2020 and half of 2021 have been real game-changers. More and more people study and work remotely, limit socialization, and, as a result, need to figure out what to do with their free time and an urge to connect. One of the simplest and most affordable options is gaming. And players are no longer content with regular games, they want more! Better technologies improved audio and video, and real-time connection with friends.

That is why in this article we want to discuss technologies that are changing the gaming industry for good. Read attentively and be among the first to try them out.

Augmented and virtual reality 

Gaming comes in a variety of shapes. You can race and fight enemies and the next moment place a few bets on slots after reading the FastPay casino review and hit the jackpot. And these games are already top-notch, have a great design, and offer a full immersion into the process. One of the technologies that have greatly contributed to the development of online gaming is augmented and virtual reality or simply AR and VR.

If you are a fan of realistic games and immersive environments, these technologies are definitely worth your attention. With the help of headsets, gloves, and even special costumes you can become an active participant in the gameplay. Instead of sitting on a couch, you can jump, run, climb, and shoot.

The technology isn’t new and was first introduced at the end of the 1990s. But only with the appearance of Pokemon Go and similar games, players understood all the advantages AR and VR can offer. Plus, nowadays you don’t have to purchase expensive consoles and instead buy cheaper wearables.

Cloud-based technology

Cloud technologies can be found in all industries and spheres. With their help, the technical power and resources needed for software or game are located not on the device but in remote data centres. The advantages of cloud-based technologies are obvious. First of all, games and players are not tied to certain devices, and can enjoy the process on smartphones, consoles, and even TV sets. Another benefit is that you don’t have to buy expensive consoles and computers. Just purchase the game itself or the subscription and play on any device that you have!

The adoption of this technology has changed the online gaming market for good. Now, users only need a secure Internet connection not depending on their location. When you press the key, it is sent to the distant cloud server and then to a video frame. The process takes less than a second and the experience doesn’t differ from playing on a physical console.

Even industry giants understand that cloud technology is the future. Microsoft has already transitioned consoles to Xbox Cloud Gaming. They also upgrade the hardware to boost load times, optimize games, and support larger screens. Amazon followed Microsoft’s example and introduced a cloud gaming service named Luna. And don’t forget about Apple Arcade and the launch of Netflix games that will be introduced rather soon. 

5G – no more lags

Gaming lag is probably the most annoying thing for gamers. It means the delay between an action you make and the server’s reaction. However, the 5G technology wants to solve the problem by improving the streaming experience. According to tests and trials, 5G latency is much lower compared to 4G. This, in turn, boosts the user experience and makes the game smooth and lag-free.

Another advantage is that 5G supports a bigger number of device connections – up to 1 million/0.38 square miles (compared to 2,000 connections with 4G). In other words, the number of users who can access the game significantly increases. 5G is surely the future of the gaming market especially in urban communities where lags are a real problem. 

Don’t miss the future

At the moment, there are more than 2.2 billion mobile gamers in the world, so it’s not surprising that this category becomes a target audience for tech companies across the world. We all witness the appearance of cloud-based applications, as well as smartphone titles with augmented and virtual reality. If you prefer being among the first to test new technologies, we recommend following the news and tendencies. The future will definitely surprise us!

1. Visualise the horizon

When you are young and just starting out on a career, your retirement can seem irrelevant as it is such a long way off. So far off in fact that finding the motivation to save for this highly-important time in your life maybe somewhat difficult.

However, there is no doubt that the earlier you start saving for your post-work years, the better. The earlier you start, the more time you will have to grow and shape a useful amount of money to fund you in your later years. It is also never too early to start visualising how you want your retirement to look. As well as knowing you are putting money away to create security, you are also putting money by for that bucket list of things you can do when work takes a backseat! This is perhaps the two factors that will give you the motivation to start saving long-term and encourage an interest in your financial long-term options.

2. Where to start saving 

The best way to get into saving early is by opting-in to your employer’s pension scheme. In the UK it is mandatory that all businesses must provide an appropriate pension scheme to employees earning at least £10,000 per year and who are over the age of 22. You do not have to worry about sorting out a pension (this is done for you – 4% of your salary is taken out at source, and you will then receive an extra 1% in tax relief from the government) and your employer also provides a minimum of 3%. You can of course look into your own pension scheme but take those extra benefits you will receive from your employer’s pension scheme very seriously.

3. Monitoring performance as your needs change

As you grow older it is important you keep an eye on the performance of your pension, the benefits you will receive and changes in governmental regulations concerning finances. The problem with opting-in is it takes the whole project of contributing to a pension out of your hands.

