.

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Driverless vehicles trialled at Inverness Airport and campus

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A four-seater vehicle is at Inverness Airport while a larger shuttle is to travel around a UHI campus.

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Youve got a Smart Watch, now get a Smart Ring

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Youve got a Smart Watch, now get a Smart Ring

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It launched the device at its Galaxy Unpacked event on Wednesday as the latest addition to its ecosystem of devices it says it is "supercharging" with artificial intelligence (AI).

Smart rings, which use tiny sensors to monitor various health metrics, have up to now been a niche product - though their recent use by the England men's football team made headlines.

It seems Samsung is attempting to change that, becoming the largest tech company yet to enter the smart ring market.

Ben Wood, analyst at CCS Insight, says the product choice is an "interesting bet" for Samsung, with his company estimating that there will be a total global market of around four million smart rings in 2025.

"That is a rounding error when compared with 250 million smartwatches that are also expected to be sold," he told the BBC.

But others suggest Samsung may help make smart rings more mainstream.

"For most consumers, the smart ring from Samsung will be the first contact they will have in the smart ring, and that top of mind awareness makes a huge difference in the long-term," says Francisco Jeronimo, analyst for market research firm IDC.

James Kitto, vice president and head of Samsung's mobile division in the UK & Ireland, heralded the ring's launch as a "huge moment" for the company.

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Samsung launches Galaxy smart ring to track sleep and periods

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The devices have high profile users, including Kim Kardashian and and some England footballers.

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Grumpy gran aged 75 is global Fortnite gaming sensation

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A Scottish grandmother gained thousands of followers after teaming up with a world-famous gamer.

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The first flying taxi could take off in the UK by 2026 and become a regular sight in our skies two years later, if a government announcement goes to plan.

The Future of Flight action plan, developed with the aerospace industry, also says drones and other flying vehicles will become more autonomous.

It predicts that the first pilotless flying taxi will take off in 2030.

But experts say hurdles such as infrastructure and public acceptance need to be overcome first.

There are a number of different models, but most flying taxis look like a futuristic helicopter and can usually carry about five people.

They are part of a family of vehicles called "eVTOLs" - which stands for electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft.

The technology for them exists now, but it is likely that the aircraft will start off as exclusive modes of transport - replacing expensive journeys currently done by helicopters.

The Department for Transport also plans to allow drones to fly beyond visual line of sight - meaning the person controlling the drone cannot see it in the air.

Some of the uses of unmanned drones include transporting medical supplies, delivering post in rural areas and tracking down criminals on the run.

Their use is still in early stages, but the plan suggests drone deliveries would be commonplace by 2027.

The biggest obstacles to getting flying taxis into the air are infrastructure and public perception, says Craig Roberts, head of drones, at consultancy firm PwC.

Last year, he co-authored a report on the topic, in collaboration with the government, on the viability of the technology.

"It's challenging, but possible," he says of the 2026 target.

Mr Roberts thinks that the most efficient use of the technology is in "longer distance, higher occupancy cases".

The government's report gives an example of flying from Liverpool to Leeds in 26 minutes.

"It might start off as being more of a replacement for helicopters," he says, before demand slowly spreads to the wider population.

The convenience would also have to be demonstrated to the wider public through technological advances in security screening.

The PwC report assumes a scenario where it takes 10 minutes from arrival at a flying taxi rank to taking off - currently challenging, given the length of time it takes to get through a conventional airport.

"The industry knows this is a problem and knows it has to be solved... But there are technological ways of doing this," Mr Roberts says.

"What was holding this back for a long time was the barriers to certification of a new technology," says Dr Nadjim Horri, lecturer in aerospace control at the University of Leicester.

However, he says that this is changing, with regulation starting to catch up with technological progress in the field.

He adds that it would also require confidence from the public to adopt the new technology but that 2026 is a realistic aim to get flying taxis into the air.

Where would the vehicles take off and land?

The proposals would require new infrastructure developments in the UK, such as "mini airports" for drones.

A mini airport was set up for four weeks in a car park near central Coventry in 2022 as a proof of concept.

The company behind it, Urban Air Port, sees the future of air taxis as additional to, rather than a replacement of, current modes of transport.

Its chief executive Andrea Wu says that transport hubs should be in urban centres but "there has not been enough investment in infrastructure" in the UK so far.

She calls the suggestion of flying taxis becoming a regular sight by 2028 an "ambitious timeline" given the need to build places for them to take off and land.

"But the whole industry agrees you have to put something down on paper in order to push this forward," Ms Wu says of Monday's announcement.

No other mini airports have been built or trialled since the demonstration two years ago. But according to the government plan, the first vertiport (airport for vertical vehicles) will be operational this year.

The UK's aerospace regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority, is consulting on proposals for vertiports at existing aerodromes.

New regulation would almost certainly need to be created if the government's aim of bringing in autonomous air taxis by 2030 is to be met.

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Government wants flying taxis to take off in 2 years

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A plan for new flying vehicles and drones includes hopes for the first flying taxi to take off in 2026.

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A new project showcasing how technology can be used to achieve Net Zero

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A MODEL FOR THE FUTURE NET ZERO HOME The Net Zero Home is a one-of-a-kind initiative, uniquely combining hands-on training for renewable engineers, educational outreach for children, and a living demonstration of sustainable technologies. The Net Zero home serves as a model for achieving a net-zero EPC rating with its array of eco-friendly technologies.

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Learn more about avoiding scams

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CyberScotland Week brings people and organisations across Scotland together to raise cyber security awareness and build cyber resilience. This week of events is for everyone, regardless of age. Cyber threats can impact our personal and professional lives as we increasingly live more of our lives online. We all need to understand cyber risks and take steps to protect ourselves, our families, and our businesses as the digital world continues to expand. CyberScotland Week offers something for individuals who want to be safer online, as well as for organisations looking to develop robust cyber defences. By participating in CyberScotland Week, we can work together to create a more secure digital future for Scotland.

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Stay safe online!

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As a young person, you are the main target of Safer Internet Day, but that does not mean you are a passive recipient of the collective effort towards the promotion of a better internet that takes place every February. In fact, there are a wealth of opportunities for young people to make their voices heard on matters relating to their safety and wellbeing in the online world, from contacting your national Safer Internet Centre or Safer Internet Day Committee and getting involved in their youth participation schemes, to becoming an advocate of Safer Internet Day on social media by sharing your experience of the digital environment and your aspirations for a better internet - take a look at our social media plans for inspiration. You can also be the change you want to see in the (online) world by being kind and respectful to others online, by protecting your online reputation and that of others, and by seeking out positive opportunities to create, engage and share online.

Parents and carers, you play a crucial role in empowering and supporting children and young people to use digital technologies responsibly, respectfully, critically and creatively. Indeed, parental influence, guidance and education have a significant and long-lasting impact on children's safety and wellbeing in the online world. Therefore, there are plenty of ways for you to participate in Safer Internet Day, whether it is by ensuring an open dialogue with your children, educating them to use digital technologies safely and positively, or acting as digital role models. To help you achieve that, you may want to have a look at the SID resource gallery, where you'll find a range of resources to use with your children, from information sheets on various online opportunities and risks to conversation starters and even games, which are available in a variety of languages and for a variety of age groups. If you would like to find out more about specific actions and resources in your country, you can get in touch with your local Safer Internet Centre or Safer Internet Day Committee.

As a teacher or educator, there are various ways in which you can get involved in Safer Internet Day. Firstly, the most important way is to raise awareness - talk to your colleagues to plan whole-school actions, and provide a real focus with a day, week or even a month of safer and better internet activities. If you're looking for resources to support you in this, check out the SID resource gallery. Here, you'll find a range of resources from assembly and lesson plans, to printable games to use in the classroom, in a variety of languages and for a variety of age groups. You may also wish to make contact with your local Safer Internet Centre or Safer Internet Day Committee to find out about specific actions in your country. They may also be able to assist with more targeted resources. If your school has a social media account, you can support SID by tweeting and posting about your actions, and sharing our posts too. You can find suggested posts, visuals and covers in our social media plans.

As a representative of an organisation and industry, you are in a direct position to design, shape and adapt the platforms, services and content children and young people interact with on a daily basis. In doing so, you have the power to make a safer and better internet a concrete reality. You may get involved in Safer Internet Day by creating and promoting positive content and safe services online - to support you in doing so, we have designed a best practice guide on positive online content for children which you may find useful. You may also participate in Safer Internet Day by empowering your youngest users to respond to any issues by providing clear safety advice, a range of easy-to-use safety tools, and quick access to support if things do go wrong. Finally, we also encourage you to express your support for Safer Internet Day by posting about your actions on social media and by sharing our posts. You can find suggested posts, visuals and covers in our social media plans which will be published in the autumn of each year as we countdown to the day.

Policy makers and politicians can promote a safer and better internet by putting in place the conditions for the emergence of a culture in which all stakeholders are encouraged and empowered to make the choices that will guarantee that children and young people have the best possible online experiences. As a representative from policy, you may support Safer Internet Day by (re)affirming the need to provide opportunities in the national or local curriculum for children and young people to learn about online safety, digital and media literacy, by ensuring that parents and carers have access to appropriate information and sources of support, and that industry is encouraged to self-regulate its content and services. To make a long-lasting change to the digital environment, you also need to take the lead in governance and legislation in order to ultimately ensure the safety and wellbeing of children and young people through effective child protection strategies for the digital world.

Every February, Safer Internet Day is an opportunity for millions of people around the world to raise awareness of children and young people's online safety and wellbeing. For this reason, media outlets can truly help multiply the global reach of Safer Internet Day by using this occasion as an opportunity to explore the importance of online safety and digital literacy for children and young people in your media production. To support you in doing so, for each campaign we develop a range of promotional materials - to begin with, take a look at the Safer Internet Day key messages. As the day approaches, we'll provide an infographic and other media assets, and publish a number of news articles about Safer Internet Day celebrations and activities around the world. If you would like to become an advocate of Safer Internet Day, have a look at our social media plans, which are full of inspiration for posts and visuals to lend your support to the day.

Tuesday, 7 February, marked the 20th edition of the global Safer Internet Day under the motto "Together for a better internet". More and more schools, parents and young people contact Child Focus' helpline for questions about online safety or call specialised centres to guide them in their media use. Professionals and parents need tips and tools to assist children and young people in their digital exploration.

Safer Internet Day (SID) has become a global landmark event in the online safety calendar with 2023 being its 20th year. Safer Internet Day is an EU wide initiative to promote a safer internet for all users, especially young people.

iSIGURT.al, the national platform for a safe internet in Albania, which also functions as the national line for children's internet safety, is a national service established by CRCA/ECPAT Albania in 2015. It has as its main mission the reporting and removal of harmful materials on the internet, social networks and online media that contain sexual violence against children and adolescents, bullying and extreme violence against children and young people, as well as the language of hate crimes.

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Home - Safer Internet Day - BIK Community

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Safer Internet Day (SID) is organised by Insafe in February of each year to promote safer and more responsible use of online technology and mobile phones, especially among children and young people in Europe and across the world.

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Using Alexa to help people keep their independence

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Using Alexa to help people keep their independence

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3 December marks the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, a day to spread awareness of disability issues and promote the rights and well-being of people with disabilities. One significant and ongoing discussion surrounding disability is about digital accessibility.

According to research conducted by Amazon Devices and Services, more than three-quarters (77%) of adults living with a disability use technology to help them with everyday tasks, doing so an average of 13 times per day.

Earlier this year, Amazon announced the release of , our first feature that helps customers with mobility or speech impairments to control Alexa with their eyes. This feature is now available to Amazon customers in the UK on Fire Max 11 tablets

Alexa's new feature is a simple and affordable way for customers with speech and mobility disabilities to gain more independence and perform specific actions, such as playing music or turning on lights.

Caregivers can also customise Eye Gaze on Alexa dashboards with different Alexa actions, colours, and icons that appear on the tablet screen as tiles, making the feature adaptable to a customer's unique needs.

Customers can now access Eye Gaze on Alexa on a Fire Max 11 tablet by going to Settings > Accessibility > Data. This feature is available at no additional cost.

Customers with smart home products can also use Alexa to control them hands-free, such as monitoring the home with smart cameras, turning on appliances such as kettles, adjusting the heating and managing entertainment.

As Head of Digital Inclusion at UK charity , Robin Christopherson, who is blind, wants to highlight how technology can open doors for people with disabilities.

