Tag: Tech

Business Start-up Ideas: Tips for Making your Own Tech Tools

My blog focuses on Financial Literacy/Money, Business/Entrepreneurship and Technology. A good way to start a business is to do it in the technology realm. There is always likewise the need for new technology tools. The following contributed post is entitled, Business Start-up Ideas: Tips for Making your Own Tech Tools.

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If you really want to work in tech then one of the best things you can do is try and create your own tech tools. If you follow this guide, you should find it easier than ever to figure out how to do that.

Spot the Problem

One of the first things you need to do is spot the problem and then work hard to build a technology solution. The natural process of development always starts with a problem. Even though this may sound awkward, the more obvious the issue is, the better as it will help you to create something truly great. At the end of the day, if you want to become the next best thing then you also need to provide value. You need to come up with an idea that you know people are going to pay for, because if you don’t then you may find that you struggle to find a market, which is the last thing you need.

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Market Research

You also need to make sure that you do your market research. Identify who your target market is and determine if you can reach them. You also need to evaluate the size of your target market. If you know that a lot of your clients are freelancers who work in smaller teams then this is great, but you also need to go deeper than that. You need to try and choose a geographical market and you also need to be sure to find people who align with what your product provides. If you want to launch an AI product then you will have a lot of options so keep that in mind.

Focus on Your Product

Another thing you need to try and do is focus on your product. You need to come up with something truly unique if you can. Sites like Skillfusion are great if you want to build your own AI products but at the same time, you do need to give some thought to creating something unique that nobody else can do. It may be that you use your software knowledge to tweak the product further or that you try and take the time to tweak things so that you end up making it unique. If you can do this then you will soon find that it is easier for you to create something truly unique.

Get Acquainted

Assessing demand online is great but at the same time, it’s not a substitute for live interviews. Talk with people and find out whether or not they are experiencing the issue that your team has identified and find out whether or not they consider it to be a pressing issue. Whether the demand is there or not will help you to shape your product overall. It may be that you provide support to customers and then add in extra features later on. If you can do this then you will soon find that it is easier for you to not only create a good product but for you to meet the demands of your customers too.

Acquire a Domain

Another thing you need to do is take the time to acquire a website domain name. You need to make sure that you assess your options and that you make sure that you get one that suits your company or your product. Ideally, as soon as you have your company name or product name, you should work to try and get it registered. If you can do this then you will soon find that it is easier for you to get access to a solid customer base. Of course, names are being taken up all the time, so if someone happens to steal your name or if the domain is already taken then you may want to give thought to how you are going to acquire it. A lot of the time you can buy a domain name if it has expired, and if it hasn’t, you may be able to message the site owner to find out if they would be willing to sell you the domain, so from there you can still go ahead and get the name you want but for a very affordable price.

So as you can see, it’s very easy for you to make your own tech tools, you just need to take a good approach and make sure that your business is not being put at risk because you are not making the right decisions. Keep this in mind and you’ll go far.

Why Hire Tech Consultants

A key focus of my blog is Technology. No matter what type of operation you’re running, it certainly helps to have a tech consultant nearby to help you with any issues or the ever-emerging technologies. The following contributed post is entitled, Why Hire Tech Consultants.

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As a smaller business you may not be equipped to be able to take on a full in-house IT staff. It makes sense, because in a smaller business your profit margins on your budgets are usually much smaller than larger enterprises, so you need to figure out how you are going to get the best IT support without spending the biggest budget. consulting services can be extremely beneficial for plenty of businesses and for a number of reasons.

You can go here and learn all about how a tech consultant can help you with managing some of the biggest problems in your business, but even as your business grows you might decide to continue with tech consultants over hiring an IT staff in-house. There are plenty of good reasons to go ahead and do just that, and we’ve got a few of them sprinkled for you below.

