Category: Tech News

Some postsecondary educators may consider technology as a distraction in the classroom. They might sometimes view mobile phones and technology as a necessary evil. But rather than tolerating it, educators can harness the power of digital devices and use technology to increase engagement, spark innovation, encourage collaboration and enhance student learning.

In itself, educational technology may not be effective in teaching and learning. Thus, it may require guidance from an educator and a purpose, especially related to the curriculum. The advantage of technology is that it may be effortlessly integrated into the course material. When used with purpose, education can be transformed from a distraction to a useful teaching tool.

Ability to Learn on Your Own Time

Unlike the traditional classroom, students who are struggling with new concepts may fall behind. With online assignments, however, students can advance at their own pace. For instance, those who need extra help can take their time and practice outside the class with additional coursework and guided exercises. This feature is also essential for learners who may want more challenge.

The always-on nature of technology allows students to access resources online on-demand and from anywhere. The educators can use the platforms to gauge which student might require extra help. The self-paced learning also helps students acquire digital skills and become technology literate. These additional skills will be valuable in the workforce, especially in the medical field. If you’re interested in the medical field, there are several health industry careers made available through online education.

Better Research and Information Sources

As long as they have an internet connection, students have access to information 24 hours a day. A student can find almost anything online, and he or she can gain access to essential data for research in its most updated version. For students, technology means access to everything in any discipline or research area. They can access research materials and educational apps, open resources from leading universities and interactive edutainment systems.

Although technology offers an endless pool of resources, students may require instructions on how to find credible and relevant resources. Additionally, students may need directions on how to provide attribution to these resources properly. Students can use technology to connect with online groups and virtual communities in real-time.

Improved Student Engagement

Education technology can assist in making learning in a specific field interactive and collaborative. This can help students better interact with the course material. The interaction will eliminate the need for students to memorize facts aimlessly but, rather, learn by doing. A student can do this by participating in tech-enabled or online group discussions, such as virtual labs, and virtual field trips and playing educational games.

For this online platform to be truly engaging and collaborative, it should be interactive. Animating a math challenge introduces a new perspective compared to using a pencil and paper. The interactivity in online platforms provides a better learning experience.

Although technology has been viewed as a threat, integrating it into teaching will offer new approaches for student engagement and interaction with the course material. Thanks to technology, education can be accessed from anywhere other than being confined to the walls of a classroom.

Related: 5 Ways Technology is Helping Our Children Read Better

 

Ever since the advent of Photoshop over 25 years ago, the creative worker’s role and responsibilities have changed vastly in the job marketplace. In the past 10 years, powerful and portable technology has further changed the daily workflow of the creative worker along with everyone else. With possibilities opening in the digital marketplace for everything from completely new positions to the need for creative workers in traditionally coding-based positions, there are a number of careers for creatives to choose from.

Front-End Development

This type of position is especially suited for graphic/web designers. When developing any kind of new app, whether online or housed on a device, most programmers tend to make functionality based on the given instructions from stakeholders, but they also tend to do it in a way that makes sense to them. This does not always translate out well to the end user, and this is where the creative worker’s advantage comes in. In front-end development, it is the duty of the developer to create an intuitive, user-friendly interface and to lay out both the functionality and organization of data for the app. This requires a high level of design training and emotional intelligence in order to do well.

Video Game Development

Whether working in pre-game visual development or in live game graphics creation, there is a wide array of possibilities in the video game industry, an ever-growing and profitable market. Game designers use a variety of programs on the job, giving developers diverse expertise. Digital visualization tools allow for smooth pre-production work, while skinning characters and backgrounds is a creatives-only requirement for successful game production and execution.

Education-Based Web Development/Graphic Design

One industry might appeal to the more altruistic, socially responsible creatives. While there aren’t as many openings in the field, web and graphic design for educational institutions is that industry. This field has its own challenges, such as unusually small marketing/communications teams and sometimes tight budgetary restraints, but the actual work itself is usually rewarding in a non-commercial manner, with the opportunity to build a long-term body of work over time. Additionally, creatives may find a little more final authority on the look and feel of the final products created (for both the web and printed materials). While pay is not necessarily always as competitive as it is in the private sector, the job security and benefits can be much more valuable in the long run.

One of the biggest advantages that creatives have in the technology industry is that the skills developed in creative arts classes, whether soft skills like critical thinking and emotional intelligence or hard skills like composition, color theory, music theory or design theory, are in shorter supply in the field of technology than traditional coders, and are not always as easy to master as the hard science of coding and development. Learning both the creative and technological sides of the industry makes one a more valuable and versatile worker.