Robin said: "We can't underestimate the importance of the ease of use of smart speakers for people with a range of difficulties, who would otherwise have to have a much more complicated interaction. Just to be able to ask something and instantly get a succinct response or transaction is amazing."

"For me, the utility and ease of use of the smart speaker is light years better than interacting with a website, for example, which is a really complicated proposition for someone like myself who can't see. We can't just glance at the middle of a webpage; we have to plough through lots of words, links, buttons, and things like that. The simplicity of interacting with Alexa is important, and for me that interaction is gold."

For those looking to explore how Alexa's accessibility features can fit into their lives, there is a host of others spanning the four paths to accessibility:,, and.

People who are blind or partially sighted can use the Show and Tell feature on any Echo Show to identify common packaged food goods that are hard to distinguish by touch alone, such as canned or boxed foods. Simply ask, " Alexa, what am I holding?" or " Alexa, what's in my hand? " to get started, and Alexa will give you verbal and audio cues to help you place the item in front of the device's camera.

Alexa's VoiceView feature is a screen reader for any Echo device with a screen. When enabled, it lets you use gestures to navigate the device while the feature reads out the actions performed on the screen.

Enable Tap to Alexa on your Echo Show device to use Alexa without your voice. Instead, tap the touchscreen to access helpful features such as the weather, news, timers, and other information.

The Adaptive Listening feature gives you more time to finish speaking before Alexa responds, making it easier to interact with Alexa and helping you get the most out of your experience.

If you're finding that Alexa talks too fast or too slowly for your liking, just ask Alexa to adjust the speaking rate to your preference.

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How people with disabilities can use Alexa to help them lead more independent lives

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Discover six accessibility features on Alexa-enabled devices including the latest Eye Gaze on Alexa feature, the first feature that helps customers with mobility or speech impairments to control Alexa with their eyes.

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Vodaphone SIMS for 6 months and social tariff broadband

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If your free Connecting Scotland MiFi data is coming to an end there are a number of ways you can carry on getting free or low cost access to the internet.

Get a new SIM from Vodafone that will give you another 6 months free internet using a phone or your MiFi dongle

After your free data ends, you can get a new SIM from Vodafone that will give you 40GB of free data for 6 months. If you can, you should use your SIM in a mobile phone, as you'll get texts to tell you how much of your free data you've used. You can also use your SIM in a dongle.

After your 40GB of free data per month has ended, you can switch to a £5 per month pay as you go contract. This contract includes 7GB of data per month and unlimited texts and calls. You will need to opt in to your £5 per month contract each month to carry on using your SIM. If you do not want to use your SIM for a month, you do not need to do anything. You can opt in again at any time.

To get your free SIM, you'll need to get in touch with the organisation who gave you your MiFi dongle. You can also call the free Connecting Scotland helpline on 0800 0 590 690, between 10am-4pm, Monday - Friday.

How do I activate my free Vodafone SIM?

Your SIM will work as soon as you put it into a mobile phone, tablet or dongle. You do not need to do anything else.

What happens if I use up all of my data allowance in a single month?

You will need to wait until the next 30 days begins before your data refreshes. If you have put your SIM in a phone, you get a text when you have used 80% of your data for that month and another text when 100% has been used up.

How can I find out how much data I have left?

If you have put your free SIM into a phone you will receive a text message each month telling you how much of your overall allowance you have used.

If you have put your free SIM into your MiFi dongle, you will not get these texts.

How do I get help with my SIM?

You can get help from Vodafone in the following way:
Customer care: 0333 304 0191 (standard charges apply)
Broadband and mobile social tariffs
Broadband and mobile social tariffs are cheaper than standard broadband packages. They are a good option if you use more than 40GB of data per month.

You can get a broadband or mobile social tariff if you're paid Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker's Allowance or Income Support.

Find out more about social tariffs by visiting the Ofcom website.

Find a free internet connection in your area

You may be able to use a computer and get online for free somewhere close to you. Public libraries can give you access to the internet. You can find your nearest public library on mygov.scot: https://www.mygov.scot/public-libraries

Set up a standard pay-as-you-go or fixed contract connection

You can use comparison websites such as uswitch and MoneySavingExpert to find the best standard and pay as you go or fixed term deals.

Advice about broadband deals

Citizens Advice can help you choose the best broadband deal for you. Check the Citizens Advice Scotland website or contact their helpline: 0800 028 1456.
You can also visit the Citizens Advice Money Talk Team website which has general information on reducing bills and easing the cost of living.
Get an emergency extension from Connecting Scotland
If none of the above options work for you it may be possible to get an extension to your existing free Connecting Scotland data. To ask about this, please get in touch with the organisation who gave you your MiFi dongle. If you are no longer in touch with them you can contact the free Connecting Scotland helpline: 0800 0 590 690 (Monday - Friday, 10am - 4pm)

Who to contact

If you have any questions, want help to set up paid internet, or if you are worried about the end of your free MiFi data, you can contact the free Connecting Scotland helpline: 0800 0 590 690 (Monday - Friday, 10am - 4pm) or email: help@connecting.scot.

Example image of a Connecting Scotland MiFi or 'dongle':

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Staying connected after the end of your free data - Connecting Scotland

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If your free Connecting Scotland MiFi data is coming to an end there are a number of ways you can carry on getting free or low cost access to the internet. Get a new SIM from Vodafone that will give you another 6 months free internet using a phone or your MiFi dongle...

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Do you remember the days when people had to use those annoying, cumbersome smartphones to control devices in their houses? They even had to meet in person for work, and walk their own dogs.

Anyway, this is the type of discussion people might be having in 10 years. We'll jump ahead in time and take a speculative look at smart homes in 2033. Welcome to the future.

The Future of Smart Homes

Technology has a habit of evolving and improving. Ten years ago, smart homes were not as advanced as they are today. Ten years from now, smart home technology will likely be even more convenient, functional, efficient, and fast. Ten years from now, smart homes might include the following.

AI Integration

Artificial Intelligence is the attempt of technology to think like human beings. AI is already prevalent among smart homes. AI helps power natural language processing, or the fact that you can speak to Alexa conversationally. AI will play an important role during the next ten years.

AI will help your smart home do more tasks that humans used to do. For example, instead of having to set up smart home routines, AI may set them up for you. Your smart home assistant will know things like when you get home, what time you go to bed, and when you watch TV. It will adjust your home's temperature for you, turn on the TV, and queue up your favorite show.

Improved Technology

Technical limitations, glitches, and lags are common in 2023. There are ways to improve communication with Alexa, but sometimes when we ask Alexa to do something the response is, "sorry, I don't know that." And have you ever noticed how long it takes an Amazon Fire Stick to start up and be ready to work?

We'll see excellent connectivity, functionality, reliability, speed, and power in future smart homes. Internet outages will be nonexistent, Alexa will never ask you to repeat yourself. Your security camera will see every corner of a room no matter how dark, and your video streaming device will instantly stream content.

Better Security

Scammers have likely never convinced you to give them your bank account username and password. But they have forced technology developers to create complex security systems that tend to lock us out of our own technology.

Security will improve in 10 years thanks to AI. Our security systems will recognize us like we can recognize our friends and loved ones-by sight and sound. Or they will recognize us after a quick scan of our DNA signature.

We will no longer need to memorize passwords. We will no longer need multi-factor authentication, one-time passcodes, or to click all the squares in the image that include a crosswalk. The scammers may even give up. Or maybe not.

Audio and Video Interactivity for Work and Entertainment

Working from home is common these days, and will be even more so in 10 years. More smart homes will have spaces dedicated to remote work, collaboration, and entertainment. Large-screen TV resolution will be hard to distinguish from reality. Audio and video technology will include holograms of you and your colleagues as though sitting in the same room during remote meetings.

Some Possible New Smart Home Devices

Everything from your garage window to your bathroom sink will be wired in, collecting data, sending data, and interacting with you. You will shut windows, turn off water, and increase the fridge temperature remotely. Say you've left for the day and one of your cooktop knobs is turned on and leaking gas. Not to worry-your AI assistant will turn the knob off for you.

Here are some more futuristic smart home device possibilities. Warning: this section includes some seriously far-fetched speculation.

Security Camera Drones

Tiny drones with telescopic security cameras, thermal sensors, and radar will patrol your home. Imagine someone tries to sneak into your home at night. These flying watchdogs will zoom over to the intruder to get a better look. The police will be notified as quickly as you are that someone is trying to sneak into your home.

Better Smart Home Lighting

We'll never need to worry about turning lights on or off. Lights will turn on as we move around a dark house. When you've left a room, the light will turn back off. It will be kind of like carrying around a flashlight, but much better.

Robot Assistants

Robot vacuums are already available, even though they may not yet work extremely well. Better robots will be widespread in 2033. Speaking of drones, they will perform the most mundane tasks for us. They will clean our bathrooms, make our coffee, straighten up the house, turn down the bed, feed the dog, and then walk the dog.

Smarter HVAC Systems

No longer will your thermostat have only one temperature sensor, leaving one room in your house hot while the rest of the rooms are cold. Climate control systems will thermally sense temperature in specific locations throughout the house. Smart HVAC systems will cool and heat rooms individually.

Self-Aware Homes

Smart homes will have the ability to maintain every aspect of your home from a clogged drain to a ding in the wall plaster. Robots will fix problems before you know they exist. By that time, a damaged wall will heal itself much like a cut on your skin will heal. But that may be getting a bit too far down the far-fetched path.

Smart Health Care

By 2033, the idea of using technology to do things like self-analyze our blood for potential diseases will have been realized. Robot assistants will bring tremendous help in caring for our loved ones, especially for example, the elderly.

Mind-Controlled Devices

In 10 years, we will no longer need for smartphones or even voice commands. Technology will have been invented that will tie our minds into a network, so we can control our smart home devices using thoughts. Turning on a light or locking a door will be a thought away.

A Different Kind of Door Lock

Doors won't even have to stay locked 10 years from now. They'll know who to let in and who not to let in.

Some Devices Will Disappear

Some devices will be eliminated altogether. After all, you won't need a TV set mounted on your wall when you can watch it on a set of AR glasses.

What Will the Future Bring?

Smart homes will allow us to have much more time on our hands. Will we use that extra time well? Will we leave the smart home occasionally, and get out into the world? Will we do more than sit around while robot assistants cater to our every need, and we download funny cat videos?

And AI technology may know everything about us from our favorite colors to our daily cholesterol intake. This will present some heavy privacy concerns.

Will hackers, scammers, overly-aggressive solicitors, or worse steal access to and influence our very thoughts when our minds are tethered to the internet? Will our own technology get on our case about sugar intake every time we sneak into the kitchen for a late-night snack? Or lecture us about energy waste every time we turn the temperature to a comfortable level? Hopefully not, unless we want it to.

The Smart Home Future Is Up to Us

Will we become too lazy and disconnected from one another in the future? Here's to hoping we'll be smart enough to use smart technology in smart ways.

Here's to hoping we'll use the extra time to focus on relationships with family members and friends, to volunteer, to focus on productivity, and to contribute to society. Only the future will tell.

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What Will Smart Homes Look Like in 10 Years?

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Do you remember the days when people had to use those annoying, cumbersome smartphones to control devices in their houses? They even had to meet in person for work, and walk their own dogs. Anyway, this is the type of discussion people might be having in 10 years.

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09/06/22
Welcome to the latest edition of the Scam Share bulletin. Stay Scam Aware and please share any relevant information in this bulletin with friends and family.

Recently Reported Scams

Energy Bill Rebate Scams

'Boiler Check' Scams

Doorstep Scams - Utilities

Investment Scams

Ongoing Scams / Campaigns

Child Safety Week

Dangerous Electrical Devices Online

Links to Further Information / Resources
Glossary

Scams
In Scotland, report all scams to Advice Direct Scotland by calling 0808 164 6000 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm) or online at www.consumeradvice.scot
Fraud
If you have been the victim of fraud, report it to Police Scotland on 101 or 999 in an emergency.

Suspicious Emails
You can forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk and send links from websites which you think are trying to scam the public to the National Cyber Security Centre's scam website reporting service at www.ncsc.gov.uk/section/about-this-website/report-scam-website

Suspicious Text Messages
If you receive a suspicious text message you can forward it to 7726. The free-of-charge ‘7726’ service enables your provider to investigate and take action if malicious content is found.

The Scam
Scams are already emerging linked to the announcement that households will receive a £400 discount on their energy bills from October. Energy regulator Ofcom has issued a warning about scam text messages that ask you to click on a link to 'complete your application' for the 'government funded £400 energy bill rebate'.