Image source: Pexels

● Small businesses often don’t have much money. While it is true that you will have to spend some kind of money on a consultative service, it’s not going to be as much money as the annual salary, benefits, pension and other support systems you need for an IT team. A whole team of people can cost a lot more money in hiring, training and support than a consulting fee can. With the right consultant you’ll be able to increase your profitability and maybe you can grow into having a team. If not, that’s OK too.
● You will have access to the best. One of the best reasons to pay for a consultant is because you get to have skilled services from knowledgeable experts in the industry working with you. These other professionals have what it takes to keep your business on course, which means you can find success when you want it. If you even have one expert on your side, you can see the benefits to your business and you’ll be able then to grow your contractor base rather than hire a team. As this still works out cheaper, and you will be able to hire the best people from anywhere around the world, it’s often the best option.
● You seriously reduce your risk. As a small business there are a lot of risks out there in terms of cybersecurity and hackers. Even the largest enterprises end up being taken over by a hacker who holds their information and data to ransom. That doesn’t have to be the case for you, and a consulting service can help you by giving you the best and most valuable advice on how to protect your business from all different kinds of threats.
● They are available. Reputable consulting firms will be available for your business whenever you need them to be. You can get the help that you need, when you need it, and the answers are given to you as efficiently as possible. There are plenty of consultants that offer services just like this so that you don’t have to wait as their client.

Tech Tips To Make Prioritizing Your Health

Two focuses of my blog are Health/Wellness and Technology. In increasingly digital world, technology will is innervated into everything. Taking advantage of these innovations may save your life or add to your quality of life. The following contributed post is entitled, Tech Tips To Make Prioritizing Your Health.

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Technology plays an increasingly integral role in modern healthcare and wellness. Many of us struggle to find the time to put our health first. If this scenario sounds familiar, here are some top tech tips to make prioritizing your health and wellbeing easier.

Image source: https://pixabay.com/vectors/doctor-medical-medicine-online-6727691/

Virtual consultations and appointments

During the pandemic, there has been a surge in the popularity of virtual consultations and telephone appointments. While restrictions were in place and clinics were closed or reserved for emergencies only, virtual appointments provided a safe, convenient alternative. One of the most significant benefits of virtual health services is the ease at which you can access healthcare and advice. You don’t have to worry about making your way to a health center or a hospital, you can organize an appointment or call at a time that is suitable for you, and you can dial in from home or work. You can also save time and money by cutting out travel. Another advantage is reducing anxiety. Many people get nervous about going to appointments. For some, a phone or video call is much less daunting. In this case, people may be more willing to reach out and seek advice than they would if they had to attend a consultation in person.

Prescriptions and treatments

Many of us have hectic schedules. If you work full-time or you have kids, it can be tough to find the time to go to appointments and visit pharmacies or other health facilities to pick up treatments or medicines. With apps like Benecard PBF, you can save time and effort. More and more patients are using online services to order treatments and either click and collect and arrange delivery. At the touch of a button, you can manage treatments and ensure that you can start a new course or continue treatment without any hassle at all.

Activity, diet and sleep trackers

Exercise, a healthy diet and sleep are essential for optimum mental and physical health. Studies suggest that most adults don’t do enough exercise or get enough sleep. Using trackers, such as wearable devices, can help you gain insight into your daily habits and identify areas for improvement. Count steps and active minutes, monitor your heart rate and see how many calories you burn in an average day. You can set targets to increase activity levels and gradually get fitter and stronger. You can also use devices and apps to keep a sleep record. If you’re not getting enough sleep, try to establish a routine. Go to bed and get up at the same time every day and aim for at least 7 hours of sleep per night.

Using an app to keep an eye on your diet is also a great idea. You can keep a food diary, which can help you to gain or lose weight, improve nutrition and identify shortfalls and deficiencies. Log your meals and snacks every day and analyze the nutritional information. You may find that you’re not getting enough protein or fiber, for example, or that your intake of sugar or salt is too high.

Picture from https://www.pexels.com/photo/anonymous-sportswoman-checking-smart-watch-and-sitting-on-mat-4498483/

Technology plays an influential role in modern-day healthcare. If you struggle to put your health first, why not embrace these tech tips to make life easier?

Beat Boredom With These Tech-Savvy Suggestions

Two focuses of my blog are Health/Wellness and Technology. Boredom is something we all must deal with and manage. It could turn into something bad, but boredom can also be managed in a positive way. The following contributed post is entitled, Beat Boredom With These Tech-Savvy Suggestions.

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Over the last year or so, many of us have experienced staying at home because of COVID, and the boredom associated with it. However, the good news is that in many cases, tech can help us beat boredom. Read on to find out more.