Ready to disrupt the market with a technologically-centered job? Click here to see how technology is influencing the used car buying experience and how you can join in.

As in other areas of life, technology has made traveling easier than ever. In the past, one often needed to rely on a travel agent’s wisdom to ensure smooth a smooth journey—and even then, any number of things might go wrong. Technology has enabled the modern traveler to take a more hands-on approach to travel. Millennials, unsurprisingly, have embraced the increased flexibility technology affords, but these developments will benefit anyone desiring both a less stressful and more adventurous journey. Here are just a few ways technology is making travel easier than ever before.

Ease of Research

Gone are the days of relying on a travel agent for the low-down on travel spots. Nowadays, all one needs is a browser. More importantly, the quantity and quality of available information are unprecedented. A multitude of websites feature testimonials and advice from seasoned trekkers about where to stay and what to do. Many sites cater to niche interests and are especially useful for those looking to avoid touristy destinations.

Choosing Where You Stay

Likewise, vacationers are spoiled for choice when it comes to places to stay. Booking your stay has never been easier. No longer tied to motels and hotels or staying with friends and relatives, with the help of apps like Airbnb, VRBO, and Couchsurfing, one can stay in off-the-grid places like hostels and private houses. Such options are perfect for those traveling on a budget, or who want the experience of staying in local neighborhoods, or who like the convenience of having amenities such as a kitchen or washing machine. Vacation rental earnings are expected to grow over the next few years, so one can expect no shortage of places to stay both nationally and internationally.

Getting Places

Web mapping services like Google Maps offer not just the maps of old but also real-time condition reports. They assist in navigating not just streets and terrain but also unpredictable local conditions such as traffic and weather. In the past, often one could end up stuck or even stranded in an unfamiliar setting. Now, the intrepid nomad can easily bypass potential misfortune with but a quick glance at their smartphone.

Translation

One of the most overlooked travel boons afforded by technology must be translation apps. In the past, when staying in a foreign locale for any substantial length of time, you might need a language course prior. Or at the very least, have a phrasebook at the ready. Neither option guaranteed being understood by the locals, particularly when encountering local dialects. Today, your smartphone can launch increasingly powerful translation apps. They do everything from translating street signs to real-time voice translations. Best of all, many are free.

Electronic Payments

Digital wallets and electronic payments are another overlooked advance. Granted, in the past, traveler’s checks ensured a degree of safety. They were refundable if lost or stolen. However, digital wallets provide an even greater measure of safety as the user’s credit card and other information are encrypted–thus useless to a would-be thief. It also provides convenience. An e-wallet can be linked to multiple funding sources, including credit cards, checking and online payment platforms like PayPal. Finally, e-wallet money transfer apps can handle currency conversions on the fly. No need to worry about obscure currency exchange rates that can fluctuate widely. Digital wallets offer a flexibility that traveler’s checks can never match.

Lighter Suitcase

When the iPod and smartphone arrived in the 2000s, they set off a revolution in how we consume media. Their small form factor played a sizable role in their immediate adoption, and nomads quickly grew to appreciate the extra space now present when packing for an extended trip. Instead of making room for a camera, MP3 player or books, today a single device stores all of this media and more. Packing may still be an art, but these devices free up a lot of space.

Digital Photography and the Cloud

Digital photography enabled novice shutterbugs to learn their craft without worrying about the cost of film. Today, even casual photographers can take great-looking photographs with their smartphones given recent hardware and software advances. A tourist can document an entire trip with their smartphone and not have to worry about expensive and delicate camera gear. As onboard memory becomes full, all one needs is an internet connection to back up these precious snaps. Cloud storage services have become ubiquitous and many are cheap or even free. Some, like Google Photo and Flickr, cater to amateur and professional photographers alike, offering vast storage plans and built-in filter apps. Best of all, the traveler can archive their photos throughout the journey.

Keeping in Touch

In years past, conferring with family and friends back home could be a frustrating proposition. Phone calls could be prohibitively expensive—if indeed a phone could even be found in some locales. Likewise, letters and postcards might take days and weeks to reach their intended recipients. Nowadays, communication is decidedly cheaper and easier. Social media sites like Facebook and Instagram allow for frequent, instantaneous status reports. Telecommunication applications such as Skype enable the traveler to call family at a far cheaper per-minute rate than previously. In fact, given a decent internet connection, Skype and other services allow the vacationer to view and hear far-away loved ones. Keeping in touch has never been more stress-free.

