(BPT) – Years of hard work have all led to this moment; your loved one is graduating. This is a special time in his or her life. It marks an end to past successes and the doorway to new challenges and opportunities. As you celebrate this wonderful event, you may be wondering how to find the perfect gift for your grad. If you want something that showcases the importance of your loved one’s accomplishment but also sets him or her up for the future, then new technology is a great choice.Not sure what new technology devices are best for the…
Author: Brandpoint
(BPT) – When you think about technology and learning, images of eager students likely come to mind. But in the digital age, technology is far reaching and not exclusive to America’s youth. One of the most active groups of digital learners is actually adults – a movement that is being driven by the desire for self-improvement and to gain knowledge about a variety of topics of personal interest.Adults are embracing digital learning at steady rates, which is not surprising when you look at mobile connectivity statistics. As of January 2014, 58 percent of American adults have a smartphone, 32 percent…
(BPT) – When it comes to education, Americans may hotly debate testing, grading and teacher accountability, but one topic that finds wide-spread support among educators, parents, legislators and students is the value of technology in the classroom. With a majority of teachers reporting in a PBS Learning Media survey that they use technology to reinforce and expand on lessons and motivate students to learn, it is only a matter of time before your child will use technology in the classroom.When your child needs to use technology to support their learning, will you know what type of cost-effective device to buy…
(BPT) – Driverless cars, delivery drones and smart buildings: they all seem like things you’d see in a sci-fi movie. But all those futuristic developments could soon roll onto American roadways, and many Americans overwhelmingly support the changes.According to the ‘Intel Freeway to the Future’ study conducted by Penn Schoen Berland, when asked if they would like to live in a driverless city, where all cars, buses and trains operate intelligently and automatically without people driving them, more than a third of American respondents (44 percent) approved. What’s more, a third of respondents expect to see a driverless city in…
(BPT) – Technology has made the world a very different place than it was just one, five or 10 years ago. Film cameras, handwritten letters and portable CD players, all have been replaced by newer, more efficient inventions.These advancements have improved so many facets of our lives, it really is no surprise that the latest technological breakthroughs have also hit the back yard pool.Pools have always provided their owners with a wonderful source of relaxation. Maintaining and cleaning the pool, however, also used to require real exertion and just plain hard work. Veteran pool owners remember hours spent trying to…
(BPT) – Have you ever felt that new technologies, from smartphones to Internet apps, are moving so fast that it’s hard to keep up?You’re not alone. Many Americans feel overwhelmed by new technology. One-third of adults in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and China said they felt overwhelmed by technology in a 2011 study conducted by the University of Cambridge.As it relates to public policy, lawmakers may also be feeling overwhelmed as they try to keep up with researching, writing and passing legislation to regulate new technologies to maintain public safety or prevent the invasion of privacy. According to…
(BPT) – Homes are more technically advanced than ever before, providing homeowners with sophisticated sound systems, high-tech security capabilities and interactive entertainment systems. The good news is that you don’t have to be a techie to turn your home into a smart home.Not only is technology improving, it is also becoming more user-intuitive. ‘Home is where the smart is,’ says home technology guru Dr. Frank Viggiano, professor emeritus of Consumer Electronics at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. So if you’re interested in turning your home into a smart home, Viggiano suggests the following ways to bring technology in and make your…
(BPT) – Generation X and Millennials get credit for being the most tech-savvy generations, but a growing group of baby boomers are demonstrating that the generation gap has nothing to do with digital know-how. Folks 50 and older are embracing technology to help them age more gracefully than ever.Whether they’re using devices to hear better in challenging situations, or social media to reconnect with friends they’ve not seen since high school, baby boomers are demonstrating they’re not afraid to use technology to make life easier. Here are a handful of ways boomers are using technology:* Coping with auditory challenges -…
(BPT) – Restaurants play a key role in most family’s weekly – and sometimes daily – routine. When families take advantage of a restaurant – either by dining out, taking food to go or ordering delivery – what can they expect on the menu? Increasingly, it’s healthier options with a side of technology.As technology is part of daily life for many Americans – and a critical tool of convenience – the desire to use options like touch-screen ordering, smartphone apps and mobile payment when dining out is stronger than ever.According to new research from the National Restaurant Association, 63 percent…
(BPT) – If you spring clean your home every year, you might want to consider an often forgotten and usually cluttered space – your email.Your digital world can get just as messy as any other area of the home with all the photos, emails and documents you’re creating and storing. Your inbox is a great place to tackle first considering the average person will receive more than 10,000 emails this year, according to The Radicati Group, Inc. According to Outlook.com, 80 percent of the average inbox is commercial mail, such as newsletter and daily deals. All those emails could take…