Learn a language

One of the best ways to beat boredom is to improve yourself, and learning a new language fits well into this. The good news is that some great techy items and services can make learning a language not only easier but even fun.

In particular, look out for apps that offer an interactive approach to language learning. Ones that combine listening, speaking, reading, and games. Indeed, these are likely to be the most enjoyable, so you will go back time and time again, and will see much better progress too.

Watch a movie

It’s a simple option, but watching a good movie can banish boredom very effectively. There are plenty of streaming options to choose from as well including Amazon Prime, Netflix, and Hulu, and the good news is they can be accessed from a range of devices.

Of course, streaming movies in this way may not be an option if you don’t have such services or access to the internet is the place where you find yourself suffering from boredom. Luckily, you can use apps like the Vidmate – HD video downloader to make sure you can access them offline. Something that can be very useful if you know ahead of time that this could be the case.

Take a class

If learning a language isn’t your thing, then what about discovering many of the other skills that are available in class format online? You can pretty much learn anything you like from how to make delicate watercolor pictures, to how to sew your own clothes and curtains.

Many online classes are accessible via apps which means you can use your phone or tablet as well as your computer, making them a very convenient option.

Video chat with friends

There is no better way to spend your free time than to use it to catch up with loved ones and friends. Of course, using tech to access video chat enhances this experience and makes it even easier to do.

Image sourced at Pixabay – License CC0

There are a range of options you can use for video chat as well, including facetime, zoom, skype, and Google Hangouts. Just be sure to research which one will suit you best!

Listen to a podcast

Finally, if you are finding yourself bored, or if you have something tedious to do, why not make it a little easier on yourself and listen to a podcast while you do it? The thing about podcasts is that the really good ones are a great mix of entertainment and education. They come in many varieties too, which means if you love finding out about the wild west, cold cases, or the latest reality TV show there will be something for you.

Of course, many podcasts like Ologies also have a thriving community online, which means once you are done listening you can connect and communicate with other like-minded individuals too. Now, if that doesn’t squash your boredom, nothing will!

Play video games

Alternatively, you might want to try video games as a way to beat your boredom. Video games are a great way to keep yourself entertained and your mind active. There are lots of different genres to choose from too. For instance, you might want to explore different shooting games. Or, you could think about diving into an RPG game. If you want to expand your online social circle, then an MMPG might be your best option. Don’t forget, virtually every major piece of tech lets you play video games these days including the TV.

Questions To Ask Yourself When Buying New Tech

Two key focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Technology. New technologies are emerging all the time. As such it’s important to spend your money wisely and make sure getting the right terms when you’re making your new technology purchases. The following contributed post is entitled, Questions To Ask Yourself When Buying New Tech.

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Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

If you’re looking to buy new tech and you don’t know where to begin then don’t worry, you have definitely come to the right place. Whether you’re looking to buy a new TV or you want to invest in a new gaming PC, you need to be sure you’re buying the right products for you. Luckily, there are lots of questions you can ask to ensure you’re doing exactly that. From setting yourself an overall budget to buying from trustworthy retailers, the more questions you’re asking the better. With that in mind, here are a number of questions you can ask yourself when buying new tech:

What Is Your Overall Budget?

One of the first things you need to ask yourself when it comes to buying new tech is in regard to your budget, as you need to ensure you’re not spending more than you can afford. Whether this means researching the average cost for the item you want to buy or hunting around until you find the best price, you need to ensure you’re not spending more than your budget allows. For a guide to budgeting for new technology at home, you can visit this site here.

Are You Buying From A Trustworthy Retailer?

Another important thing you need to consider is whether or not you’re buying from a trustworthy retailer. If you’ve never heard of them before, it might be worth doing a little bit of research.

From reading reviews online to asking your friends and family if they have ever purchased from them, there are lots of ways to ensure you’re buying from a legitimate store. Another option is to ensure you read buyers guides.

Have You Read Product Reviews?

When it comes to buying the right products, you need to be sure you’re reading as many product reviews as you can. Not only will this tell you whether or not the product is high-quality but it will also give you an idea as to whether or not there are any issues you need to be aware of. For a guide to trusting product reviews, you can visit this site here.

How Soon Will It Arrive?