Technological advances have made travel undeniably easier. However, as these examples illustrate, tech has had another, perhaps more subtle effect. Explorers can now personalize their travel experience to an unprecedented degree. Thanks to the internet, off-the-beaten-track destinations are no longer tightly held secrets. Likewise, smart tech means that travelers can revise itineraries on the fly in the midst of their journey. If time and resources permit, a tourist might decide on a whim to travel to an unplanned locale, armed with a knowledge of what to expect. Meanwhile, the traveler can fully–and attractively–document the experience from beginning to end. Next-generation technology, in short, has provided unparalleled options for trekkers.

Here’s another article you might like: Generation Z, the Smartphone, and Travel

Surgery continues to move further into the age of robotics and other technological methods of making surgery safer and with less risk for the patient. Noninvasive brain and other surgeries, as well as virtual surgery, are becoming more common with fewer lives lost. New inventions can be implanted into the body of a person who has cancer that will tell the doctor how the cancer-fighting medications are faring and which ones are actually doing the job they are meant to do, which is to kill the cancer cells. It is becoming more likely that the next time you have surgery you will not have to undergo invasive treatment to fight your disease.

Simulated Surgery

Many people like video games, but did you know that they are also being used to improve surgical procedures? Making a game of surgery has become increasingly popular and has been helping to save lives. With the use of graphics and virtual reality, surgeons are able to practice new and/or unfamiliar surgeries without fear of harming the patient. These methods are not unlike playing the games that the surgeon quite possibly grew up on or even play now. The surgery in question is programmed as closely as possible to the actual surgery along with mistakes that could happen programmed as well. If the surgeon does option one then this will be the outcome. It gives the surgeon a chance to learn before putting scalpel to the skin and therefore potentially saving a life before the surgery begins.

Someday simulated surgery could be used for all surgeries, but for now, it is most effective for those difficult or delicate procedures due to cost. Surgeries on the brain, eyes and facial reconstruction are some of the most widely tested surgeries via simulation. These are all very complex surgeries, so the fact that doctors can practice these surgeries beforehand is very helpful for their training.

Alternative Methods

Almost any alternative to going under the knife is preferred by both patient and physician. Laparoscopy has been found to perform surgery with safer results, less fear of infection, and faster recuperation. Not only that, but it is also less expensive to perform and for the patient in the long run. Orthopedists are finding that acupuncture and chiropractor visits for shoulder and other skeletal surgery can benefit the patient with less pain with often the same results. Stem cells are being used to restore delicate joint tissue in rotator cuffs and other areas with degenerative disease.

An alternative to weight loss surgery called CoolSculpting breaks down fat cells. Its spot freezes the fat in problem areas with cryolipolysis. CoolSculpting can be used in delicate areas such as chin and jawline as well as common areas of surgical reduction like tummy, hips, and thighs. This non-invasive method of killing fat cells can transform your body without surgery, and the dead cells will leave your system after several months’ time.

Huggable Robots for Kids

Gauging a child’s pain can be difficult, especially when they are too young to express what’s going on with them. Huggable is a cuddly bear with robot insides. This squeezable invention eases pain in children and adults, making hospital stays and illness easier to handle. Playing with Huggable can take a child’s mind off of pain or being away from home. When a child is hurting, the strength with which she hugs Huggable is captured and data translates into how much pain she is in. Kids can talk to Huggable and perhaps say things they wouldn’t say to their parents or the medical staff. Huggable can talk back, and the conversations are collected and help the doctor in further diagnosing and treating the child’s illness. Huggable is also available for use with a screen, and some kids might prefer that to the cuddly stuffed version.

Adults like to hug Huggable as well, but they also use him for company or for having someone to talk to when they’re lonely or for playing games. Adults often cannot express their fears and pain just as children cannot. Huggable can be used for patients with Alzheimer’s disease or other diseases that have caused speech and cognitive difficulties. Huggable can take them back to their childhood and, as with kids, can be a comfort in a scary place.

So much of technology seems to be from another world, and that is not apt to change. The more we learn about human beings and technology; the more inventions are being created to help bridge the gap between the two. Invasive surgery is not the only way. Patients heal better with less pain and less intrusion into their bodies. It is becoming possible for science and humanity to coexist.

Here’s another article you might like: How Technology Can Make Employee Training More Effective

Telemedicine is becoming increasingly popular with doctors and patients. The convenient, easy-to-use technology has expanded patient access to important health services. This guide will explore several telemedicine benefits and how it has helped improve healthcare access for specific patient groups.