To offset this you need to nurture, as far you can, an understanding of how pensions work and what is available on the market. In this way, you can monitor the performance of your pension in line with your own needs and aspirations for the future. You may want to revisit how much you are contributing, you may wish to transfer your fund to another scheme due to performance issues, or open another pension scheme that has more appropriate benefits. The point is, pensions are really no more than savings. Take an interest in them because they could determine what your future looks like.

4. Approaching retirement 

So, monitoring your pensions and keeping on top of how your savings are dealt with is essential in order to avoid retirement poverty. This approach also allows you to create a real financial route to your retirement. If you know how you can use your savings in later life, you can plan accordingly. For instance, Pension Freedoms allow individuals in the UK to access their pensions savings from the age of 55. Being able to access your savings as you approach your retirement can be a great benefit. Not all pension schemes allow for access at 55. Also accessing your pension early is not right for everyone and can leave you short of income or worse off in retirement. 

As you approach retirement make sure you have kept a track of all the employer’s pension schemes you have been a part of. It is your money – don’t let it go. But if you change your address, they may be unable to find you. Also keep an eye on maximising your State Pension – this is going to be fundamental to your retirement income.

If you are thinking about your pension, consider using a regulated pensions specialist such as Portafina or, view the guidance at Money Helper. 

There are some things that are always discussed when you go to the barbers. Usually, this includes trying to describe what you actually want to be done with your hair, or just asking for a ‘trim’ with no direction, much to the chagrin of the barber.

But once you’re sat in that chair, looking in the mirror at the person coming at your head with a pair of scissors, that’s when the conversation begins. We’ve looked into the most popular topics right now that people are discussing with their barber.

Can’t ignore a pandemic

67% of people are talking about COVID-19 with their hairdresser. Obviously. It’s the hottest topic in the world right now and has replaced asking about the weather. While we have stats about the hot conversations, we don’t have any on the number of bad hairstyles that grew (literally) during lockdowns. But it’s pretty high. So as soon as people were able to visit their barbers, they went in their droves and the discussions about coronavirus flowed – everyone has a story for their barber. And they did.

Family matters

Another hot topic with 67% of people is talking about family. It kind of goes hand in hand with coronavirus, with many people not seeing family members for almost a year, sometimes longer. So, you can imagine how often this would come up in conversation as it’s a common theme for everyone

Work, work, work

Third on the list at 65% is work, and it’s surprising it’s not the joint top. With the coronavirus pandemic forcing many businesses to close down or workers put on furlough schemes, employment has been important to everyone. Whether it’s not working, working from home or being on furlough with the worry of unemployment looming, it’d be difficult not to talk about it. You can understand why this would come up in conversation – if you worked in healthcare then you’d have been (and still are) facing the wrath of the coronavirus so have plenty to share about the topic. Practically every industry is affected – retail, hospitality, the list goes on – there are new ways of working, from remotely to behind screens. All of which makes for very insightful conversation. Especially with your trusty barber.

The place to dish the dirt

Sometimes you want to talk about your significant other, but you can’t report everything back to your parent, or even your best friend. That’s where the hairdresser becomes your new bestie and lends an ear as 48% of people like to talk about personal relationships. It can be a cathartic experience as if you are friendly with your barber then they’ll already be quite chummy and willing to listen to what you have to say. They’ll also show no judgement, at least not in front of you, and you can say what you want, knowing that they’re not going to report back to anyone else.

Healthy conversation

Interestingly, another topic at 48% is physical health. It just goes to show that lots of health nuts are eager to talk about the physical activity they’ve been up to during global lockdowns. And on the flip side, for all the people that fell out of shape, the barber is a good person to talk to, to let them know how the new exercise regime is going. Going to the gym or participating in sports is a common conversation topic and one that’s easy to instigate so it’s not surprising that it makes the list.

Mind does matter

The mind is an important tool and with it, you can control a lot of positivity and negativity. That’s why it’s so good to try and keep your mind as healthy as it can be. You can book beauty and wellness professionals to help revitalise your body and mind, and you can talk to your barber, like 35% of the population. The benefit of this is again you’ve got someone who will hear you out, listen to your grievances. Sometimes it’s good just to talk about things and as well as giving you a trim, that’s what barbers are here for.

Let’s talk about sex

It’s not the taboo subject it once was. We’ve got game shows where people are flashing their bits so it’s not surprising that 29% of people at the barbers are talking about sex. Whether it’s those youngsters boasting about their nights out (and probably hamming up the stories a lot) or regular goers who want to share a naughty story, sex just happens to be something you can’t shy away from.