Another important thing to consider is how soon the product is going to arrive. If you’re in a hurry, you may want to find a retailer that can offer next day delivery.

Is There A Returns Policy?

Although the chances of there being an issue with your item are low, you need to ensure there is a returns policy you can trust. Whether it’s a 30 day returns period or something a little longer, having that peace of mind when buying a large ticket item is important.

With the options above you can be sure you’re asking the right questions before you buy new tech, helping to ensure you’re making the right yourself decision. What else should you be asking? Did we miss anything off of the list? Let me know your thoughts and ideas in the comments section below.

Tech Trends To Be Aware Of

A key focus of my blog is Technology. With each passing year, new technologies are emerging. People will be aware of the them in the contexts of being consumers, technology professionals, investors and inventors. Many will involve Google. The following contributed post is entitled, Tech Trends To Be Aware Of.

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In today’s blog post, we are going to take a look at some of the tech trends that are exploding at the moment.

5G
We cannot mention technology without talking about 5G. 5G wireless has been making a lot of the headlines lately, and it is going to make a huge difference in how the world communicates and connects.

5G is the 5th generation mobile network. It is the new worldwide standard for wireless, coming after 4G.

You may be wondering what makes 5G different from its predecessor. Well, %G is a more capable and unified air interface. It has been created with greater capacity so that next-generation user experiences can be enjoyed. This will also enable new services to be delivered, as well as empowering new deployment models.

When it comes to wireless innovations, a lot of people focus on speed. Yes, 5G is a lot faster, but it is about more than this. It is designed to offer a much greater network capacity through expansion into a new spectrum, for example,mmWave.

Local voice search
Local voice search is not a passing fad. It is here to stay. If your business is to get ahead of the competition, local search is something you need to take very seriously. The CEO of Google, Sundar Pichai, unveiled Google Duplex at last year’s Google I/O conference. This is a voice assistant that will conduct ‘real-world’ tasks via your smartphone. This could be anything from making a reservation at a restaurant to booking an appointment at a tanning salon.

One of the standout features of this technology is that there is a large focus on interactions between consumers and local businesses. What makes this significant is that it is the first piece of tech of its kind design to perform voice commands with a real-world impact. It makes a distinct statement regarding the path Google is going down, seeking to enhance local business interactions.

If this was not enough to convince you that local voice search is something your business needs to be concerned with, perhaps the statistics will. According to BrightLocal, three in every four smart speaker users perform searches for local companies on a weekly basis. Of that 75%, 53% of them state that this is something they are actually doing on a daily basis.

For brick-and-mortar stores and locations, these statistics show just how frequently voice searches for local companies are occurring, and this represents a massive opportunity for you to take advantage of.

As you can see, local voice search is here to stay and the case for it is only getting more and more compelling. By incorporating this into your marketing strategy, you can get ahead of the competition, ensuring you establish yourself as the industry leader in your location.

To conclude, these are some of the main tech trends that are making an impact in 2020. It is vital to stay on top of the latest trends in any industry, especially tech.

5 Technologies to Set up When Upgrading to a Small Business

Three focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money, Business/Entrepreneurship and Technology. When upgrading your operations to small business status, you have to upgrade your technologies with it. Doing so will assure that you’re able to keep up with your new demands. The following contributed post is entitled, 5 Technologies to Set up When Upgrading to a Small Business.

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Is it about time that you grew your small startup into a fully-fledged business? If you’re looking to grow your company then you’re going to need to pour a considerable amount of effort into establishing a smoother workflow and to assist with that, you’re going to need different types of technological solutions. So to help you out, we’ve put together this brief article that will describe five different technologies that you should set up and get to grips with before you consider growing your business.

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1. Get to grips with search marketing software

Search engine optimization is the key to getting noticed on the web. However, it takes quite a bit of knowledge to fully understand how SEO works, what it involves and how to take advantage of it. There are lots of all-in-one SEO tools that will help you analyze your website and find the best solutions to increase your search rankings and get noticed on a variety of different platforms.

2. Automation software to simplify marketing

As a small business, you can no longer afford to rely on just your niche of customers. You need to start getting out there and bringing in more customers, teaching them about your brand and introducing them to your products. In order to do this effectively, you’re going to need to start simplifying your marketing options with automation. This generally means sending automatic personalized emails and messages to prospective leads, and this will involve setting up customer relationship management software.

