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Cool Technology for Hot Summer Fun
As we cruise into mid-summer, many of us are hitting the highways and skyways to spend time with family and friends. Over 65% of all travelers will bring along their favorite tech tool or toy of choice. Unsure of what to bring along? Here are some COOL technologies for a HOT summer day!
Portable DVD Players
“Are we there yet?” Hmmm…does this sound familiar? If it does, you probably have a child or two. Since the invention of factory-installed DVD systems in automobiles, car trips became a whole lot more enjoyable. Although, these systems can be a bit pricey. The good news is that portable DVD players do the job just as well, have greater versatility and are much more reasonably priced. Many come with multiple screens that conveniently strap onto the back of a seat. Portable DVD players also come in handy on long plane flights. Be forewarned…not all models come with a battery (or a battery with enough power to last an entire flight).
Drop/Dunk-Proof Cameras
Water, kids and technology didn’t mix very well when we were kids. However, times have changed and good, waterproof digital cameras are becoming more affordable. Besides enduring a dunk in the pool, many of these waterproof cameras have become more rugged, withstanding a drop from young hands.
Waterproof Video Cameras
No longer are you restricted to keeping your videos away from the pool or beach. Video cameras are now available that not only can take a dunk in the pool, but can actually shoot underwater. Many video cameras also come with built-in USB connectors and software, making it easier to share videos with family and friends over the internet (i.e., YouTube and Facebook).
Solar Powered Speakers
Harnessing the power of the sun never sounded so good! A growing selection of solar-powered speakers are now available that can run indefinitely off of their solar panels. They connect to headphone jacks on media players and laptops. Some more expensive models also stream the music wirelessly via a Bluetooth connection with a smartphone or media player. Pricier models come with built-in rechargeable batteries for use on days when the sun doesn’t shine.
Geocaching with a GPS
Are you ready for a game of high-tech hide and seek? Then geocaching is for you! Geocaching is an outdoor activity in which participants use a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers, called “geocaches” or “caches,” anywhere in the world. A typical cache is a small waterproof container containing a logbook where the geocacher enters the date they found it and signs it with their established code name. Larger containers can also contain items for trading (usually inexpensive toys or trinkets). Geocaches are currently placed in over 100 countries around the world and on all seven continents. There are currently over 1.3 million active geocaches published on various websites and over 5 million geocachers worldwide.
Luckily, rugged and inexpensive GPS devices are now on the market that can better survive the rough and tumble great outdoors. Some GPS trackers even have built-in software that makes it simple to begin tracking thousands of nearby geocaches already loaded in the device’s memory.
eReaders
Going on an extended trip and don’t want to carry a suitcase full of the latest “summer reads?” Check out an eReader such as the Kindle, Nook or iPad. Don’t want to pay to download books, borrow it from your local library. Check out www.listennjnw.com for information on how to check out audio and eBooks using your local library card.
Fair warning: Be sure your local library offers this service and that your borrowing privileges are current.
Mobile Devices Including Smartphones and Tablets
While the most frequent use of mobile devices is to make/receive calls and texts, there are a variety of apps that can enhance your summer fun.
Visiting somewhere and want to check out the menus of the local restaurants? Download the MenuPad app and pre-review the menu, see photos and even order directly from your mobile device.
Just hopping into NYC for the day? Download NYCWay to your iPad, iPhone, Android or Blackberry. Find the nearest public toilets, schedule of events and the public transportation time table plus much more! Going mobile makes getting around NYC even easier. Use the app “Best of…” to expand the scope to other 30 top US cities and experience only the best during your summer vacations.
Road tripping? Use your smartphone to get the best deal on gas—two excellent apps are AAA’s TripTik and GasBuddy. Both track gas prices at more than 130,000 gas stations around the country. With GasBuddy, you can post whenever you spot new gas prices.
Don’t forget the educational aspects of your smartphones and tablets. Mobile learning, aka mlearning, is one of education’s fastest growing trends. So, don’t hesitate to download those educational apps. Imagine…your child may actually enjoy and learn more algebra when it is presented in a game format. The relevancy of real world experiences can reinforce things learned from a mobile app. Check out “Brain Pop”—your kids can learn something different everyday with a free movie. The list of educational apps is endless. We recommend checking out www.learninginhand.com for a wealth of ideas and apps to consider for continuing your child’s education throughout the summer in a hip and modern way.
Don’t let the learning stop there. We adults can always learn more too! Visiting an art museum this summer or perhaps a national landmark? Be sure to take a look for an app that can enrich your visits. As an example, the Museum of Modern Art has developed a wonderful app, “MoMA,” to not only teach you the meaning of artistic terms, but to make the art collections more accessible. Check out some of the wonderful apps from National Geographic and experience places in a new and exciting way.
Hands down, technology has changed how we experience the world. Unfortunately, technology gets a bad rap for creating techie couch potatoes. What’s important is to use technology to enhance your summertime fun and bring home lots of wonderful memories!
Heat things up this summer with some of these hot new technologies. Whether it’s for business or pleasure, IT Radix is here to make IT work for you!
About the Author
As a “seasoned” IT professional and business owner at IT Radix, Cathy enjoys working with small-to-medium sized businesses on getting the most out of their technology dollars. Technology is serious business, but she likes to have fun making I.T. work for you.