IN THIS ISSUE

30.06.18

As something of a technophobe, I found the article on page 26 about the rise of robots more than a little disturbing – it seems I’ve got some catching up to do! I’m not a complete cavewoman, I mean I work on a computer all day, I’m on my phone constantly, have several social media accounts, own a tablet and a mobile wifi device. But after the basics, it all starts to get a little tricky. The thought of a device in my home that can turn lights on and off, tell me when I’ve run out of milk and turn the dinner on (and off, if I happen to get delayed in traffic) is, frankly, a little terrifying. Never mind a hotel where you’re checked in by robots! But the biggest fear I have about the advancement of technology is the loss of human contact. I love meeting new people, I adore conversations, I like to pick people’s brains about things, I want to know what their recommendations are based on a personal experience not because an algorithm told them it has a good rating on TripAdvisor. I’m very much a people person so the thought of a self-driving car over a taxi is so anathema to me – I still haven’t got used to using self-service tills rather than queuing in a supermarket. I’m all for advancement and making the world a better and more efficient place for us all to live, but if that means I get to talk less, that’s definitely not part of my future plans!

On page 47, you’ll see our new Foodie News page, which will bring you all the latest food and drink news from around Ireland. From dinners out to cosy nights in, it will feature top tips and suggestions to tickle your tastebuds. We’ll have recipes too and a guest contributor to be announced in the coming weeks. Exciting!

Enjoy the issue.