3. Establish good relationships with outsourced service providers

Whether it’s a hardware store that’s providing you with inexpensive computers or managed IT services like lansolutions.net, it’s a good idea to start networking with different service providers so they can help you manage all of the new technologies and solutions that you’re going to be putting in place to grow your business. These good relationships will ensure that you have a reliable service to trust when it comes to growing your company and managing your business.

4. Register for different cloud-based services

Cloud-based services will be essential for optimizing certain business-related tasks. For example, it’s a great way to backup your important files so that you always have access to them, and it’s important to use cloud-based software like accounting services to help you manage your financial situation with ease. Get to grips with this type of software to ensure that you understand how to use them when you start scaling up your operations.

5. Set up remote work processes

Lastly, it’s a good idea to consider moving your workflow into the cloud so that you can work remotely no matter where you are. Being agile is important as a small business since it allows you to move employees from one task or role to another, and it also allows you to work from anywhere in the world. You also open up more recruitment opportunities if you can hire people from across the world and not just your local area.

Tech That Can Help Keep Any Workplace Safer

A key focus of my blog is technology. Management at any workplace must always think about ways the keep their workplaces as safe as possible. In today’s digital age, technology has given us an abundance of tools for doing so. The following contributed post is entitled, Tech That Can Help Keep Any Workplace Safer.

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What’s most important when it comes to keeping the rate of injuries and accidents low in any workplace? Is it effective and thorough human observation of the risks and strategic planning around them? In part, yes, but that’s not to say that technology can’t play a role in helping keep your team safe, as well.

Photo by Mimzy – Pixabay License

CCTV
Aside from being useful for retail store security, CCTV can also go a long way in ensuring the physical safety of your employees, especially if crime or assault is of any concern. CCTV can increase staff comfort and make them feel safer in the workplace and in surrounding spaces, such as car parks or stairwells. Furthermore, they act as a very clear deterrent to crime.

Alarms
Not just talking about security alarm systems, alarm equipment in general can be very helpful to bringing attention to hazards and encouraging your team to react responsibly to them. Of the two types, choosing between a buzzer vs speaker is all about determining your needs. Buzzers can be useful for immediately bringing attention to a nearby fault, such as a malfunctioning machine, so trained individuals can react appropriately. Speakers are better for communicating information, such as the particular aisle or area a spill or incident has happened in.

Safety apps
It’s not all hardware you should be thinking about, either. Health and safety data technology is playing an increasing role in recognising the risks that your team might face in the workplace. These apps can help you make checklists for safety, file hazard reports, and record information is an accident does happen. As such, they can help you become more aware of incidents that happen more regularly, allowing you to react and create a safety policy around them more quickly.

GPS systems
The workplace doesn’t always have to be in an office. If you have a fleet of vehicles, then the road is your workplace just as much as anything else. If that’s the case, then GPS and fleet management technology can be crucial for ensuring your drivers’ safety on the road. You can not only track their route but pay attention to any habits that could potentially put them at risk, including speeding, and crack down on drivers that fall into such habits.

Wearable tech
If you’re hoping to create a healthier team for a more reliable workplace, then looking at the tech that they could be wearing on their person might be an investment worth making. These devices can track a range of details, including monitoring their vitals, and can be set up with reminders such as when they need to take a break or get up and stretch to avoid ergonomic injuries.

Tech can help you make the office a much safer environment, but never think that you should rely on it, alone. Training your team to recognize safety hazards in the workplace and making an effort to address any common risks with effective police and practices is number one. The tech above can help, but it can’t solve your problems.

Follow Your Dreams: How To Jump Into An Into A Tech Job (With No Experience)

Two of the key focuses of my blog are Career Discussions and Technology. With every passing year, new technologies are emerging and along with them the need for individuals who have backgrounds in the Information Technology (IT) fields. If this field particularly intrigues you, it will be important for you to know how to get in. The following contributed post is entitled, Follow Your Dreams: How To Jump Into An Into A Tech Job (With No Experience).