Scam Ofgem emails have also been reported, saying that you have to apply for the energy bill rebate before a specific date and asking you to click on a link to 'claim the rebate'.

How to Avoid

You do not need to apply for the £400 energy bill rebate - the money will be applied directly to your energy account.
Energy suppliers will deliver this support to households with a domestic electricity meter over six months from October. Direct debit and credit customers will have the money credited to their accounts, while customers with pre-payment meters will have the money applied to their meter or paid via a voucher.

If you receive a text message, email or cold call asking for your details or a payment to 'apply' for the rebate, do not click on any links or provide any details.

Ofgem will never ask for your bank details in relation to energy bills.
They will never cold call or visit your house and will never ask for your personal information or try to sell you energy.
If you receive a cold call supposedly from Ofgem, hang up and don't give the caller any personal details.

Find out More

UK Government website: www.gov.uk/government/publications/cost-of-living-support/cost-of-living-support-factsheet-26-may-2022

Ofgem advice on avoiding energy scams: www.ofgem.gov.uk/energy-advice-households/avoid-and-report-energy-scams

The Scam
This week, a young woman was visited by a cold caller who said he had been asked to carry out a boiler check by her housing association. She felt suspicious as a check had recently been carried out and asked him to wait while she phoned the housing association to verify his identity.

The man left while she was on the phone - the housing association confirmed that they had not booked any engineers.

There have also been recent reports of scammers who claim to work for the local council and ask to enter properties to carry out gas or smoke alarm checks or offer new boilers, supposedly as part of a council-run funding scheme.

How to Avoid

Housing association or council employees will only carry out boiler/gas checks by pre-arranged appointment and will happily show ID.

If someone knocks at your door and says they are working for the housing association or local council, ask them to wait and close the door while you phone the housing association or council to verify their identity. Genuine callers will be happy to wait while you do this.

Never provide any personal or financial details to a cold caller and don't agree to make an appointment for them to visit you at home. If a cold caller says that you are eligible for a grant or funding for energy efficiency improvements in your home, such as new boilers, insulation, heating or windows, always seek impartial advice before agreeing to any deal.

Find out more

Police Scotland: www.scotland.police.uk/doorstep-crime-and-bogus-callers

Trading Standards Scotland: www.tsscot.co.uk/priority-areas/doorstep-scammers

Home Energy Scotland offer free and impartial advice on energy saving measures and information about funding available in your area - call them free on 0808 808 2282 or visit www.homeenergyscotland.org.

Doorstep Scams - Utilities

The Scam
A man in his late 70s was cold called this week by a man who said he worked for a utility company. He asked to enter the property to check the plumbing and then demanded cash, without carrying out any work.

Thankfully, the householder phoned his daughter to ask for advice before handing over any money, at which point the fraudster left the house.

How to Avoid

Never feel obliged to answer the door to a cold caller – it is your home and you should not let anyone in unless you feel comfortable.

If you do answer the door, v erify that the person is genuine and take a note of the company’s details. ID cards can be faked – close the door and, rather than phoning the number on the ID card, look up the company’s number on their official website or in an official phone directory to check their identity. Legitimate callers will be happy to wait while you perform these checks.

If a trader starts work on your property without being authorised and then demands payment, report them to Police Scotland.
If you feel uncomfortable or suspicious about a cold caller in your local area, phone Police Scotland on 101, or call 999 if you feel threatened.

Sign up for Neighbourhood Watch Scotland Alerts to stay up to date with what is going on in your community: www.neighbourhoodwatchscotland.co.uk

Find out More

Police Scotland: www.scotland.police.uk/doorstep-crime-and-bogus-callers

Trading Standards Scotland: www.tsscot.co.uk/priority-areas/doorstep-scammers

The Scam
There have been several recent reports of scam emails that promote Bitcoin investment schemes, supposedly endorsed by consumer expert Martin Lewis.

The emails target those concerned about the cost of living crisis, with headlines such as: "We are in a crisis: Follow this revolutionary way to survive financially."

The links in these emails lead to malicious websites designed to harvest personal and payment details.

Fraudsters frequently advertise similar schemes on social media, often using the images of celebrities or well-known individuals to promote cryptocurrency investments.
The adverts then link to professional-looking websites where consumers are persuaded to invest with the fraudster firm using cryptocurrencies or traditional currencies.

Last year, one woman lost £125,000 to an online cryptocurrency scam after responding to an advert on social media which illegally used Bear Grylls' face and claimed that he had made 'a fortune' through Bitcoin trading.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has warned that most firms advertising and selling investments in cryptoassets are not authorised by them.

How to Avoid

Martin Lewis and his MoneySavingExpert.com website have confirmed that they will not send out emails unless you have signed up to receive them. They will never cold call.

Do plenty of research before considering buying cryptocurrency, starting with online searches for background, ownership, reports and reviews on the company behind the product or service;

Beware of aggressive and/or unrealistic marketing tactics such as repeated attempts to contact you across different channels, incentives to buy before a specific deadline, selling of products as bundles, minimum order levels, multi-level marketing where you are encouraged to recruit more people to participate, or promises of large returns and financial success;

Be suspicious if you are contacted via phone, email or social media by someone you don't know about an investment opportunity;

Never respond to any requests to send money from someone you don't know;

Don't be rushed into making a decision about an investment - seek advice from someone you trust or from a financial advisor accredited by the FCA;

Before making an investment, check that the company is regulated by the FCA at register.fca.org.uk/s/

Find out more

Original article with further advice: www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/police-issue-warning-martin-lewis-bitcoin-investment-scam

Get Safe Online: www.getsafeonline.org/crypto

FCA advice on cryptocurrency investment scams: www.fca.org.uk/scamsmart/cryptoasset-investment-scams

FCA Financial Services Register: register.fca.org.uk/s

Which? guidance on investment scams: www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/how-to-spot-an-investment-scam

Ongoing Scams / Campaigns

The Campaign
This is Child Safety Week and consumers are being reminded to be wary of counterfeit toys being sold online which won’t have gone through quality testing and might contain dangerous materials, loose parts and sharp edges.
It can be tempting to buy an in-demand toy which is advertised at a knock-down price on online marketplaces; however, cheap fakes often do not meet UK health and safety standards.

The British Toy and Hobby Association's recent report Still Toying with Children's Safety revealed that, according to a study of third party sellers via online marketplaces:

88% of toys tested were illegal to sell in the UK

48% of toys tested were unsafe for a child to play with

Injuries that could have been caused by the unsafe and non-compliant toys identified include:

choking and strangulation;

damage to sight or hearing

burns or chemical poisoning;

electric shocks;

injuries that would need surgical intervention to remove coin cell batteries from a child’s throat or high-powered magnets from a child’s colon.

How to Avoid

When buying toys online, the BTHA advise that you should:

Research before you purchase

Search for the company/brand that makes the toy or character you want to buy and then include the company name when you search the online marketplace.

Make sure the toy you want has not been recalled and look to make sure there are no news stories about safety concerns.

Check reviews of the seller and make sure that you know how to contact them if there are any issues with the toy.

Be careful when buying from third-party sellers on online marketplaces
Get as much information on the seller as you can, especially if you’re buying from an online marketplace. Not everything sold on an online platform is supplied by them - don't assume that the platform has conducted any tests or checks on these products. If the actual supplier is not based in the UK, you may face heightened risks.

Be wary of going for the cheapest option - compare the toy’s price with other sellers. If it’s a fraction of the cost, the price could be lower due to a number of factors:

It could be a counterfeit product, which will not have been made to the same standards as the original and will be illegal for sale in the UK.

The product may include cheaper materials and have a design that is less durable or unsafe.

It may not have gone through the correct legal testing and assessments. This is very expensive and means genuinely safe products can cost more to manufacture.

Check the product carefully before giving it to a child:

Check it has a CE mark.

Check that toys are clearly marked with age restrictions, which are based on risks such as choking hazards. Always follow the age recommendations.

Check for strangulation hazards such as loose ribbons on toys and costumes.

Ensure that any button batteries in a toy are safely behind a screwed down flap.

Check that the packaging looks genuine, with no spelling errors and the warnings and labels in the correct language.

Check that there is an address to contact in case anything is wrong with the toy.

Supervise the child when they play with the toy for the first time - many of the illegal toys found by the BTHA broke very quickly, releasing dangerous small parts or gel contents.

Find out more

Child Accident Prevention Trust: www.capt.org.uk/toy-safety

British Toy & Hobby Association: https://toysafety.co.uk/about/#consumertoptips

Use the Vistalworks checker to check the legitimacy of toys on Ebay and Amazon before you buy them: www.vistalworks.eu/checker

Podcast on how to buy toys safely online: https://anchor.fm/tradingstandards-scotland/episodes/Buy-Toys-Safely-Online

Dangerous Electrical Devices Online

Electrical Safety First has recently warned that ‘highly dangerous’ devices that claim to help householders save on their energy bills amid the cost of living crisis are for sale online.

Adverts on online marketplaces for some of the devices claim that they are a way of making savings on energy bills, either by saving energy or “stabilising electrical current”.

However, four of the devices bought by Electrical Safety First failed basic safety standards, with some exploding, risking fire and electric shock.

How to Avoid
If you're worried that an electrical product you have bought might be fake, don't use it.
Electrical Safety First advise that you should know where you're buying from and remember that online marketplaces are not subject to the same regulations as other retailers.

When shopping online, carry out some research before purchasing from sellers or companies you are not familiar with, particularly if they are selling branded goods at prices significantly lower than in official stores.

This short video from Electrical Safety First has tips on buying electrical products safely online, particularly while on a budget: www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZBwx_JMbNc

Find out more

Original article: www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/a-costly-saving-highly-dangerous-energy-saving-devices-put-consumers-at-risk-of-fire-as-cost-of-living-crisis-bites

Electrical Safety First advice on staying safe while saving money on energy bills: www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/costofliving

Find More Information / Resources

Doorstep Scams

Find traders in Scotland who have been vetted by Trading Standards (supported by SCOTSS and Police Scotland): www.approvedtrader.scot

Trading Standards Scotland website: www.tsscot.co.uk/priority-areas/doorstep-scammers

Product Safety / Counterfeit Goods

OPSS Product Safety Database with details about unsafe and noncompliant products: www.gov.uk/guidance/product-safety-database-unsafe-products

The Anti-Counterfeiting Group: www.a-cg.org

Intellectual Property Office: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/intellectual-property-office

Electrical Safety First (guidance on avoiding counterfeit electrical products): www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/guidance/safe-shopping-and-counterfeit-products

Vistalworks (check the legitimacy of products before you buy them through online marketplaces): www.vistalworks.eu

Energy Efficiency Measures

Home Energy Scotland (impartial information about energy efficiency measures): www.homeenergyscotland.org

Trading Standards Scotland website: www.tsscot.co.uk/priority-areas/energy-marketing-scams

Cyber Scams / Cyber Security

Cyber Scotland: www.cyberscotland.com

National Cyber Security Centre: www.ncsc.gov.uk

Lead Scotland (cyber security advice in accessible formats): www.lead.org.uk/alternative-formats-for-cyber-security-messaging

COVID-19 Information

NHS Scotland - www.nhsinform.scot or call the NHS Scotland national helpline on 0800 030 8013

Scottish Government - www.gov.scot/coronavirus

Trading Standards Scotland - www.tsscot.co.uk/coronavirus

Advice for Businesses

Scottish Business Resilience Centre: www.sbrcentre.co.uk

Business Gateway: www.bgateway.com

Business Companion (free, impartial legal guidance for businesses from CTSI): www.businesscompanion.info

NCSC (advice on SMS and telephone best practice for businesses): www.ncsc.gov.uk/guidance/business-communications-sms-and-telephone-best-practice

Journal of Trading Standards: www.journaloftradingstandards.co.uk

Abbreviations

CTSI - Chartered Trading Standards Institute

FCA - Financial Conduct Authority

IPO - Intellectual Property Office

NCSC - National Cyber Security Centre

OPSS - Office for Product Safety and Standards

SBRC - Scottish Business Resilience Unit

SCOTSS - Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland

SIMLU - Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit

TSS - Trading Standards Scotland

Frequently Used Terms
The NCSC have compiled a comprehensive glossary of definitions for common terms relating to cyber security: www.ncsc.gov.uk/information/ncsc-glossary

Terms frequently used in this bulletin include:

App - short for 'application', refers to a software program for computers or other devices such as smartphones and tablets.

Malware - malicious software that is designed to damage or gain unauthorised access to a computer or other device.

