Moving Out of the "Big Tech" Rental
A simple explanation of why I am building a lab in my living room, and why it matters for your family memories.
If you’ve ever received an email saying your “Google Storage is Full” or found yourself paying $3.99 a month just to keep your own photos, you’ve met the Digital Landlord.
Most of us don’t realize it, but we are currently “renting” our digital lives. Our family photos, our important documents, and our private messages live on giant computers owned by billionaires in California. They give us a “free” room to start, but they keep a key to the door, they take notes on everything we do, and they can raise the rent whenever they want.
I’m building Jord’s Infra Lab to help our community move out of the rental and into a home we actually own.
Bringing the Shoebox Back Home
We used to keep our important papers in a filing cabinet and our photos in a shoebox under the bed. They were private, they were yours, and you didn’t have to pay anyone to keep them there.
Today, “Self-Hosting” is just the modern version of that shoebox.
Instead of sending your data across the ocean to a corporate warehouse, we set up a small, quiet box that sits on a shelf in your own home. I call it the Digital Pantry. It keeps your files safe right here in Olds, Alberta. You own the box, you own the power, and you are the only one with the key.
What does this actually change for you?
You don’t need to know how the engine works to drive the car. Here is how this makes your life easier:
1. The “Never-Full” Photo Album
Imagine an app on your phone that looks just like Google Photos or iCloud. It automatically backs up every picture you take, but it never runs out of space, and it never sends you a bill. Your kids’ birthday photos stay private, seen only by the people you choose.
2. The Digital Key Box
We all have too many passwords to remember. Instead of writing them on a sticky note or trusting a big company that might get hacked, we set up a private “Key Box.” You only have to remember one master password, and the box fills in the rest for you securely on all your devices.
3. The Sealed Envelope
Right now, sending an email or a Facebook message is like sending a postcard—anyone at the “Post Office” can read it if they want to. My goal is to put your life back into sealed envelopes. We can set up simple chat apps for your family where the messages are locked so that only you and the person you are talking to can read them.
I’m Here to be Your “Tech Translator”
I know this sounds like a lot. Technology was designed to be confusing so that you’d feel like you had to pay someone else to handle it.
I spent years volunteering with seniors at the Olds library, and I’ve learned that no question is “dumb.” If you’re tired of the monthly fees, worried about your privacy, or just have a random tech question you don’t know who to ask, please reach out.
I’m not a giant corporation; I’m your neighbor. Let’s make sure our community’s digital future is owned by us, not rented from them.
Have a question?
Call or Text: 403-586-6851
Email: jord@jordisbored.xyz