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Photo by Pexels

Breaking into the tech industry can be a daunting task. Fiercely competitive and outrageously ambitious, it can seem like an insurmountable barrier to entry especially if you don’t have the relevant credentials. However, one of the great things about the industry is that although Here, we’ve outlined some key components for you to land your dream job digital IT.

Get Some Experience

Tech is a notoriously difficult industry to break into without the relevant experience. The top technology companies often want to see that as well as being a great personality fit, that you’ve taken the time to immerse yourself in the culture and honed your skills to ensure that you’re a perfect fit for your desired role. Look to cut your teeth on small entry-level projects that don’t take much investment and can easily fit around your lifestyle. Upload some examples of your work to freelancing sites such as Fivver, or Upwork to fine-tune your skills and get a grasp of the ins and outs of your role without too much commitment. It also gives you a chance to put yourself forward for a variety of projects and therefore allowing your skills to be even more well-rounded, which is exactly what many tech companies are looking for.

Time To Study

Sometimes, though it’s worth noting that smaller experiences may just not be enough to land you that dream tech job. Jobs in tech have stringent entry requirements, and many recruiters may not even consider your resume if you do not have the relevant qualifications or degree required for the position. Browse job specs and job boards liked Linkedin to get a rough idea of the minimum bar of entry and use that to define your starting point. That being said, going back to college may just not be a feasible option for you. If that’s the case you may want to look into taking on an apprenticeship. IT apprenticeships can be a great way to get hands-on technical training and at the end of it, you’ll come away with a recognised qualification that is bound to open some more doors.

Stand Out On Your Resume

Once you feel confident enough to apply for your dream role, it’s time to make sure that your CV stands up to scrutiny. Make sure that you highlight anything that may be relevant to recruiters, no matter how small or insignificant you think it may be. Be candid in your cover letter and let your future employer know why you’re passionate about tech and how you can now prove it with all the smaller projects and courses you have invested in. Don’t get called back for a second interview? Don’t give up. Keep working on extra projects and work experiences, to really beef up your CV.

Staying Ahead of Smart Tech

A key focus of my blog is Technology. As time goes on, we’re developing new technologies for everything. As such, it’s important to be able to understand the positives and the negatives of these new technologies. The following contributed post is thus entitled, Staying Ahead of Smart Tech.

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Yes, we can control our lighting and heating from our phones and we don’t even have to be in our homes to start recording our favourite shows, but is this smart technology all that it’s cracked up to be? Is there a danger that we are, in fact, growing far too reliant on tech that makes our decisions for us? In this short article we take a look at the ups and downs of smart tech and the role it plays in all our lives.

Ups

Let’s face it, the use of clever, interconnected devices that talk to one another really does make our lives easier. From smart speakers that respond to a single voice command to devices that send and receive data about our home power usage and adjust their levels accordingly.

In theory all this technology can not only save us time but money too as we use its capabilities to keep a closer track on power use and help lower our bills.

Smart tech also helps stay independent as we have greater access to the things that make our life easier and safer. Smart timers across multiple platforms that remind us to take medication and phone apps that monitor our diet and if we’re getting enough sleep.

Image from Pixabay

Downs

One of the largest areas of concern when it comes to interconnectivity is that of security and privacy. If we take the latter first, how are we to really know what becomes of all the data that is held on us. Not just our confidential information, such as our bank details but all the day-to-day interactions we have with our devices, the entertainment we access, how much energy we use, even what we Google. Somewhere all this data exists and if recent cases of data breaches are anything to go by, this alone makes us vulnerable.

The second issue is that of security. While many of our devices, such as our phones, have their own operating systems that can be updated for greater protection against viruses much of our tech doesn’t. And it’s these devices that freely send and receive and data that are the concern. With little or no protection in place against cyber-attack, how are we to prevent them turning rogue and infecting our whole network should one fall victim to a virus or hack?

Whatever our concerns it seems inevitable that our lives are only going to become more rather than less connected with tech giants and companies like Sylvania Connected Solutions working towards more integrated solutions on a large scale.

So, while we should embrace the future of our homes, cars and cities as becoming ever more entwined with technology there’s no harm in maintaining caution when it comes to how we choose to use our smartphones.

The future might be tech-driven but we are all still very human and have a right to our privacy and how our data is stored and shared. Let’s stay one step ahead of this smart technology.