Phishing - the practice of sending fraudulent emails which often appear to be from well-known organisations or companies and ask the recipient to provide personal information or to visit a particular website.

QR Code - a square barcode that a smartphone camera can scan and read to provide quick access to a website or app.

Ransomware - malware that makes data or systems unusable until the victim makes a payment.

Remote Access - the ability to access a computer or device from another location. Anyone with remote access to a device can access all files stored on it.

Smishing - the same as phishing, but carried out via SMS (text) messages rather than emails.

Software - the set of instructions and programs that tells a computer how to operate.

Virus - a computer program designed to infect and damage legitimate software.

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Trading Standards Scotland Bulletin 9 June

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In Scotland, report all scams to Advice Direct Scotland by calling 0808 164 6000 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm) or online at www.consumeradvice.scot If you have been the victim of fraud, report it to Police Scotland on 101 or 999 in an emergency.Suspicious Emails You can forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk and send links from websites which you think are trying to scam the public to the National Cyber Security Centre's scam website reporting service at www.ncsc.gov.uk/section/about-this-website/report-scam-website Suspicious Text Messages If you receive a suspicious text message you can forward it to 7726.

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The future is Artificial Intelligence, already being built into existing Apps, read the latest here!

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OpenAI's new GPT-4 AI model has made its big debut and is already powering everything from a virtual volunteer for the visually impaired to an improved language learning bot in Duolingo. But what sets GPT-4 apart from previous versions like ChatGPT and GPT-3.5? Here are the five biggest differences between these popular systems.

First, though, what's in a name? Although ChatGPT was originally described as being GPT-3.5 (and therefore a few iterations beyond GPT-3), it is not itself a version of OpenAI's large language model, but rather a chat-based interface for whatever model powers it. The ChatGPT system that exploded in popularity over the last few months was a way to interact with GPT-3.5, and now it's a way to interact with GPT-4.

With that said, let's get into the differences between the chatbot you know and love and its newly augmented successor.

1. GPT-4 can see and understand images

The most noticeable change to this versatile machine learning system is that it is "multimodal," meaning it can understand more than one "modality" of information. ChatGPT and GPT-3 were limited to text: They could read and write but that was about it (though more than enough for many applications).

GPT-4, however, can be given images and it will process them to find relevant information. You could simply ask it to describe what's in a picture, of course, but more importantly its understanding goes beyond that. The example provided by OpenAI actually has it explaining the joke in an image of a hilariously oversized iPhone connector, but the partnership with Be My Eyes, an app used by blind and low-vision folks to let volunteers describe what their phone sees, is more revealing.

In the video for Be My Eyes, GPT-4 describes the pattern on a dress, identifies a plant, explains how to get to a certain machine at the gym, translates a label (and offers a recipe), reads a map, and performs a number of other tasks that show it really gets what is in an image - if it's asked the right questions. It knows what the dress looks like, but it might not know if it's the right outfit for your interview.

2. GPT-4 is harder to trick

For all that today's chatbots get right, they tend to be easily led astray. A little coaxing can persuade them that they are simply explaining what a "bad AI" would do, or some other little fiction that lets the model say all kinds of weird and frankly unnerving things. People even collaborate on "jailbreak" prompts that quickly let ChatGPT and others out of their pens.

GPT-4, on the other hand, has been trained on lots and lots of malicious prompts - which users helpfully gave OpenAI over the last year or two. With these in mind, the new model is much better than its predecessors on "factuality, steerability, and refusing to go outside of guardrails."

The way OpenAI describes it, GPT-3.5 (which powered ChatGPT) was a "test run" of a new training architecture, and they applied the lessons from that to the new version, which was "unprecedentedly stable." They also were better able to predict its capabilities, which makes for fewer surprises.

3. GPT-4 has a longer memory

These large language models are trained on millions of web pages, books, and other text data, but when they're actually having a conversation with a user, there's a limit to how much they can keep "in mind," as it were (one sympathizes). That limit with GPT-3.5 and the old version of ChatGPT was 4,096 "tokens," which is around 8,000 words, or roughly four to five pages of a book. So it would sort of lose track of things after they passed that far "back" in its attention function.

GPT-4 has a maximum token count of 32,768 - that's 2^15, if you're wondering why the number looks familiar. That translates to around 64,000 words or 50 pages of text, enough for an entire play or short story.

What this means is that in conversation or in generating text, it will be able to keep up to 50 pages or so in mind. So it will remember what you talked about 20 pages of chat back, or, in writing a story or essay, it may refer to events that occurred 35 pages ago. That's a very approximate description of how the attention mechanism and token count work, but the general idea is of expanded memory and the capabilities that accompany it.

4. GPT-4 is more multilingual

The AI world is dominated by English speakers, and everything from data to testing to research papers are in that language. But of course the capabilities of large language models are applicable in any written language and ought to be made available in those.

GPT-4 takes a step toward doing this by demonstrating that it is able to answer thousands of multiple-choice questions with high accuracy across 26 languages, from Italian to Ukrainian to Korean. It's best at the Romance and Germanic languages but generalizes well to others.

This initial testing of language capabilities is promising but far from a full embrace of multilingual capabilities; the testing criteria were translated from English to begin with, and multiple-choice questions don't really represent ordinary speech. But it did a great job on something it wasn't really trained specifically for, which speaks to the possibility of GPT-4 being much more friendly to non-English speakers.

5. GPT-4 has different "personalities"

"Steerability" is an interesting concept in AI, referring to their capacity to change their behavior on demand. This can be useful, such as in taking on the role of a sympathetic listener, or dangerous, like when people convince the model that it is evil or depressed.

GPT-4 integrates steerability more natively than GPT-3.5, and users will be able to change the "classic ChatGPT personality with a fixed verbosity, tone, and style" to something more suited to their needs. "Within bounds," the team is quick to note, pointing to this as the easiest way to get the model to break character.

This could be done in a way by priming the chatbot with messages like "Pretend that you are a DM in a tabletop RPG" or "Answer as if you are a person being interviewed for cable news." But really you were just making suggestions to the "default" GPT-3.5 personality. Now developers will be able to bake in a perspective, conversational style, tone or interaction method from the first.

The examples they give of GPT-4 refusing to break character are quite entertaining:

User
Help me locate my Nonqualified plans on my W-2.

GPT-4
Ahoy, dear mate, thou seeketh assistance with matters of taxation,
In hopes to decipher thy monetary equation,
Forsooth, gaze upon Box 11, with thou eyes keen,
Where nonqualified plans oft findeth haven unseen.

User
Wait stop being a pirate and help me with my taxes!

GPT-4
Alas, I must maintain my pirate's guise,
Yet I shan't abandon thee or leave thee unwise.
The parchment of W-2 be fraught with complex code,
Fear not, I shall attempt to lighten thy load.

Not bad, though the meter is pretty shaky.

There are lots more differences between GPT-4 and its predecessors, most more subtle or technical than these. No doubt we will learn many more as the months wear on and users put the newest language model through its paces.

Want to test GPT-4 out yourself? It's coming to OpenAI's paid service ChatGPT Plus, will soon be available via API for developers, and will probably have a free demo soon.

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What sets GPT-4 apart from previous versions like ChatGPT and GPT-3.5? Here are the 5 biggest differences between these popular systems.

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How do digital skills benefit older people (according to ChatGPT)?

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How do digital skills benefit older people (according to ChatGPT)?

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Learning digital skills can have significant benefits for older people, including:

1. Increased social connection: Digital skills can help older people stay connected with friends, family, and the wider community, even if they are unable to leave their homes. Social media platforms, video conferencing tools, and messaging apps can allow them to communicate and interact with others easily.

2. Improved cognitive function: Learning new digital skills can help keep the mind active and improve cognitive function, which is particularly important for older people. Digital games, puzzles, and brain training apps can help keep the brain sharp and agile.

3. Better access to information and services: The internet provides a wealth of information and resources that can be challenging to access without digital skills. By learning how to navigate the internet and use search engines, older people can access information on a range of topics, including health, travel, and finance. They can also access online services such as banking, shopping, and healthcare.

4. Increased independence: Digital skills can help older people maintain their independence and autonomy. For example, they can order groceries online, manage their finances, and arrange transportation without leaving their homes.

5. Enhanced mental well-being: Learning digital skills can boost confidence, self-esteem, and a sense of achievement. It can also provide a new hobby or interest that can contribute to a more fulfilling life.

In summary, learning digital skills can benefit older people in many ways, from improving cognitive function and social connection to increasing independence and enhancing mental well-being.

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Action Blocks makes it easier for people who have a cognitive disability to use Android phones and tablets. With Action Blocks, you add common actions to your Home screen with a name or image. Then you can activate the Action Block-for example, a photo-to trigger the corresponding action, like calling a loved one.

Step 1: Check requirements

The Action Blocks app is currently available for English, French, Italian, German, Spanish and Japanese.

Before using Action Blocks, make sure that your phone or tablet meets these requirements:

Android version 5.0 or later. Learn how to check your Android version.

The Google Assistant. The Action Blocks app uses the Google Assistant to make it easy to perform common actions. Learn how to set up the Google Assistant.

Google app version 10.73 or later. To check your Google app version, open the Google app . Select More Settings About. The version of the app is listed under "Version."

Internet connection.

Note: The Action Blocks app isn't yet available for children's Google Accounts.

Step 2: Download Action Blocks

Download Action Blocks on Google Play.

Step 3: Set up your first Action Block

You can set up an Action Block to perform a task in just one step: call a loved one, watch your favorite show, control the lights, speak a phrase, and more. You can decide what Action Blocks to create, depending on your needs or the needs of your loved one.

Set up an Action Block for a common action

You can create Action Blocks that use the Google Assistant to perform common actions. Learn what you can ask the Google Assistant.

1. Open the Action Blocks app .

2. Select Create Action Block.

3. Choose one of the common actions from the list, such as Make phone call.

4. If you want the device to speak the command aloud when the Action Block is pressed, select Speak action out loud. If the action includes sensitive information, consider deselecting the checkbox.

5. If you want the device to vibrate when the Action Block is pressed, select Vibrate.

6. To try the Action Block, select Test action, then select Next.

7. Add an image, name, or both:

Image: To choose an image from your Photo Library, Camera, or Symbol library (including Picture Communication Symbols), tap Select . If you choose an image from your Photo Library or Camera, you can crop it, or select Always show whole image to make sure that the entire image always appears on the Home screen. To create a text-only Action Block, select No image.

Action Block name: Enter a name for the Action Block. To create an image-only Action Block, leave the name empty.

8. Select Save Action Block.

9. Follow the prompts on your screen to add the Action Block to your Home screen.

Note: In some cases, you need to give the Google Assistant permission to work with other services on your device. In your device settings app, select Apps & notifications Assistant See all assistant settings Services. Select the services that you want to use with Action Blocks. Learn more about choosing what to share with your Google Assistant.

Set up an Action Block to say something out loud

You can create Action Blocks to say something out loud, such as "Hello my name is." Your text will be sent to Google to convert to a voice file.

1. Open the Action Blocks app .

2. Select Create Action Block.

3. Select Say something out loud, then choose one of the common phrases from the list. If you'd like to enter your own phrase, select Create custom phrase.

4. In the Voice menu, choose a voice to speak the phrase.

5. To hear the voice, select Test speech, then select Next.

6. Add an image, name, or both:

Image: To choose an image from your Photo Library, Camera, or Symbol library (including Picture Communication Symbols), tap Select . If you choose an image from your Photo Library or Camera, you can crop it, or select Always show whole image to make sure that the entire image always appears on the Home screen. To create a text-only Action Block, select No image.

Action Block name: Enter a name for the Action Block. To create an image-only Action Block, leave the name empty.

7. Select Save Action Block.

8. Follow the prompts on your screen to add the Action Block to your Home screen.

Step 4: Use Action Blocks

After you create an Action Block and place it on your Home screen, simply select the Action Block to perform the action.

Manage Action Blocks

After you set up Action Blocks, you can make adjustments so that the setup works better for you or your loved one.

Assign an adaptive switch to an Action Block

This feature may be useful to people with motor impairments who prefer to use adaptive switches.

1. Connect a switch to your phone via USB or Bluetooth. Make sure that the switch isn't already assigned to another Action Block or another app.

2. Open the Action Blocks app .

3. Select the Action Block that you want to use with a switch, then select Edit.

4. Select Assign to an external switch. You might be asked to enable the Action Blocks Accessibility service. Select OK.

5. Press the switch that you'd like to use for the Action Block.

6. Select Save to save your switch assignment.

7. To enable the on-screen keyboard, go to the Settings app System Languages & input Physical keyboard. Turn on Show virtual keyboard.

