Shopping: you’ll encounter computers at the electronic till. Behind the scenes they read bar codes to take inventory and issue automatic orders from suppliers to keep the shelves stocked. And at the supplier’s warehouse, the route of the delivery vehicle is prepared by a computer that optimises the journey and ensures that the load is put into the van so that it’s easy to unload things in the right order.

Will you escape computers if you go into the wilderness or out to sea? Dave Mill, the Scottish explorer, was rescued from the Arctic ice in May 2002 by finding his position with a global positioning by satellite (GPS) device, taking digital photographs of the landing strip he carved out with his sled, and e-mailing the information to his rescuers using his satellite telephone. You’re never alone anymore!