(BPT) – From smartphones to smart cars, technology is transforming virtually every aspect of our busy lives. Technologies not only make life easier while on the go, but new options are quickly simplifying life at home as well. Home automation is proving to be a top home improvement trend, making the Jetsons’ futuristic lifestyle more realistic than ever before.Some experts are predicting 2014 will be the year of the smart home, but what does that mean to the average homeowner? The term smart home refers to a house with technology and automated features for things like heating, lighting and electronic…
(BPT) – For every new computer, gadget or service there are several different stages of ownership. Unfortunately, the first and happiest phase – the honeymoon – doesn’t last forever. Eventually, devices can slow, services get outdated, and in the end, the ailing technology begins to work against you.Stay ahead of the curve and prevent reduced productivity by maintaining your machines, upgrading your services and adopting new technologies. Here are five ways to make technology work better for you.1. Go paperlessReduce the desk and office clutter by cutting down on the paper scattered about. Tablets and other devices are making it…
(BPT) – Each year technology has a greater impact on our lives and that may be most visible in the world of sports. Long-time sports fans have witnessed the advent of new protective equipment, slow motion playbacks and officials using instant replay to determine the correct call in major sporting events all across the country.On the basketball court, new technology is being used to collect data from each game that helps improve both player performance and the fan experience. For example, the SportVU tracking system from STATS records every movement and action of a player during games, which can result…
(BPT) – Fear is a normal reaction when you’ve just been told your headaches and blurry vision are symptoms of a brain tumor which is serious enough that you will need treatment. Whether you’re facing the prospect of brain cancer or another neurological problem, it’s important to face your concern by becoming informed about your condition and all treatment options.You are not alone. As of 2010, more than 688,000 Americans have been diagnosed with a primary brain or central nervous system tumor, and nearly 70,000 new cases of primary brain tumors were expected to be diagnosed in 2013, according to…
(BPT) – As a private pilot and frequent commercial passenger, John Walkup’s hearing worsened over a number of years. But during one memorable airline flight, he suddenly lost most of his hearing, leading to enormous life changes.The impact of his hearing loss went beyond simply not being able to hear. His career ended abruptly. Walkup went on permanent disability and started looking for a new occupation that did not rely on hearing. Typically outgoing, he withdrew due to difficulty in communicating with others. He began avoiding social situations.Last year, at age 71, Walkup received a cochlear implant. A cochlear implant…
(BPT) – Your right foot holds the key to better gas mileage. How aggressively you apply the gas or brakes affects how frequently you have to stop for fuel. And driving style is even more important with today’s cars as the spread between a vehicle’s best and worst mileage may be 10 mpg or more. Here are some tips you can use to improve your gas mileage during the miles ahead, using your car’s technology.* When you are in the driver’s seat be aware of the vehicle’s numerous computers. ‘Many newer cars have body, brake and transmission computers as well…
(BPT) – The modern world runs on batteries. Portable smartphones, tablets, computers, e-readers and more have revolutionized how everyone communicates. The same is becoming true for household chores. Today’s line-up of innovative devices make maintaining a home’s outdoor spaces easy, fast and fun while adding a dash of Millennial cool.New battery-powered tools are compact, lightweight and easy to store. They share the flip-of-a-switch appeal of other portable devices. But instead of connecting you to the outside world, these improve the world outside your own back door. Here are some ergonomic standouts.* Make a quick, quiet, clean sweep of the deck…
(BPT) – The school year is in full swing, and shopping for pens, pencils and notebooks is already a memory. In addition to these traditional supplies, many of today’s students have another tool – often underutilized – to help them succeed the in classroom: their smartphones and tablets.’Today’s mobile devices can help students by providing everything from a quick dictionary definition to an in-depth math tutorial,’ says Dillon Rasmussen, dean of education at Everest College – Melrose Park. ‘There are dozens of apps to help students get organized for the school year, and hundreds more that cover everything from chemistry…
(BPT) – The holidays are over and if you’re left looking at a fruit cake and a room full of white elephant gifts, you’re probably thinking it is time to find the perfect present for yourself.Like many adults, you want to treat yourself to a little technology. You’re not alone. Laptops and tablets were the two most-wanted electronic gifts during the holiday season, according to research from the Consumer Electronics Association’s annual CE Holiday Purchase Patterns Study. If you’re looking to give yourself the gift of tech this post-holiday season, here are some things to look for to get you…
(BPT) – If you’ve ever gotten up in the morning and dreaded the idea of going out in the cold or sitting in rush hour traffic, you’ve probably dreamed of working from home. And years ago, that was all it was, a dream.Times have changed, and for many workers, the dream of working from home is increasingly becoming a reality. Modern technology has made it easier than ever to connect to companies and coworkers remotely and employers across the nation are recognizing the financial benefits of allowing their employees to work from home.The work-from-home movement has gained so much steam,…