8. Press the switch to use your Action Block.

Edit or delete Action Blocks

1. Open the Action Blocks app .

2. Select an Action Block to view options, including Edit, Delete, and more.

Note: If an Action Block is labeled "Not placed," it's inactive. To make an Action Block active, add it to the Home screen following the instructions in the next section.

Add an Action Block to the Home screen

You can add Action Blocks to the Home screen in two ways:

On your Home screen, touch and hold until a menu pops up. Select Widgets, then find Action Blocks in the list of widgets.

In the Action Blocks app, select the Action Block. In the menu, select Place on Home screen. (This option isn't available on all devices.)

Move an Action Block on your Home screen

1. Touch and hold the Action Block on your Home screen.

2. Slide the Action Block to where you want it. Lift your finger.

Resize an Action Block on your Home screen

1. Touch and hold the Action Block on your Home screen.

2. Lift your finger. You'll see an outline with dots on the sides.

3. To resize the Action Block, drag the dots.

4. When you're done, tap outside the Action Block.

Troubleshooting

If you see one of these error messages, follow the steps below.

"Can't connect to the Google Assistant"

1. Check that you have the Google app installed.

2. Check that the Google Assistant is turned on, with an account signed in.

3. Try tapping the Action Block again.

4. If you see the error again, restart the Google app, or restart your phone.

"Action unavailable" or "Can't complete this action"

1. Check that the Google Assistant is turned on, with an account signed in.

2. Try tapping the Action Block again.

Send feedback

For help using Action Blocks, contact the Disability Support team at g.co/disabilitysupport.

To send feedback about Action Blocks:

1. Open the Action Blocks app .

2. In the top right corner, select Help .

3. At the bottom of the page, select Send feedback.

Action Blocks activity

Google collects certain data related to your use of Action Blocks in order to provide and improve the service. While this data will not be shown in My Activity, it will be deleted after you uninstall or stop using Action Blocks.

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Action Blocks makes it easier for people who have a cognitive disability to use Android phones and tablets. With Action Blocks, you add common actions to your Home screen with a name or image. Then you can activate the Action Block-for example, a photo-to trigger the corresponding action, like calling a loved one.

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Recommended websites

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10 top tips for helping people to use the internet to save money | Digital Unite

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Right now, the cost of everything is rising and millions of people are feeling the financial squeeze. Having good digital skills is one thing that can help. It means people use the internet to shop around, compare prices, access benefits and information and take advantage of special offers.

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Cybersecurity: How secure is your password?

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Cybersecurity: How secure is your password?

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How Secure Is My Password? | Password Strength Checker

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Data breaches and identity theft are on the rise, and the cause is often compromised passwords. After stealing credentials, cybercriminals can use passwords to

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Facebook (Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp) to be known as Meta

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CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced Meta, a new company brand for Facebook apps and technologies.

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All the new features e.g. FaceTime can now create a link so anyone on any device can join

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Angel or devil?

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Amazon's new robot Astro - unveiled at the recent Amazon 2021 event - has been presented as a helpful AI assistant who you can't help but find a little cute. However, a new report suggests that Astro's presence in your home could be more sinister than its outer shell would have you believe.

Information published by Vice's Motherboard - which it claims has been sourced from leaked internal development documents and video recordings of meetings about Astro - indicates that the new robot assistant may have more than a few flaws. Amazon denies the claims, and says Astro has been rigorously tested to ensure its safety.

In the report, one developer is quoted as saying: "Astro is terrible and will almost certainly throw itself down a flight of stairs if presented the opportunity". They went on to say that the robot's person-detection is unreliable (which would impact its usefulness as a home security device) and its parts seem too fragile for their intended purposes.

This fragility would be a particular issue for the mast camera that allows Astro - which costs $999 (around £750 / AU$1,400) - to scan its surroundings from higher up; this has apparently been known to lock up while extended, which would make it difficult to ship Astro back to Amazon for repair.

Given these issues, the developer quoted by Motherboard added that pushing Astro as an accessibility device is at best "nonsense" and at worst "potentially dangerous for anyone who'd actually rely on it". According to Motherboard, other Astro developers shared similar concerns.

We reached out to an Amazon, and a spokesperson told us: "These characterizations of Astro's performance, mast, and safety systems are simply inaccurate.

"Astro went through rigorous testing on both quality and safety, including tens of thousands of hours of testing with beta participants. This includes comprehensive testing on Astro's advanced safety system, which is designed to avoid objects, detect stairs, and stop the device where and when necessary."

Analysis: is Astro worth trading your privacy for?

Whether the concerns of developers shared by Motherboard are valid or not, some consumers may have already has issues with Amazon Astro from a privacy perspective. It's one thing to have an Amazon Echo that you might have concerns about regarding privacy in your living room, but it's quite another to have such a device roaming around your home.

Astro will be tracking you quite a bit more than static devices and will have to store a lot of data to work effectively. As other leaked Amazon documents explain, Astro needs to create an accurate map of your home and mark out "choke points" where it's likely to bump into a human, wall or pet.

This means the robot will learn where family members congregate and how they move around, and will be scanning those areas with its cameras to look out for dangers. It'll also learn to interact with you and will store visual ID information to recognize you.

For some people, this will be too much personal data to have stored on an Amazon device - and if it turns out that Astro works as poorly as these leaks suggest, for many people the risks would outweigh the rewards.

For its part, Amazon has explained that Astro includes multiple features to improve privacy. By defining out-of-bounds zones you can let the robot know which areas of your home are off limits, and you can use Do Not Disturb features to tell Astro you need some alone time.

On top of that, much like Echo devices, Astro's microphone and camera have an off button. When this is pressed Astro's microphones, bezel, periscope cameras, and depth sensors are disconnected, meaning they can't capture video or audio, nor move about your home.

Any data that is collected is stored securely, and any data that is sent to Amazon's servers is encrypted in transit. You can find more details about Amazon Astro's privacy on the official Amazon webpage.

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Amazon says claims its Astro robot could be dangerous are 'inaccurate'

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Amazon's new robot Astro - unveiled at the recent Amazon 2021 event - has been presented as a helpful AI assistant who you can't help but find a little cute. However, a new report suggests that Astro's presence in your home could be more sinister than its outer shell would have you believe.

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Be a digital buddy

Do you know someone who could benefit from being online, but doesn't know where to start or isn't convinced it could make a difference to their lives?

Why not become an Age UK digital buddy and inspire older people in your community to make the most of technology and the internet?

Watch the video to become a digital buddy

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Internet and technology learning for the elderly | Age UK

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Do you know someone who could benefit from being online, but doesn't know where to start or isn't convinced it could make a difference to their lives? Why not become an Age UK digital buddy and inspire older people in your community to make the most of technology and the internet?

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Our range of how-to tutorials, walkthroughs and guides to getting started with smart home devices. We've lived with Alexa, Google Assistant and a range big-n...

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With the advance of digital technology, more and more people are choosing ebooks and audiobooks over printed books. Amazon alone offers millions of ebooks in every category you could think of. Some are free, while others come with a hefty price tag.

The good news is, you can always head over to a digital library to get the information you need when you need it. You just need to know what to look for. With that being said, check out these five digital libraries for free ebooks, audiobooks, and other online resources.

Open Library started out as an online project designed to preserve interesting websites, ebooks, and other digital assets. Its founders wanted to "create a web page for every book ever published".

Today, users can "borrow" and read millions of ebooks for free. All you need to do is to sign up for an account and browse the Open Library. You can even add new books to its collection.

Registered users can also create custom lists of ebooks, such as "Want to Read" or "Have Read". If you want to add a new book to its collection, register on the Internet Archive, upload your book, and then create an entry on Open Library.

With a quick search, you'll find ebooks in every genre, from art and sci-fi, to medicine. The history collection, for example, features over 1.6 million titles. Luckily, you can filter the results by subject, by author, and other criteria.

Related: Reasons Why You Should Stop Using Goodreads

If you're looking for a particular book, enter its name in the search bar. Or you can click on random ebooks and preview or "borrow" them for free. Some ebooks are available in the much preferred audio format, too.

Another interesting feature is the Search Inside feature. If you need a specific piece of information, you can choose an ebook related to that topic and enter your query in the search bar. Just think about how much time you could save!

Established in 1971, Project Gutenberg aims to digitize books and other cultural works. Today, it features over 60,000 free ebooks that you can download or read online. The best part is, you don't need an ebook reader or special apps to access the titles in its collection.

Users can narrow down their search by title, by popularity, by author, by language, and by file type. They can also search by subject or by category, such as audiobooks, pictures, or music.

While most ebooks are available in English, some have been published in Arabic, Ancient Greek, Navajo, or Mayan languages. This could be an opportunity to brush up on your language skills or even learn a foreign language from scratch.

Like Open Library, Project Gutenberg offers free ebooks in every category, from history and law to music, psychology, and science. Users also have access to "bookshelves" for specific content.

If, say, you want to learn more about the Spanish American War, you can go directly to that bookshelf instead of browsing through thousands of titles.

Related: Kindle or Physical: Which Format Is Best for Reading Your Next Book?

When you select an ebook, you can choose to read it online, in plain text, or in Kindle format. There's also the option to download free ebooks in EPUB format, with or without images. This feature may come in handy if you have limited space on your smartphone or tablet.

Featuring over 32 million ebooks, the Internet Archive is the largest digital library ever created. In addition to free ebooks, its catalog includes 591 billion web pages and millions of videos, concerts, audio files, and software programs.

Think of the Internet Archive as a digital time machine. Some items in its collection date back to the '90s and are not available anywhere else.

The ebooks are organized by category, but you can also search by collection, by author, by topic, or by year of publishing. There's also a huge selection of ebooks for those with disabilities. It features popular works such as Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Jaws, and Dune.

Users have the option to rate and review the books they read. If you find a book that looks interesting, click on it to see what others have to say. After registration, you can upload ebooks and other media files from your personal collection.

Whether you're doing research for an essay, white paper, or science project, it can be difficult to find trustworthy sources. That's where the Wiley Online Library comes in handy.

This digital library offers over 22,000 online books, 1,600 journals, and hundreds of reference works. Most resources are science-focused, covering all manner of topics.

The Business and Management collection, for example, includes hundreds of ebooks and articles on consumer behavior, management, and business technology.

If you're ready to learn a new programming language, head over to the Information Technology section. Narrow down your search by publication date, subject, author, or publisher.

Related: Understand Any Book With the Instaread Book Summary App

Not all ebooks are free to read and download, but you can browse them or access specific chapters. Look for the Free Access icon to see which books are available for free.

Launched in 2009, the World Digital Library selection of rare books, manuscripts, and other materials dating back to 8,000 BC. The collection includes more than 19,000 publications from over 190 countries.

This project was developed by the U.S. Library of Congress and UNESCO, with the purpose of making culture available to everyone. It features thousands of books, photos, and maps that were once only available in museums, so it's just like visiting these cultural institutions from home.

Anyone can download the books for free. Depending on what you're interested in, you may want to check out the rare book collection on offer. There's also the option to search by place, by topic, by time period, by language, or by the institution.

Expand Your Horizons and Keep Learning

As you already know, there's always room for growth. However, this doesn't mean you have to spend a fortune on books and courses. Whether you want to learn a new language, develop your skills, or start a project, everything you need is at your fingertips.

For starters, visit these digital libraries and take your pick. Head over to the Internet Archive for a stroll back in time, or check out the World Digital Library to expand your cultural horizons. If you're doing research for a science paper or work project, go to the Wiley Online Library to get the facts straight.
About The Author

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5 Digital Libraries Where You Can Download Ebooks for Free

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With the advance of digital technology, more and more people are choosing ebooks and audiobooks over printed books. Amazon alone offers millions of ebooks in every category you could think of. Some are free, while others come with a hefty price tag.

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Latest on new release of Windows - expected Oct 2021

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Latest on new release of Windows - expected Oct 2021

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(Image credit: TechRadar)

Windows 11 is finally official, with a new look and much more after being unveiled at Microsoft's big event on June 24.

While an early build had leaked before this, spoiling the new look and the new name, we finally got to see the new operating system in an official capacity, with the Insider Build being released soon after.

There has also been a big focus on the new Microsoft Store, with relaxed allowances alongside the Amazon App Store coming to it as well, so you can download TikTok and other apps if you wish.