Helps Diagnosis

Getting an appointment at a doctor’s office can sometimes take a few weeks. With telemedicine services, patients are able to see a doctor from the comfort of their own home in just a few minutes. If a patient wakes up with a fever or notices a rash that has developed suddenly, he or she can get it checked out that same day with a virtual consultation. This could enable faster diagnosis and an easier treatment process.

Telemedicine also helps patients who are seeking a second opinion about a health issue. According to PinnacleCare, lack of access to doctors and medical centers is a major reason people don’t seek a second opinion. With telemedicine services, patients are able to have a doctor take a second look at their health concern, and this could give the patient peace of mind and guide him or her to new treatments. Telemedicine is particularly convenient for patients who need frequent follow-up care. They are able to have a follow-up appointment from their home, making it easier for them to attend and increasing their rapport with their physician.

Greater Rural Patient Coverage

Rural areas can have very limited access to medical care, and patients from these areas may have to travel hundreds of miles to attend a clinic appointment. According to ezTalks, telemedicine enables patients in rural areas to see a doctor much more easily and quickly than would otherwise be possible. Even in rural areas with primary care doctors, patients may only be able to choose from two or three different healthcare providers, and they might not have access to specialists. By using telemedicine, patients are able to choose from more doctors, and they can easily contact specialists for their particular health condition. These benefits could potentially improve the quality of the care they receive and provide a better treatment outcome.

Increased Access for Uninsured Patients

Patients without health insurance are often unable to see a doctor at all, and those who do may only be able to obtain medical care at community clinics or county health departments. This situation may have a negative impact on the patient’s quality of life, and it tends to make treatment outcomes worse. Even when uninsured patients are able to see a doctor, they may not have access to the highest quality care, and they might not receive the latest treatments.

Many telemedicine services accept uninsured patients, and according to Healthcare Innovation, they are much cheaper than a typical in-person consultation. They have a much wider range of doctors and specialists than most community clinics and health departments, and patients who use telemedicine may be able to receive updated advice on the latest treatments for their health concerns. Since many telemedicine services have evening and weekend availability, the patient won’t have to take time off of work to go to a doctor’s appointment.

As technology continues to improve, the field of telemedicine will continue to grow. Major health insurers and healthcare networks now provide their own telemedicine services, and telemedicine companies are developing as well. In the coming years, telemedicine may expand patient access even more, and more and more doctors will hopefully be inspired to participate in this important health service.

You might also be interested in this article: Is 2020 the Year We Finally Get Robot Doctors?

It used to be that employees were expected to show up at a certain time and leave at a certain time. They earned an hourly wage or a salary. Usually, they also had a set number of hours a week they were expected to work, regardless of whether their place of employment was busy or not. Technology has changed the nature of their work, and made way for the development of the gig economy.

The Gig Economy

The gig economy isn’t about employees. It’s about independent workers. They’re typically freelancers or contractors. They get no benefits and sometimes, they work a lot. If a company they usually do work for has no work for them, they don’t work. Gig workers work from job to job and get to work within a wide range of career areas. Though it may seem like a lot, all of this is possible because of technology.

The Modern Workforce

Technology has made the workforce digital, and jobs are changing to compensate. People who work as gig workers often don’t work at a company’s site and instead work at home, in coffee shops, and other places. They communicate with potential employers mostly via email. These workers find potential gigs on job boards or through their networking efforts. If they don’t want to take on a gig job for whatever reason, they’re not required to.

The Ramifications

People who work as gig workers have more flexibility. Technology allows many of them to work anywhere that they have an Internet connection. If they’ve managed their business resources correctly, they don’t have to work for companies or people they don’t care for. Many giggers also find that this type of employment may allow easier entry into a career opportunities they want. They just need to take on a short-term project or two to build the experience section on their resumes. However, many giggers find income inconsistent. They also deal with company bosses who still want to treat them as employees instead of independent business owners, which can create conflict and, in some cases, legal issues. Companies who hire gig workers must be very careful of the demands they place on these workers. Otherwise, these workers could be seen as employees, making them eligible for all the rights and benefits of being an employee.

Technology has changed pretty much every aspect of a business, opening up work opportunities for those who want to work in the gig economy. This change has also helped employers increase profitability because they only have to only hire workers when they need them. However, this job trend has some downsides, too, which both employer and worker need to consider before participating in the gig economy.

For more content about technology in the workplace, read on here!

