Technology and Chores

Chores. Sometimes they can be therapeutic but other times, it is just another hassle that is getting in the way. Enter technology. If you really hate cleaning, there are plenty of really cool gadgets that can help in that regard. There is the Roomba that can clean your floors. Dyson has also been making a vacuum that can clean your floors but it is planned for release in 2015. Throw away the Windex, because the ECOVACS Winbot does for windows what the Roomba does for floors. This robot can navigate the windows and leave them spotless and shiny. There are platforms that are useful for pairing people who have the money (but no time) for their daily workload, with errand-runners who have the time to take on miscellaneous chores for a few extra bucks. Finally software development is heading down the right direction.

A Great Tomorrow

With global warming, the rise of technology, and lack of human interaction, it is no wonder why people like wallow in the notion that we are doomed and the end is near. What if we listen to a different perspective that is told and turn our attention away from the train wreck that we love to watch. Progress in artificial intelligence, robotics, infinite computing, cloud computing, ubiquitous broadband networks, digital manufacturing, nanotechnology, synthetic biology, and many other revolutionary fields will enable us to make greater gains in the next two decades than we've made in the previous 200 years. We will soon have the ability to meet and exceed the basic needs of every man, woman, and child on the planet. Abundance for all is actually within our grasp. You might be thinking wait a minute, what? Are all those Miss America speeches about ending world hunger really for naught? During the past century, child mortality decreased by 90 percent, and maternal mortality by 99 percent, while the average human lifespan increased by 100 percent. Food is cheaper and more plentiful than ever before. Groceries cost 13 times less today than in 1870.) Poverty has declined more the in the past 50 years than in the previous 500. Just some things to mull over.

Unified Communication

I bet you have heard this phrase thrown around but do you really understand what it means? it describes a technology that enables messages and data to be delivered to a point as quickly as possible in real time. Features can allow for one number to be assigned to a person’s mobile device, home office or other locations, and have calls follow the person or push/pull between devices without having to disconnect and then reconnect the call. Another feature, known as voicemail-to-email, allows voice messages to reach managers or employees when they’re away from the office or working remotely by sending an audio file of the voicemail to the recipient’s email. The recipient can then listen the voice via email without having to dial into voicemail. One of the best features about this technology is that it is able to integrate many different communication services to get the message to the person in the fastest time possible. It is important to businesses because it will save you a lot of time and improve productivity.

Keeping Fit

It is important to keep your mind in tip top shape. Other than those mobile applications that claim to improve your psychological well being, there are many other ways to help with keeping that mind young. First of all, exercise has shown to improve the health of your brain. One of the best parts is that it is never too late to start. It can even be as much as a walk three times a week and you will be able to see improvement. Secondly, what you put in your body matters. Foods rich in omega threes have shown to help with brain function. In addition to the omega three, it is important to eat B12 and folic acid, both of which lower homocysteine. You might also want to reduce stress levels. This might sound obvious and something that we would like to do but completely out of reach. Most people do not realize just how much stress affects us and we try to just live with it. Meditating would be a great option and it only takes a couple minutes a day but the rewards will last a lifetime.

Be Likeable: Life Will Thank You

No one wants to be the Scrooge of the work place but sometimes circumstances can leave you in that position where you are just plain bitter. If it is the job or your boss, think about moving on. Most of the time we do not realize that people do not like us because of the way we are so we respond to that attitude. Change your attitude first and then your peers might do the same. Consider it trailblazing in your name. You can even come up with a mobile application for it. Empathy is one of the best life skills to have. It means that you do not necessarily has to agree with the other person but be aware of their situation and put yourself in their shoes. This requires a listening ear, find it and quick. Also, be reliable and cultivate that reputation for consistency. This will win many battles for you. If you cannot fulfill part of the responsibilities, let the client know because an unavoidable hiccup is forgivable; blatant misjudgment or deception is not. Lastly, have integrity and do the right thing when no one else is watching, stand up for what you believe in and have the courage to speak up. This does not come overnight but working on it will get you one step closer each day.

Work Life Balance...Or Something Like it

We work in constantly-on type of world. You better be able to answer those emails and internet fax as well as juggle several business application development projects. It seems like there is no time for you. There are several tricks that might help in that department. You can workout at work. Just grab a change of clothes and a jumprope or your bodyweight will suffice. If you are worried about what people in the office will say, just tell them to look up the benefits of exercise in the workplace. If you live and die by your calender and watch, remember to schedule some "me" time so that in the end you are more productive and work harder in the time when you are actually supposed to be working. Lastly, get up early. If you would rather sleep, just hit the snooze button but there are some benefits to starting the day just the way you want to, namely spending time on yourself first thing in the morning before the hectic-ness of the day hits you.

Tattoos for Passwords

On Tuesday, Motorola Mobility released a video showing off its latest smartphone accessory. Not quite a tattoo, in the permanent sense, the item is actually an adhesive bandage equipped with near-field communication technology. According to a post on the company's blog, the average person takes 2.3 seconds to unlock his or her phone. This happens usually 39 times a day. Developers at Motorola apparently believe people find this so tedious and exhausting that they’re willing to wear a sticker that lets them simply tap their phone to their wrist to unlock and access it. The digital tattoos are about the size of a coin and should last five days before they need to be replaced. According to VivaLnk, the company that makes the adhesives, each one can withstand showers and intense workouts without detaching or losing functionality. A pack of 10 replacements can be purchased online for $10. Personally I think we can save ourselves some cash and spend those 2.3 seconds unlocking our phone services.