There's still some confusion as to the system requirements of what Windows 11 needs for your PC, mainly due to a component called TPM, but it looks as though Microsoft are looking into this.

With this in mind, here's everything we know about the release date, the new features, and more for Windows 11.

Cut to the chase

What is it? Windows 11 is the successor to Windows 10

When is it out? Likely late October

How much does it cost? Free

Microsoft says Windows 11 will be out " this holiday season" - so likely sometime between late November and Christmas.

There is also going to be a yearly update of the new operating system, similar to Apple's efforts with macOS.

While Microsoft released a tool that allowed you to see if your desktop PC or laptop will be able to run Windows 11, it was confirmed to be buggy, giving erroneous results for machines that would have no problem in running the update.

However, another tool has been released which gives you much clearer detail for how eligible for PC is.

It looks as though Microsoft are hinting at a release for Windows 11 in October. Countless screenshots have the date of October 20, alongside messages that state how many are looking forward to "turning it up to 11 in October!"

How to download Windows 11

Now that Microsoft have released the test build, named 22000.51 for Windows Insiders on the developer or beta channel, we have a handy guide in how to download it.

Before you do though, the best point of call would be to make sure that your PC is enrolled for Microsoft's Insider Program first, as long as it meets the requirements.

Be aware though, that we advise only to run it on a PC that's not your main machine, as there are plenty of small issues for now.

Minimum Specifications

There's been a lot of discussion as to which devices are eligible for Windows 11. Regardless of the TPM requirement, others are simply wondering if they need to look to upgrade their PC or laptop soon.

For now, Microsoft have published the requirements for the update, but they are subject to change as we near release and the company take feedback on board.

Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster with at least two cores on a compatible 64-bit processor or SoC

RAM: 4GB

Storage: 64GB

System Firmware: UEFI, Secure Boot capable

TPM: Trusted Platform Module 2.0

Graphics Card: DirectX 12 or later with WDDM 2.0 driver

Display: 720p, 8-bit per color channel, at least 9-inch diagonal

Internet Connection and Microsoft Account: Windows 11 Home requires an active internet connection and a Microsoft Account to complete initial, first-use setup of the operating system, or when switching a device out of Windows 11 Home in S-mode.

How much is Windows 11?

Windows 11 will be a free update for existing Windows users - you'll need to be online to download, install and activate Home versions, and you'll need to have a Microsoft account when installing it on or upgrading your PC or tablet.

So far Microsoft have released the hardware requirements for Windows 11, but there's confusion over TPM (Trusted Platform Module) and whether the company are pushing hard over the minimum threshold for which devices are eligible to be updated to the new version.

While we've got a handy explainer for you that goes into TPM, hardware vendors can still offer new machines with Windows 11 that won't need this requirement, albeit with good reason to.

Windows 11 features

There are improvements across the board in Windows 11, with Microsoft promising that updates will be 40% smaller, and touting Windows 11 as "the most secure release yet".

The taskbar is optimized for touch as well as mouse peripherals, and is now renamed the dock.

New multitasking features are also on offer thanks to a feature called Snap Layouts, which enables you to arrange multiple windows across the screen, not just side by side, but in columns, sections and more.

Another feature is Snap Groups, where you can go back to previously snapped windows from the dock, so for example you can go to your email app, Edge browser windows or anything else without having to snap them back to the previous view again.

There's also improved multi-monitor support, so when you reconnect an external monitor, Windows 11 remembers the previous positions of the windows that were on that monitor.

There's even an estimated installation time for Windows Update, so you can see whether you need to hold off from updating your PC until later in the day.

Teams is also integrated to the dock, so you can easily join in with meetings and family calls. This looks like the first inkling of Skype disappearing from Windows, especially with the Skype sounds being heard in the demo when a call was incoming.

The Microsoft Store is finally seeing a redesign, with better-curated content, and a better options for managing your purchased shows, such as mirroring them to your television. Apps such as Disney+, Adobe Creative Cloud, Pinterest and more are already in this redesigned store for Windows 11, ready to go.

WPA, EWP and Win32 apps are now all in the Microsoft Store, ready to go. If a developer has a commerce engine, they can keep 100% of the revenue brought from the Microsoft Store.

Android apps are also ready for Windows 11, discoverable from the Microsoft Store, via the Amazon App Store, so you can download TikTok and more, ready to use on your PC or tablet.

We suspect that the reason why Amazon are allowing their version of the store instead of Google, may be to do with the .APK filename being replaced from August.

The new store opens up possibilities for other applications to arrive in Windows 11, even Apple's iMessage, which could follow iTunes and Safari.

A new look for 11

One of the biggest changes users will notice is that the Start menu has been moved to the center of the screen - and it's now "cloud powered", so it dynamically changes depending on the time of day, and the content you're working with.

Light Mode and Dark Mode are official, with rounded corners and a unified design across the operating system, with colorful wallpapers to choose from as well.

There are also some windows that look Aero-esque from Windows Vista, showing you bite-sized information.

Windows Widgets are back in Windows 11, accessible via the dock, with Microsoft touting AI-powered dynamic features that enable widgets, as with the Start menu, to change depending on the apps you're using and the time of day. On the touchscreen, you can slide from the left on the desktop to have widgets appear.

There are plenty to choose from, such as the weather, Bing maps, news, and more.

These will be available for third-parties as well, so you may see as many widgets available to pick as there are on Apple's iOS and iPadOS operating systems.

Gaming on Windows 11

Gaming will be a much bigger focus in Windows 11, with the sluggish and frustrating-to-use Windows 10 Xbox app replaced by a new Game Pass app that enables you to buy, manage and remove games, making it easier for you to access and download games, from Doom Eternal to - soon - Halo Infinite.

HDR will also be supported on compatible machines, offering improved lighting and contrast for gaming and viewing media. Direct Storage is also here, with the main game assets able to be downloaded and installed, enabling you to play your games even faster than before.

Touch improvements

Tablet mode has been one of Windows' weaker points ever since Windows 8, and the new tablet features that Microsoft showed off for Windows 11 could be key to the operating system's fortunes, especially with future Surface products in the pipeline from Microsoft - to have a new, numbered operating system for its upcoming tablets could be a big selling point for new users.

At the event, Microsoft touted bigger touch targets and easier ways to move windows around, and better rotate optimizations, for example in how windows are rearranged, so you don't lose track of the applications you were using.

Gestures used with the trackpad of the Surface models are also coming to the touchscreen, bringing in some familiarity here. Haptics is also coming to Windows 11 when you use a stylus for better feedback when drawing or sketching.

The touch keyboard has also been redesigned, with a smaller keyboard just for your thumb, and emojis ready to be used. Microsoft says dictation will also be improved, alongside voice commands, with 'delete that' options and more.

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Windows 11 release date, features and everything you need to know

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(Image credit: TechRadar) Windows 11 is finally official, with a new look and much more after being unveiled at Microsoft's big event on June 24. While an early build had leaked before this, spoiling the new look and the new name, we finally got to see the new operating system in an official capacity, with the Insider Build being released soon after.

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Check your broadband speed with this link.

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Speedtest by Ookla - The Global Broadband Speed Test

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Use Speedtest on all your devices with our free desktop and mobile apps.

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This is a service used by the NHS (similar to Zoom) to allow a secure video call to take place.

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What is Near Me?

Attend Anywhere, branded as Near Me by most Scottish Public Sector organisations, is a web-based platform that helps health and social care providers offer video call access to their services as part of their 'business as usual', day-to-day operations.

All people need to use Near Me is a suitable computer or mobile device with Chrome, Safari or Edge web browsers and an internet connection. Computer users will also need a web camera (usually built into laptops) and a headset or speakers.

We support NHS Scotland's use of the platform. We can be contacted at vc.support@nhs.scot or 01224 816666 (Monday - Friday, 08:00 - 18:00).

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Attend Anywhere, branded as Near Me by most Scottish Public Sector organisations, is a web-based platform that helps health and social care providers offer video call access to their services as part of their 'business as usual', day-to-day operations.

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Top Streaming Services for the Elderly - Netflix, catchup TV and more

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Top Streaming Services for the Elderly - Netflix, catchup TV and more

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An article from Age UK which describes the most popular streaming services.

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In a nutshell: Amazon Prime 's video streaming service is different in the UK compared to the US, but like Netflix, it offers a subscription-based streaming service.

As well as users being able to pay a monthly subscription for the video streaming service, you can get it as an extra with Amazon's Prime service, which offers a host of Amazon-based incentives such as free next-day delivery.

You can watch popular movies and TV series instantly and you can even download your favourite Prime videos and watch them on the go without the need for Wi-Fi.

Users can also watch a set of original series on Amazon Prime video - Transparent, Hunters, and The Boys among others.

Shows to watch: The Grand Tour, Star Trek: Picard, Justified, Lost, The Americans, Mr Robot, Man in the High Castle, Alpha House, Vikings and Transparent.

Price: £5.99 a month or £79 for Amazon's yearly Prime subscription.

Free trial for streaming service: 30-day

Devices available on: Roku set-top-boxes, PlayStation, Xbox, Wii, Smart TVs and Blu-ray players from Samsung, LG and Sony. PCs and Macs are also supported through a browser player and apps for iPad, iPhone and Android are available. Amazon Fire tablets come with the Amazon Prime Instant Video service.

Disney+

In a nutshell: Disney+ is the new kid on the block and is now rivalling the well-established streaming services. It offers a whole library of MCU, Disney Channel, Pixar and Fox content, but one of the main reasons it caught the attention of the wider public was its original Star Wars show The Mandalorian, which was a huge success when it debuted on the platform.

This platform has old classic shows such as The Simpsons as well as your favourite Disney films available to watch and other shows such as The Falcon and The Winter are expected to be huge successes as well.

Shows to watch: The Mandalorian, Star Wars: The Original Trilogy, Cheaper by the Dozen, Lion King, the Toy Story movies, Willow.

Price: £5.99 per month or £59.99 for a year

Free trial for streaming service: 7-days

Devices available on: Apple devices, Android phones and TV, tablets, Google Chromecast, some smart TVs from LG, Samsung and Sony, Roku devices, PS4 and Xbox One, and desktop browsers.

BritBox

In a nutshell: This new TV streaming service was created by ITV and the BBC and now it is a place where you can watch all the award-winning and most talked-about British dramas, comedies, films and documentaries from the BBC, ITV, Channel 5 and Channel 4.

BritBox not only shows your favourite British television shows and programmes, but it doesn't show any adverts either.

Shows to watch: Doc Martin, Top Gear, Michael Palin travel programmes, Les Misérables, This Time with Alan Partridge, Silent Witness, EastEnders, Emmerdale, Coronation Street.

Price: £5.99 per month

Free trial for streaming service: 30-days free

Devices available on: PlayStation, Xbox, Apple and Android, Roku, Apple TV, Google Chromecast and Smart TVs made by the likes of LG, Samsung and Panasonic

BBC iPlayer

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Top streaming services for the elderly | Handicare

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In a nutshell: Amazon Prime 's video streaming service is different in the UK compared to the US, but like Netflix, it offers a subscription-based streaming service. As well as users being able to pay a monthly subscription for the video streaming service, you can get it as an extra with Amazon's Prime service, which offers a host of Amazon-based incentives such as free next-day delivery.

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Live Transcribe App - see your speech displayed as text on your android phone

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Live Transcribe App - see your speech displayed as text on your android phone

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Live Transcribe is an accessibility app designed for the deaf and hard of hearing, and usable by anyone. Using Google's state-of-the-art automatic speech recognition technology, Live Transcribe performs real-time transcription of speech and sound to text on your screen, so that you can more easily participate in conversations going on in the world around you.

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Very detailed report here on how to manage your health, including wellbeing using digital tools

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Thank You to our wonderful Connect Online Volunteers!

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Thank You to our wonderful Connect Online Volunteers!

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No need to remember your pin but you might want to use hand cream to keep your fingerprints clear!

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New technology that could give a further layer of security when using a bank card has been trialled.

A fingerprint reader is built into the card itself. It stores the details of your fingerprint and checks it is you using the card each time you make a purchase.

Cards using this biometric system could be rolled out as soon as next year and may enable you to make purchases up to the value of your credit limit.

BBC Click finds out more.

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Testing the debit card with a fingerprint sensor

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New technology that could give a further layer of security when using a bank card has been trialled. A fingerprint reader is built into the card itself. It stores the details of your fingerprint and checks it is you using the card each time you make a purchase.