With the recent omission of cannabidiol – or CBD – from the Controlled Substances Act, countless businesses have cropped up dedicated to the production and sale of what is known today as CBD oil. In tandem with the rise of this industry, business owners are seeking out the latest cutting-edge technology for not just production but the quality control of the end product. For the most part, technology is sure to bring numerous benefits to the quality of CBD. It is important, however, to also exercise caution when considering certain CBD products and how to safely use them.

Cultivation

Many large hemp farms have employed the use of sensors that measure plant health. This includes heat and temperature sensors utilized to ensure the best environmental conditions for ideal hemp plant growth. Furthermore, the wide availability of LED light technology has made in-house plant growing much more efficient and cost-effective than ever before. What’s more, advanced extraction technologies make it possible to develop CBD oil in various forms, from isolates and sprays to edibles and capsules.

Delivery Systems

As stated previously, you now have a wide array of choices as to how you want to consume your CBD oil. With that said, some delivery methods come with more safety concerns. This is especially true when it comes to vaping. Not all CBD oils should be vaped, in fact it takes more than just adding a few drops to your pen to make it work. It is imperative that you know the type of oil you are vaping. Even if the extract is sold in a vape pen or cartridge, this does not mean it is safe. Many of these strains are diluted with a combination of oils and fats derived from sources such as coconut oil. While this is perfectly fine for eating, it can be quite dangerous for inhaling. Instead, vaping strains extracted using carbon dioxide (CO2) as a solvent are highly recommended. In addition, it may be best to find different ways to apply or consume CBD such as edible gummies or tinctures.

Body Absorption

A common challenge for many industries is how to make their products more easily absorbed in the bloodstream and, therefore, work more effectively. Human bodies do not readily take in CBD and much of it gets discarded from the system before it has a chance to benefit you. A fairly new technology, which has traditionally been used to measure the effectiveness of other drugs, has recently been employed to measure certain CBD oils and how well they are absorbed by the human system. This process, called Nanotechnology, reduces the CBD extract to nanoscopic particles at the molecular level. As a result, these particles are small enough to be better absorbed by the body and enter the bloodstream more readily. As more and more people turn an interested eye toward CBD as a safer, more effective treatment for a vast number of conditions and disorders, the CBD industry is projected to reach billions of dollars. As the demand for CBD increases, so must the development of new and innovative technologies to provide consumers with the best quality for their individual needs.

It’s no secret that iPhones are expensive pieces of hardware. From their impressive battery life to the multitude of available apps, smartphones have lots of good things going for them. As such, you want to keep your smartphone safe. If you know you’re prone to accidents and want to safeguard your phone, read on.

Basic Plastic Case

To give your phone its best life, consider purchasing a plastic case. There are many different styles of iPhone covers, from conservative designs to more stylish ones. Whatever you fancy, you’ll find it. A good plastic case covers the back, sides and part of the front of your phone. Depending on the thickness of the cover, the aftermath of a drop will be dramatically decreased because the cover will absorb the shock. If you’re looking for something lightweight, a plastic case is your best bet. You can up the protection while still finding easy accessibility. For example, smaller plastic cases allow you to quickly retrieve your phone from your pocket. Additionally, plastic cases don’t inhibit the functionality of your phone. This type of purchase is just a good purchase all around.

Leather Wallet Case

Another type of protective case for your iPhone is a leather wallet case. This lets you combine your wallet and phone in one holder. Wallet cases include a pocket for your phone and multiple sleeves for your money and cards. The provide a practical approach to protection. You’ll find your device is enclosed completely with that layer of leather. Leather wallet cases also come in a variety of designs to add your own personal touch. Leather cases can be very durable, but if you want them to stay looking nice, you might want to use a leather care kit on it every so often, especially if it gets scuffed from dropping it all the time.

Screen Protectors

It’s easy to protect the outside of your phone, but what about the delicate front piece? The glass screen is the most fragile part of a phone, and a screen protector can help prevent damage. While they are manufactured with different materials, tempered glass tends to be the strongest and lets you apply a layer of heavy glass over your phone’s screen. Packs of screen protectors can be purchased for a low price; getting extras allows you to always have a backup. If your protector gets cracked, simply take it off and put on a new one. Application is easy, too. In most cases, you’ll just wipe down your screen and stick the protector to it. Everything should easily line up.

Buying a new phone can be expensive, so it’s important to do everything you can to protect the one you have. Between investing in cases and adding a screen protector, you’re sure to protect your phone from damage. By getting the proper protection for it, your device will easily survive your accident-prone ways.