Around half a million people in Finland do not know how to use digital technology at all — or need help doing so, newspaper Helsingin Sanomat reported.
Twenty percent of Finns over the age of 75 — and nine percent of people 65-74 — do not own a smartphone.
This situation can lead to everyday problems, according to Päivi Topo, the Ombudsman for Older People in Finland.
She explained about some of those stumbling blocks to the paper.
The issues can range from people missing doctors’ appointments because they didn’t realise the appointment information was now handled electronically — and they had to ask a relative to gain access to the digital service in the first place.
Then, there are those who stop going to their local swimming pool by car because paying for parking requires a mobile app.
The children of elderly people in the situation also reach out to Topo.
“They are dismayed that without a smartphone, their parents will soon be unable to do anything themselves,” she told the paper.
Topo said that parents end up being forced to authorise their children to do all sorts of things, even if they actually want to do things on their own and would be perfectly capable of doing them without the technological barriers they face.
The ombudsman said she is disappointed in the situation and thinks it is a major problem that should interest everyone. However, according to Topo, no one seems to be interested.
“This has somehow slipped through our hands. No one has caught on to it, let alone the media or politicians at the local or national level. We have hoped for the best and thought that good things will come, as long as we increase digitalisation,” Topo told Helsingin Sanomat.
Finland’s billion-euro bets
Finland’s state financing firm Finnvera is preparing to invest around a billion euros in SMEs, mid-cap companies and large firms throughout the country this and next year, according to many news outlets, including Hufvudstadsbladet.
Finnvera says the investments are meant to fill a financing gap. Even as things like world conflicts in Iran are increasing economic uncertainty, there are plans for significant investments in industry and the green transition in particular.
In a government press release, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) said that financing is often considered a bottleneck — particularly for long-term and capital-intensive projects. Although there has been an increase in a willingness to invest, many firms are still cautious.
He said that in terms of an economic turnaround, an even greater risk is that investments are started too late.
According to the government, the aim is to complement the financial market and improve the feasibility of financing packages for corporate investments.
Finnvera is cooperating in the effort with state investment firm Tesi and Business Finland.
Road rage confessions
Newspaper Iltalehti returned to the topic of people’s driving habits. In the spring, it reported on a survey that examined Finns’ behaviour behind the wheel — and the things they were annoyed about on the road.
Among other things, the survey found that Finns admitted to speeding, which the paper characterised as a habit in the country.
The most annoying thing, the survey found, was other drivers going too slow. They were also irritated by driving errors and traffic jams.
To find out more details, the paper asked readers to share their driving experiences in their own words.
Pekka said that if a driver notices someone behind them going faster, it would be easier for them to just let them pass.
“Often, one slow driver creates a queue of 20 cars behind them, many of which start to pass,” Pekka said, adding that this causes unnecessary risk.
Pekka suggested that “if you are driving below the speed limit, pull over for a moment if you see a queue behind you”.
One commenter, Ajelija81, recounted annoyances on highway acceleration lanes — or motorway onramps.
“Driving slowly in the acceleration lane when merging onto a motorway is a very common and, in my opinion, completely incomprehensible phenomenon. Why do so many people drive 80 km/h, when the speed limit on the merging road is 120 km/h? It is a dangerous and completely mindless activity. We should start monitoring and fining people for this.”
A commenter named Katti60 admitted to having experienced road rage, according to Iltalehti.
“They drive too fast. Especially when someone drives straight ahead from a side road and starts to crawl below the speed limit. I have experienced road rage. I can’t say if I have been the target of someone’s rage, at least no one has reported it,” Katti60 wrote.
Mr.Jonez also admitted to having let emotions rise behind the wheel.
“The most annoying thing is those slalom drivers hanging on your rear bumper who have to get past everyone. The aforementioned ‘rally drivers’ sometimes also cause so-called road rage.”