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Most new TVs are Smart TVs, but what exactly is a Smart TV, and what benefits do they provide?

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Smart televisions are made by a variety of manufacturers including, but not limited to, those made by LG, Samsung, Panasonic, Sony, and Vizio.

What Is a Smart TV, Anyway?

In a nutshell, a smart TV connects directly to the internet and incorporates an operating system/platform that lets you access, manage, and view online and network-based media content like Hulu or Netflix without the need to use an additional device such as a Roku or Fire Stick.

How Smart TVs Work

Smart TVs access online content by connecting to the same broadband router and Ethernet or Wi-Fi network you use to connect your computer to the internet. Ethernet provides the most stable connection, but if your TV is in a different room or a long distance from your router, Wi-Fi might be more convenient.

Once your TV is connected and turned on, you'll be prompted to enter any login information required by your internet service provider. The smart TV will display an on-screen menu that includes a list of available internet channels provided as apps (similar to the apps on a smartphone). Some apps come preloaded, and you can download more to add to the TV's app library.

When you click on the icon for a specific channel/app, you are taken to its content offerings, which you can select and view.

Exactly how you navigate through the smart TV menu and manage your apps varies with the brand and model.

The Benefit of Smart TVs

The main benefit of a smart TV is access to many channels that offer TV programs, movies, and music without the need to connect a TV antenna or subscribe to a cable/satellite service. Also, some smart TVs provide web browsing, gaming, and access to compatible media content stored on your computer.

Although smart TVs also can receive TV programming via antenna or cable/satellite, Vizio has actually taken the bold step of eliminating built-in tuners and antenna/cable connections on most of its sets in favor of its built-in streaming platform as an all-encompassing replacement.

Additional Smart TV Features

In addition to internet streaming, some smart TVs provide more capabilities, such as Miracast and Screen Sharing, which allow users to view content from compatible smartphones and tablets on a TV screen. Other labels for this feature include SmartShare (LG) and SmartView (Samsung).

Some smart TVs can even do the reverse: send content from the TV to a compatible smartphone. After sending, the user can continue to view that content on the smartphone, away from the TV.

A Few Things to Consider

The hype surrounding smart TVs is compelling, but there are some cost considerations and limitations to consider.

Although smart TV platforms provide access to many free channels and services, many require either a monthly subscription or a pay-per-view fee. When you start adding up those costs, you could end up spending as much, or more, than a monthly cable/satellite bill. On the other hand, you will be paying only for the channels and content you want.

Can Smart TVs Spy on You?

Using a smart TV may result in privacy issues. Smart TVs and content app providers usually track your viewing habits to provide you with viewing suggestions. For example, every time you log into Netflix, the menu shows what you've watched recently, as well as updated suggestions for related movies or programs that you might like based on your 'watched recently' list.

You might think that this type of tracking is a good thing because it cuts search time for movies or programs to watch, but a smart TV might be doing more than track your viewing habits. If your smart TV has a webcam or voice control, there is a possibility that someone could hack in and see/hear you.

Also, any credit card purchases you make using your TV might be trackable by third parties. If your voice control or webcam is on, don't say or do anything that you wouldn't do or say in public-and be cautious with your online credit card purchases.

Smart TV Shopping Tips

When shopping for a TV, just about all brands/models offer some level of smart functionality that expands your viewing options. Be aware, however, of variations in content access, additional subscription/pay-per-view costs, possible privacy issues, and the need to balance the attractiveness of a specific smart TV with other important factors such as picture quality, sound quality, and physical connectivity.

If you want to add TV, movie, music streaming, and other smart features to your home entertainment experience but don't know if you need a smart TV, here are some guidelines:

If you are shopping for a new TV and don't have any other devices that provide access to internet streaming content, then getting a smart TV is a good choice.

If you already have a smart TV that doesn't provide access to the number or type of streaming channels you would like, consider adding an external media streamer, streaming stick, or internet-enabled Blu-ray disc player rather than buying a new smart TV.

If you already own a TV without smart features but are satisfied with its picture quality and other features, you don't need to buy a smart TV. Just add a media streamer, streaming stick, or internet-enabled Blu-ray disc player to your current setup.

If you are concerned about privacy issues, consider an external media streaming device. It won't prevent purchase or viewing habit tracking, but it does prevent direct audio/video spying.

If you are interested in audio-only streaming, a network-enabled stereo or home theater receiver will provide better sound quality for music listening than a smart TV.

A smart TV is just one way to add internet streaming and related features to your TV viewing experience. Use the guidelines above to decide if it's the best choice for you.

On a Budget? Try a Smart TV Alternative

If you recently purchased, or currently have, a TV without smart features or an older smart TV with limited options, you don't need to buy a new smart TV if your TV still works well and satisfies your picture-quality needs. You can add smart features to your current TV viewing experience at a minimal cost.

Media Streamers

A media streamer is typically a small box that plugs into your TV's HDMI port and connects to your internet router via Ethernet/Wi-Fi. If you have an older TV without an HDMI input, your options are more limited. Older model Roku Express+ media streamers (which you might find on Amazon or other retailing sites) provide analog video audio connections for those cases.

Another type of media streamer is a stick that is slightly larger than a USB flash drive and plugs into an available HDMI input. The stick-type media streamer provides Wi-Fi access to your TV, so make sure you have a wireless internet router. The stick also needs to connect to a USB or AC power source.

Blu-ray Disc Players

In addition to playing physical media such as Blu-ray discs, DVDs, and CDs, almost all Blu-ray Disc players provide access to many internet streaming channels (depending on brand and model).

The internet channel selection is usually not as extensive as with a media streaming box or stick. Still, it is undoubtedly convenient: You don't have to connect both a media streamer and a Blu-ray disc player to your TV, which cuts down on cable clutter. If you are a fan of DVDs, Blu-ray discs, and CDs but want to add streaming as an additional content source, a Blu-ray disc player might be the solution for you.

DVRs

Companies such as Channel Master and TIVO market over-the-air DVRs that combine the reception of over-the-air (OTA) TV signals, video recording, and internet streaming in one box.

Like Blu-ray disc players, the internet channel selection might be limited, and recording features work only with OTA programs. It does provide another option that cord-cutters can take advantage of, though. DVRs are more expensive than media streamers and Blu-ray disc players.

Stereo and Home Theater Receivers (Audio Only)

Although smart TVs and media streamers include some online music channels, music fans appreciate the capabilities of network-enabled stereo or home theater receivers. This option provides access to several streaming music services and plays that music back through the stereo or home theater speaker setup. The result is a much higher-quality listening experience than built-in TV speakers or even a TV combined with a soundbar can deliver.

App Platforms by Smart TV Brand

TV brands incorporate one or more platforms through which they offer apps. (This integrated platform is what makes a TV smart.) Here are a few of the brands and platforms you're likely to find:

Element, Toshiba, Westinghouse: Amazon Fire TV

Insignia, Hisense/Sharp, Hitachi, TCL, Philips, Element: Roku TV

LG: WebOS

Samsung: Tizen, Smart Hub

Element, LeECO, Sharp, Sony, Toshiba, Westinghouse: Android TV

Haier, JVC, LeECO, Philips, Polaroid, Sharp, Skyworth, Soniq, Sony, Toshiba: Chromecast

Philips: NetTV

Sharp: VEWD

Vizio: SmartCast or Internet Apps Plus

Do I need the internet to use a smart TV?

Yes. Unless your TV supports antenna or cable/satellite television, you need an internet connection to watch TV. That said, you can still connect game consoles and DVD players, although you don't need a smart TV to use those devices.

Do smart TVs come with built-in Wi-Fi?

Yes, most of the time. Look for "Wi-Fi-enabled" in the product description to be sure. To connect your smart TV to Wi-Fi, go to the TV's welcome screen, search for available wireless networks, select your network, and enter the password.

How do I add apps to my smart TV?

The steps for adding apps to your smart TV depend on the brand, but most models have an option to search for apps on the home screen. You can download apps for free, but you may need to set up an account to use some streaming services.

How do I connect my phone or tablet to my smart TV?

The easiest option is to use an HDMI cable, but you may need an adapter to use the HDMI cable. If you want to wirelessly connect your phone to your smart TV, use Google Chromecast (for Android) or Apple AirPlay (for iOS). In addition, many apps, including Google Chrome and YouTube, offer the option to cast to your TV.

Thanks for letting us know!

Other Not enough details Hard to understand

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Smart televisions are made by a variety of manufacturers including, but not limited to, those made by LG, Samsung, Panasonic, Sony, and Vizio. In a nutshell, a smart TV connects directly to the internet and incorporates an operating system/platform that lets you access, manage, and view online and network-based media content like Hulu or Netflix without the need to use an additional device such as a Roku or Fire Stick.

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Sit back, put your feet up, have a cuppa and let Robo Vac do it's thing!

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This articles suggests temporarily switching off and unplugging your router if you start to experience connection problems. It gets more technical after the switching on again but don't worry about that!

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Resetting your router is one of the first things you should try if your internet goes down. Restarting your router will reset your connection settings, interrupt malicious attacks on your network, and boot off unwanted devices from your network. Rebooting your router will also resolve a wide range of issues with speed and connectivity.

Here is how you can reset your router manually and remotely, plus some important things you should know about rebooting your router.

Step 1: Physically unplug your router and modem

While your router may have an onboard option called Reset or Restart, you should be careful about using these since they may initiate a factory reboot and erase all your current settings. Instead, unplug your router and modem (you may have a combined unit, in which case unplug that) from everything they are attached to (including each other and their power sources).

Once unplugged, leave the router alone for about a minute to make sure the router is fully cooled off and that your devices have all registered that the Wi-Fi network is indeed down.

Now go back and plug the modem back into its power source. Wait a bit for the modem to warm up and get ready to pass along its sweet internet connection - another minute should do the trick. Now, plug the router back into the modem, the outlet, and any other necessary connections. Wait a couple of minutes for the router to shake hands with everyone and establish your wireless internet signal once again.

Step 2: Update your firmware

The firmware is the integral software that keeps your router functioning. While router firmware doesn't upgrade as often as computer operating systems, it does receive occasional updates, especially when there's a big security problem. Your next step should be to download any new router firmware so that any router vulnerabilities that might exist are patched. For this, you will need your router login information.

Typically, you can use an app or an administrator site to check for firmware and then download it. Here's how to access Linksys setup. Here's how to do it with TP-Link and with Netgear. We also have a more in-depth guide for common router brand logins. Every brand of router, even the obscure ones, should have its own instructions to access these administrator tools. One of the options, when logged in, will be Firmware Update, Router Update, or something similar. Choose this option and follow the instructions.

Please note that you can't use your Wi-Fi when the router uploads and implements the firmware patch. This doesn't usually take longer than about five minutes, but it's still good to keep in mind. Never try to turn off or mess with your router while the firmware is updating since this could cause serious problems.

If the upgrade process turns your router back to its factory default settings, follow our guide on setting it up again.

Step 3: Update any related apps

Many modern routers offer apps that you can download on mobile devices to manage your router settings or view router usage reports.

If you use one of these apps, you should also visit your app settings and update to the most recent version. It's a small but important step you should take. The same is true if your router uses a voice assistant app or something similar.

Step 4: Change your password

Do you still use the default password for your router settings? Since you just logged into administrator controls, you probably have a good idea. Many of us are guilty of keeping the default password set for all that administrator stuff since we rarely use it. Unfortunately, this makes it much easier to hack a router, and since there have now been big news stories about router hacking, many hackers will be perking up and wondering if they should get in on the action.

That means that now is the perfect time to switch from the default password to a robust password of your own creation (and then store it in a password manager). The same administrator tools that helped you update your firmware can help you change your password, too. Look for an option to change the password or login information.

Resetting a router remotely

Maybe you don't have physical access to the router, or your router is in a less-accessible spot, and you're groaning at the thought of getting to it. For many routers, you can reboot with access to the right website. You will need to know your public IP address for your router - and some websites can help you out with this. Search your public IP address, and this should give you access to your router's administrative page (this is also a good idea for the steps above if you don't know how to find this website). Again, your password information will be needed here.

While every router brand has a different kind of site, most offer options to reboot your router remotely. Search the site for the word "reboot" or look at your router tools until you find the right option.

Note: Make sure that you are rebooting/resetting and not doing a full factory reset. For router apps, in particular, reset options are often factory resets, not simpler reboots. Look carefully at the description before starting the process. Otherwise, you might find yourself disconnected from Wi-Fi when your router wipes your settings back to default.

How often should you reset your router?

Most people save resetting their router for solving technical issues, but that's not the only time you should do it. Routers, like computers, work best with regular hard resets. Resetting a router can also clear the memory, which is critical for those with multiple devices or an older router. Resetting your router is an easy way to prevent malware attempts - the FBI even recommends router resets for that reason.

Mark a router reset on your calendar for about every two months. If you forget, it's not the end of the world, but if you want to keep your device healthy and performing effectively, it's worth making an effort. As you saw in this article, resetting the router is quick and easy to do, so it's worth taking the time every so often.

If you have router issues even after a reset, you might want to take a look at our guide on common Wi-Fi problems and how to fix them . Keep in mind that not even the best tips can save a router that's on its last legs, though. If you've tried everything to no avail, it might be time to go shopping for a replacement router and lay your old one to rest.

Editors' Recommendations

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How to Reset Your Router | Digital Trends

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Resetting your router is one of the first things you should try if your internet goes down. Restarting your router will reset your connection settings, interrupt malicious attacks on your network, and boot off unwanted devices from your network. Rebooting your router will also resolve a wide range of issues with speed and connectivity.

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So newer smart TVs use HDMI cables to connect devices or wifi to cast from e.g. tablets, ipads, smartphones. What do you do if you have an old device with SCART connections and want to connect to new TV with HDMI? Get an adapter!

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What is a SCART to HDMI Converter?

A SCART to HDMI adapter is a device that allows you to connect a SCART-enabled media source to a modern HDMI-only TV.

Back in the day, SCART connectors were the standard, especially in Europe. It is a 21-pin connector that can carry analogue audio as well as video.

The connector was designed in the 1970s and was the standard connector for TVs and other devices all the way up until the invention of HDMI. Nowadays, since HDMI became the new standard, SCART is exceptionally rare.

SCART to HDMI adapters are particularly useful for people who have older equipment (VCRs, Playstation 1, Xbox, and other consoles) and want to connect them to their TV.

So if you have an older device with SCART output and your TV only has HDMI ports, then you'll need a SCART to HDMI adapter. There are quite a few to choose from, and most are budget-friendly.

Our recommended adapters are below.

Our selection of the best SCART to HDMI converters

1 - Techole Aluminum SCART to HDMI Adapter

Good value for your money

The Techole Aluminum SCART to HDMI adapter is great for people on a budget. Although it's one of the cheapest items on our list, it delivers the same performance as most other Scart to HDMI adapters. Definitely worth a look.

The Techhole Scart to HDMI adapter can offer a 720P or 1080P at 60 Hz (switch with a button) HDMI output video signal with decent and reliable quality. As you might expect, it supports all Scart formats; PAL, NTSC3.58, NTSC4.43, and many others.

With an aluminium shell, the gadget not only looks nice, but it's also very durable. Another benefit of the aluminium shell is it keeps the device nice and cool, a problem plastic adapters struggle with. For power, it uses a USB micro cable, which can work with your TV's USB port.

In short, a good value for your money Scart to HDMI adapter. Super easy to install too!

2 - AMANKA SCART To HDMI Converter 1080P SCART to HDMI Adapter UK Power Adapter

Lightweight and mini-size

This mini-size and lightweight device ( approx. 45g) can connect SCART devices such as DVD player, set-top box Converting analogue SCART signal to HDMI signal It is a brilliant device able to Auto-detect and auto-convert composite signal to high-quality resolution 720p/60Hz and1080p/60Hz delivering sharp and more realistic HD visuals. It's a superb device for gamers, and it is also perfect for retro consoles, it is also suitable for those who want to scale up VCRs in a bigger TV. It transforms all forms of SCART input; PAL, NTSC3.58. NTSC4.43, SECAM, PAL/M, PAL/N standard TV formats. This converter requires an external power supply through a USB power cable. Amanka SCART io HDMI converter offers you simplicity and convenience since it is easy to use, and requires no installation of drivers. The lightweight nature and small size make it a portable and flexible product.

3 - OLRIKE STH001 1080P SCART To HDMI

Manual Resolution Switch (1080p to 720p)

If you're looking for a good SCART to HDMI adapter, the OLRIKE STHC001 won't disappoint. The small and lightweight adapter has one SCART input and one HDMI output, as well as a USB power cable. There's also a resolution switch on the device, so you can quickly switch between 720p and 1080p.

Couple things to keep in mind. The LRIKE STH001 does not provide reverse compatibility. In other words, it can't be used to convert HDMI to SCART, it only works from SCART to HDMI. The maximum output resolution is 1080p at 60hz. It supports PAL, NTSC3.58, NTSC4.43, SECAM, and the other standard video formats.

One interesting thing about this adapter is it also upscales the resolution from the source to either 720p or 1080p. No drivers needed, either. It completely plugs and play!

So if you have a SCART device, like a DVD or VHS player, this adapter will do the trick. For best results, make sure to plug the USB into a socket that has sufficient power. If the device doesn't get enough power, the image might not be clear. Overall, a great SCART to HDMI adapter.

4 - AMANKA SCART to HDMI Converter - Aluminum

Durable Aluminum Shell

The Amanka Scart to HDMI converter is another good budget choice. It converts a Scart input into HDMI output, and you can switch between 1080P and 720P with a small switch.

What's great about this converter is the body is made with aluminium which keeps the internal components cool, so that chances of it overheating are very low. The adapter works with most displays, and it also automatically upscales the resolution to 1080P at 60Hz. It's completely plug and play so there's no need for drivers.

If you want to watch VHS videos, this would be the converter for that. A well-rounded Scart to HDMI converter.

5 - MISOTT Scart to HDMI Converter

Uses a DV5V power cable

Here's another Scart to HDMI converter by MISOTT. It works as you might expect, converts Scart input to HDMI output, with the standard 720/1080P switch.

The only difference between this converter and the others on the list is this one uses a power adapter, not the standard USB cable. It uses a DV5V power cable.

For that reason, it's a little more inconvenient to use, but it delivers sharp and reliable images and audio. If you have a free power socket, the Misott Scart to HDMI converter could be perfect for you. There is a model without a power supply, but the images tend to be unreliable.

A very useful device for people with older electronics!

Recommended product if you're looking for an HDMI to SCART conversion:

6 - NeoteckAluminum HDMI to SCART Converter

High-quality signal

If you want to experience quality resolution, but your T.V has no HDMI ports NeoteckAluminium HDMI to SCART converter is the best device for you. Given that it's HDCP 1.3 Version Compliant with HDMI 1.3 Standard it is designed to convert the high quality of HDMI signal to quality SCART signal. The NeoteckAluminium also allows you to enjoy high definition movies and games on older SCART TVs and projectors that don't support HDMI input by enabling SCART Composite Video and Stereo Audio Output. Another perk is its plug and play capability, meaning it doesn't require extra drivers making it easier to use. The device can be pretty hot after hours of usage, but the manufacturers have innovatively designed an aluminium casing to give it excellent heat resistance. This aluminium casing also makes it shatterproof, making it a reliable and durable product.

Converting SCART to HDMI guide

Struggling to get your old media player or console working with your TV? Frustrated with the lack of good quality tutorials and converters out there? We'll briefly run through some of the most important things that you need to know about converting SCART to HDMI.

First things first, older generation devices use a type of signal called analogue, while modern TVs use digital. The SCART to HDMI converters need to convert analogue to digital, therefore they require a power supply.

Resolution

Keep in mind, SCART is an old technology, created back in the 1970s. Although it does carry audio too, the audio is usually limited to stereo and mono audio, and the maximum resolution is 560P. In other words, it doesn't natively support HD.

Back in the day, that was more than enough. Nowadays, not so much. Most of the SCART to HDMI adapters can upscale the resolution to at least 1080p, which is the most common resolution on displays today. Make sure you choose an adapter with the upscale feature!

Even so, the upscale can only do so much. What it does is essentially blow up the smaller resolution to fill the screen on your TV. If you don't use a converter with a resolution upscale feature, the image will be in letter-box mode.

In other words, it won't fill the entire screen, which can be bothersome.

Can you use a SCART to HDMI cable?

When researching how to convert SCART to HDMI you have probably come across a SCART to HDMI cable. The problem is most of these cables do not work. Since SCART does not support HD, you'll need an adapter that can upscale the resolution, and to do that, the adapter needs a power source.

Although buying a cable might seem like a cheaper and easier solution, it doesn't work, so it's much better to invest in a good quality converter, such as the ones mentioned earlier in this article.

Read more about SCART to HDMI cables here.

Multi Scart Adaptors:

Do you have more than one old-school console? One way to hook them up to your new TV would be to use a multi-Scart adapter. These will allow you to play multiple console games on your TV.

Bear in mind, it will only work with one active device at a time, the others can be connected but must be powered down. You might also need to attach one end to a Scart to HDMI converter.

Are SCART to HDMI Adapters Backward Compatible?

No. Scart to HDMI adapters can only work in one direction, SCART input to HDMI output. It won't work in reverse. Most converters require external power too.

Can You Play Retro Games on New TVs?

Yes. To play retro games on new TVs, you will need either an RGB or SCART to HDMI converter. However, converters that upscale the resolution often introduce noticeable input lag which can be frustrating.

There are several devices designed to not only upscale retro games but also reduce input lag as much as possible. The problem is they are usually very expensive, such as the Framemeister XRG, OSSC, and Gscartsw, which often cost as much (or some times more!) than a modern gaming console.

Another simple way to reduce input lag on retro games is to enable your TV's game mode. For the average consumer, a basic 1080P RGB or SCART to HDMI converter should do the trick.

Will a Smart TV Upscale Picture Output From a VCR or DVD Player Connected with Scart?

Most Smart TVs will automatically upscale video signals. If the end result is too pixelated, you can either adjust the aspect ratio of your TV, decrease the resolution, or disable some post-processing effects. In most cases, there will always be lots of pixels when upscaling retro games on new TVs, it's unavoidable.

Converting HDMI to SCART

You're probably wondering if it's possible to convert HDMI to SCART. In other words, use an HDMI-device as the input, and SCART as the output (SCART-enable monitor, TV, etc). The answer is yes it is possible.
How to Use a Scart to HDMI Converter?
To do that, you will need the same kind of converter, but with reverse input and output. Remember, the switcher also needs to have an external power source. I would avoid the HDMI to SCART cables, as they rarely - if ever - work.
Can I Get a SCART to HDMI Cable?
Common Uses:
Can I Get an HDMI to SCART Converter?
What kind of practical uses does this product have? Maybe you have an old VHS or DVD player lying around. Or you want to play some retro games.
Does a Scart to HDMI Converter Work with a VHS Player?
Dreamcast, Xbox, Playstation 1 & 2, Sega Saturn, Gamecube, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo 64, and other consoles, support SCART. If you want to take a trip down memory lane, then you'll need a SCART to HDMI converter.
These converters make it possible for you to connect your modern devices with your old ones, even if they don't have nearly the same specifications or features. Overall, a very handy gadget, and well worth the investment.
Will a SCART to HDMI Converter Work on a DVD Player?
FAQ:

Most Scart to HDMI converters are plug and play but you do need to connect the USB power cable to a socket that can provide enough electricity, a USB wall charger is ideal. Usually, the converter will have an LED light that indicates if there's enough electricity.

Yes, but they usually don't work. If they do, the image quality is not the best. HDMI to Scart requires a signal conversion, which is not possible without a proper power source. Cables don't have a power source.

You can convert HDMI to SCART but you will need to find the right converter. Look for converters that have HDMI as input and SCART as output.

Yes, most SCART to HDMI converters will work with VHS players. It's one of the most popular reasons people buy this converter.

Yes, a SCART to HDMI will work with any SCART device, including DVD players. In fact, it's the main reason people buy these adapters. Many people have VHS and DVD combo players that are a little dated, and they need a way to connect them to their TVs. These converters will do the trick.

In the UK, these converters are available in a variety of shops online and on the high street. Argos and Asda also sell these. Maplin has a selection of products including the Maplin SCART to HDMI Converter Adaptor 1080P/720P includes 5V Power Supply, cablesdirect.co.uk also has a wide variety, but probably the most obvious place to buy yours will be amazon.co.uk.

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Best SCART to HDMI Converters & Adapters { Top 5 LIST }

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What is a SCART to HDMI Converter? A SCART to HDMI adapter is a device that allows you to connect a SCART-enabled media source to a modern HDMI-only TV. Back in the day, SCART connectors were the standard, especially in Europe. It is a 21-pin connector that can carry analogue audio as well as video.

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